Establishing a List of VTS Internet Servers
The following example will walk through the steps of adding a new server to the list, describing the choices available during this process.
1. Open the VTS Internet Client/Server Setup dialog by clicking on the Internet Setup button in the VAM.
2. Select the Server Setup tab. The properties of the Server Setup tab are displayed as shown:.
3. Select the Add button. The Add Server dialog opens.
4. Enter the name of the first server you wish to add to the VTS Internet Server list in the Server field.
The name must be one that all VICs can successfully name resolve to an Internet Protocol (IP) address. In general, it is better to use a name than an IP address.
If you are using SSL, this must be the host + domain name, exactly as it appears in the "CN=" field on your SSL certificate.
5. Enter the port number on which you wish this server to listen in the Port Number field.
The default port number is 80, the standard Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) port. If you are using SSL, the standard port number is 443.
Note: You may configure a realm or a VTS/IS on any port you desire; however, if operating over a public network (e.g. the Internet), you will likely have to traverse firewalls and other security mechanisms. Configuring a realm or VTS Internet Server to operate on other than the standard ports (port 80 for plain text HTTP, or port 443 for SSL-secured HTTPS), will likely require special configuration. It is therefore advisable to operate on the standard ports whenever possible.
6. Select the SSL checkbox if you wish to use the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) protocol to secure data that is transferred over the SSL connection.
If this checkbox is not enabled, you will need to supply the host + domain name for the SSL certificate in VTS's Setup.ini configuration file (located in the installation directory). Add the following line to the [SYSTEM] section:
SSLCertName = <host+domain>
where <host+domain> is the host and domain name you specified when obtaining an X.509-compliant SSL certificate. After modifying the Setup.ini file, you must stop and restart VTS for your change to take effect.
7. The Local checkbox will (later) be automatically checked if your network has a working name resolution system, and if the server name can be resolved to an IP address owned by this computer. Local is used so that the system can activate the appropriate socket listener.
The completed Add Server dialog for a remote server (not the local PC) should appear similar to the one displayed below.
8. Click the OK button. The Add Server dialog closes, and you are returned to the Server Setup tab, where the server has been added to the server list.
Repeat steps 3 through to 9 to add as many servers as you require to the server list. The order that the server names appear in is significant. Should a connection be lost, the VIC will automatically attempt to connect to the next server in the list. The completed Server Setup tab should appear similar to the one shown below.
9. Click the OK button to save the server list and close the VTS Internet Client/Server Setup dialog.
Information about VTS Internet Clients can be found in VTS Internet Client Configuration. A simple summary of the steps required to access a standard VTS application running on a VTS/IS is provided in Access a Standard Application Running on a VTS/IS.
Note: You may configure a realm or a VTS Internet Server on any port you desire; however, if operating over a public network (e.g. the Internet), you will likely have to traverse firewalls and other security mechanisms. Configuring a realm or VTS Internet Server to operate on other than the standard ports (port 80 for plain text HTTP, or port 443 for SSL-secured HTTPS), will likely require special configuration of such interposing security mechanisms. It is, therefore, advisable to operate on the standard ports whenever possible.
The third tab of the VTS Internet Client/Server Setup dialog is related to SSL certificates. See: VTS Internet Server Security.