Connectivity

To use ExpeDat for transferring files between computers, the computers must be connected by an Internet Protocol (IP) network path.  That is, each computer must have a unique IP address and be reachable by the others.  If there are firewalls, VPNs, or NAT devices between the computers, then these devices must be configured to allow traffic on UDP/IP port 8080.  You can also configure ExpeDat to use any other UDP/IP port number, if that is more convenient.

If you are considering use of a network emulator, see Tech Note 0022 for important information about emuluators.

Should you experience difficulty with a network device, consult the Troubleshooting chapter, or refer to DEI Technical Note 0002 for information about configuring firewalls.

Windows Firewall

The Windows firewall is very aggressive about both blocking applications and degrading their performance.  Extra steps may be required to ensure that ExpeDat data is allowed to pass through unhindered.

Even if Windows Firewall is turned off it may still degrade performance.
The only way to ensure that Windows Firewall is not blocking or slowing ExpeDat is to add explicit firewall rules allowing UDP port 8080 (or whichever port ExpeDat is using).  See Technical Note 0002 for links to instructions for different versions of Windows.

When installing the ExpeDat server, it will attempt to detect firewall problems and display warnings during installation.  When "Run as Administrator", the server will attempt to correct problems it finds.  However, it is still a good idea to manually review your firewall settings to ensure that the ExpeDat port is open and that there are no block rules applying to it or the ExpeDat applications.

When running any ExpeDat software for the first time, you may see a dialog box similar to the one below.  At a minimum, you must click "Unblock" for the software to function correctly.

Under Windows Vista and Windows 7, if you take any action other than clicking "Allow access", then the application will be forever blocked.  Even if you later add a rule to allow the application, it may still be blocked.  You may need to manually remove the original block rules from the firewall.  To do this, use the "Advanced settings" link in the Windows Firewall control panel and examine both "Incoming Rules" and "Outbound Rules".