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Tips&Tricks

Problems connecting a Mac Prepress client to the Apogee Prepress server

Sometimes, it's not possible to connect the prepress mac-client to the prepress server. In most cases, this is related to an incorrect network configuration.

  1. Check if communication can be established between server and client:
    1. Open a command prompt on the prepress server.
    2. Perform a "ping" to the IP address of the mac-client and to the hostname of the mac-client.
      Ping to IP address Ping to Hostname
      If both results are positive, communication is OK from server to client.
  2. Check the communication in the other direction (from client to server).
    1. Open the network Utility on the mac-client.
      This can be found in Applications>Utilities
    2. Perform a "ping" to the ipaddress of the prepress server and to the hostname of the prepress server.
      Network Utility IP address Network Utility to Hostname
      If the results are positive, communication is OK from client to server.
      Now you should be able to connect the client to the server.
  3. Other parameters which need to be configured properly.
    It's recommended to discuss these settings with your local network administrator or the service engineer before changing them.
    1. Configuration of the firewall.
      Temporarily disable the firewall to check if the communication is affected by the firewall. Add the prepress client application and allow all incoming connections.
      Allow incoming connections Apogee Prepress
    2. Configuration of the file sharing.
      Use only SMB file system sharing for sharing the Apogee Prepress folders, such as HotFolder, ExportRoot,…
    3. Configuration of the network (ipaddress/hostnames).
      Follow the basic principles of name resolving within the network.

      The two main methods are:
      Using the "hosts file".
      The "hosts file" is a computer file used in an operating system to map hostnames to IP addresses
      Using a DNS Server.
      A DNS (Domain Name System) is a server which automates the usage of the "hosts file". Mostly this is used in big companies where the "hosts file" can't be managed manually because of a large numbers of computers.

      If there's a DNS server in the company, ask your network administrator to add the prepress server to the domain.

      If no DNS (Domain Name System) is being used , you need to configure the "hosts file" on server and clients.
      On a PC the "hosts file" is located in : C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc
      On a mac you need to open a terminal window and use the "sudo nano" commond or you can download an application such as "Gas Mask" to edit the "hosts file".

      It's not recommended to use the "hosts file" when you use a DNS-server
    4. Refreshing the preferences file.
      Sometimes it's useful to remove the preferences file in order to connect to the server again.
      Locate the preferences file by browsing this location.
      Apogee Prepress Preferences files
      Stop the client first and remove the preferences file.
      When starting the client, it will create a new file.
      After deleting the preferences file, you need to connect again to the prepress server. Be sure to remember the username and password before doing this.