1) Diagnosing communications issues can be a tricky business. The #1 support call received here at HermeTech about TCP/IP communications since 2007 is because of a lack of knowledge of DEP (Data Execution Prevention) and how it is used in MS Windows operating systems beginning with MS Windows XP service pack 2 and MS Windows Server 2003. For more info on DEP click HERE.

2) Firewalls and 3rd party network monitoring software, including the Windows Firewall as well as Norton's and Symantec's virus scanning and network protection suites. The thing to remember is that sending and receiving HL7 messages over TCP/IP is NOT something that is done by your typical MS Windows user. Some of the tools and protocols which are used in doing it (TCP/IP and Windows Socket transfers) are the same tools and methods used by computer hackers to exploit vulnerable systems. By default, hardware and software Firewalls are specifically designed to prevent communication of this kind between computer systems. So make sure that ALL ports and IP Addresses used in your profiles are VALID. Make sure that no ports are being used by OTHER programs. For instance, if you have MS SQL Server installed and running on your computer AND you tried to create a Listener Profile which would listen on port 1433, you would likely encounter an ERROR when you tried to run that profile. Because, MS SQL Server is itself basically just a Listener of another type and it by default uses port 1433. That being said, if this product was the Microsoft HL7 TCP/IP Workstation or the Oracle HL7 TCP/IP Workstation or the Symantec HL7 TCP/IP Workstation then it would likely cause no problems at all because knowledge of it would be distributed by Windows Updates. But unfortunately, we're just a moderate New Zealand Software company so we'll muddle by as best we can.

3) Hardware Routers. Make sure that all ports and IP addresses used are opened up in your network hardware.

4) Windows Vista. The program is incompatible with the UAC features which is enabled by default in Windows Vista. If you have issues, try disabling UAC.

See also: Frequently Asked Questions