Connecting to a sample database

There is a sample database hosted on axisbase.com, which you can connect to. For general information on connecting to database, see Using the launchpad and opening databases.

To connect, press Connect to Server in the Axisbase launchpad.

Enter these values:

• host = pluto.axisbase.com
• port = 3569
• Axis ID = JOE
  
• user = guest
• password = test9ME

The sample database has customers and sales in it, using auto-generated names built from random dictionary words. The guest user has rights to edit customers and sales, but not change record types or building blocks. If you want to build onto the sample database for your testing, you can create a database file on your computer and link it to the sample database.

Most common connection problems

The most common connection problems are:

• Old version of Windows. Axisbase requires advanced cryptography components in Windows XP or later. If the error message mentions "cryptography" then the inability to connect may have to do with the version of Windows. You can upgrade by going to windowsupdate.com and following the directions.
• Incorrect spelling of the host.
  
• Firewall software on the personal computer. The Windows Personal Firewall product (standard on XP or later) does not normally cause a problem in its default configuration. However, Norton Personal Firewall (and possibly other similar products), if installed with its default configuration, may block Axisbase from connecting to a host (server). If you have one of these add-on products, you can disable it; if that fixes the problem, then you know what the issue is. If you still want to use the firewall product with Axisbase, you can change the configuration so that outgoing requests to port number 3569 are allowed; or you can set it up so that all outgoing requests are allowed. (Generally speaking, a firewall should block incoming requests; it is not so important to block outgoing requests.)
  

Connection troubleshooting

Think of connection troubleshooting like kinks in a garden hose. If you are trying to figure out why no water is coming through, you have to focus on the first kink first. Working with the part of the hose downstream from the kink can never make the water go through. In the same way, network connections involve a series of potential kinks, and only the first one matters at any given point in time.

Generally speaking, there are three possible points where a network connection can be blocked:

1. Internet connectivity overall. Test this by going into a web browser and connecting to some popular site such as Yahoo.com or google.com. If that doesn't work, then your internet connection is probably not working, so do NOT go on to step 2. There is nothing that Axisbase can do to help with a non-working internet connection.
2. An internet connection to the specific host. If you are sure you have internet connectivity generally, check the connection to the desired host. "Host" means server in this case. If you are connecting to the sample Axisbase database (see above), then you need to test a connection to that host. There are two practical ways to do this:
   • Test a web browser connection to the host. For the Axisbase sample, go to pluto.axisbase.com; if that works then you know you have an internet connection to the host and you can go to step 3. If that doesn't work, try the next test:
     
   • Use PING to test the connection. To do this, find Command Prompt in the Accessories menu under your Start menu. Within the command prompt, enter "ping" followed by the host name, then press Enter. For example "ping pluto.axisbase.com". If you see "Reply from ..." followed by some other data, then you have a connection to the host. If you see "Ping could not find host..." or something similar, then you do not have a connection to the host.
   If you have a connection to the host, go on to step 3. If not, then do NOT go on to step 3. The problem is one of the following: The host is down (turned off); you have a temporary or intermittent break in the internet connection to that particular host, probably caused by your ISP (rare), or you have a personal firewall product or corporate firewall that is blocking that particular host. The remedy naturally depends on the specific cause. 
3. An Axisbase connection. If you know you can get to the specific host using PING, but you can't connect using Axisbase, there are several possible reasons:
4. • The host (the physical machine) is running but it is not running the Axisbase server software. If you have access to the host, see Using the launchpad and opening databases for information on how to set up and monitor the Axisbase server.
   • A firewall on your computer is blocking the connection. To resolve this, either disable the firewall or set it up to permit outgoing requests on port 3569 (the default port for Axisbase).