Port Forwarding

In order to use Virtual TimeClock at different locations over the Internet, there are a couple of one-time setup steps that need to be completed.

Static IP address
First, have your Internet service provider (ISP) update your Internet service to a static IP address. Make note of the static IP address they assign you and have them update the router configuration at your time clock server location to use the new static IP address.

Port forwarding
Second, open a port on the router at your time clock server location. This is commonly known as 'port forwarding' or 'port mapping'. Since every router is a little different, you'll need to consult the user's guide that came with your router for the exact steps to set up port forwarding. There's a website call Portforward.com that I've found really helpful for setting up port forwarding on different routers and modems. It's not comprehensive, but it's rare I can't find the router I'm looking for.

Jeff
Tier 2 Tech Support
Redcort Software, Inc.

Multiple Time Zones

Virtual TimeClock Network Edition is the perfect solution for offices in different time zones needing a centralized time clock system. The time used when punching in and out is usually provided by the time clock server computer. This prevents employees from being able to change their local computer time to try and defeat the time clock. If you need to connect different office locations that are in different time zones, then you'll want to change the time source configuration setting to use an Internet time server.

Here's how to change the time source when you have time clock clients in different time zones. Turn on admin, go to Configure, then Time & Rounding, and select Use Internet TimeServer When Available.

Restart your time clock clients so they'll start getting their time from a list of impartial and accurate Internet time servers based on the time zone settings of the computer.

Jeff
Technical Support Team
Redcort Software, Inc.

Port Forwarding on Netopia

It's easy to set up Virtual TimeClock at multiple office locations or even connect to your time clock from home or when you're on the road. As long as you've got an Internet connection, no problem. We've got instructions for using Virtual TimeClock over the Internet in our Remote Connectivity Guide. We've had some customers who use a Motorola Netopia DSL modem have some trouble setting up remote time clocks. The trouble stems from differences in terminology and a restriction of the Netopia.

First of all, the Netopia doesn't use the common description of 'port forwarding' or 'port mapping' to describe the process of opening up the network communication port that the time clock server needs to communicate with other time clocks over the Internet. The Netopia calls it a 'pinhole'.

Secondly, the Netopia has a limit on the external port number so you won't be able to use the default port of 56777. We've had success setting the external port to 48999. You should still be able to keep the internal port at 56777 to match the default TCP port of your time clock server.

Jeff
Technical Support Team
Redcort Software, Inc.

Port Mapping in Mountain Lion

There were some changes to the AirPort Utility in OS 10.8 Mountain Lion. Here are the steps to use when configuring your AirPort Extreme for remote time clock connectivity under Mountain Lion.


Open the Airport Utility. This is usually found in the Utilities folder in Applications.

Select your Airport Base Station.

Click the Network tab, under Port Settings click +.

Leave the description blank. Enter 56777 for both the public and private TCP ports (if the settings won't save, go ahead and enter 56778 for both the public and private UDP ports as well). Enter the IP address of the time clock server computer as the Private IP Address.

Now you're ready to connect your time clock at another location or from home to the time clock server over the Internet.


Angie
Technical Support Team
Redcort Software, Inc.

Did Your Remote Clients Stop Talking?

Remote time clock clients will lose their connection if you move your time clock server to a different computer and don't take a couple of important items into consideration. Remember how remote time clock clients connect: a remote client talks directly to the router at the time clock server location. The router says, "Hey! I know you. You're a time clock client. Let me send you over to the time clock server computer. I know it's address." This is what we call port forwarding.

Moving your time clock server will break port forwarding unless you do one of two things to keep you're remote clients talking. One is to give the new time clock server the same static IP address as the old time clock server computer. Then the remote clients won't know the difference. The other option is to access your router configuration settings and change the port forward to point to the IP address of the new time clock server computer. Again, the remote clients won't know the difference. Either one will solve the problem and keep your networked time clocks on speaking terms with one another.

Jeff
Technical Support Team
Redcort Software, Inc.

Remote Connectivity Made Easy

Connecting time clocks at different locations can be intimidating for many people. Especially when you start talking about static IPs, router config, and WAN addresses. Here's a little two-step process you can use to start using your time clock software from home or another office location.

Call your ISP (Internet Service Provider) and have them do 2 things for you:

1. Have them assign the router at the location that is running the time clock server a static IP address. Make sure they tell you what it is and write it down. It may take a couple of days for them to get the static IP address for you and it may cost a couple of extra bucks a month. They can program your router to use the new address remotely, or walk you through how to do it over the phone.
2. Have them set up a port forward on the router at the location that is running the time clock server (the same router that gets the static IP address) for TCP port 56777. It will need to be forwarded to the IP address of the computer running the time clock server. Don't know what IP address the time clock server computer is using? Launch the Server Manager and you'll see the address under the TCP function. Again, they can do this remotely or walk you through it over the phone.

Once these 2 items are in place, give us a call and we can test the connectivity to make sure you'll be able to connect from home or another location. For those of you who like to read the fine print, we've got complete instructions for setting up web time clocks on the support page of our web site.

See, it's not so hard!

Jeff
Technical Support Team
Redcort Software, Inc.

Need a Static IP Address?

We occasionally chat with customers who can't get a static IP address from their Internet service provider (ISP). Usually, it's because they're in a remote area where static IP service isn't offered. Without getting too technical, a static IP address is needed if you're planning on using Virtual TimeClock over the Internet because a static IP address doesn't change. If the IP address assigned to your router changes, then your remote time clocks will no longer know where to connect to your time clock server.

Some customers that find themselves in this situation have had success with a service called DynDNS. Their service works by having you create a hostname, and then making that hostname work with your dynamic IP addresses. I won't pretend to understand how it works (I'll stick to time clock software). Let's just say that even when your ISP changes the public IP address of your router, DynDNS keeps things in sync by pointing the new IP address to a hostname that never changes.

Jeff
Technical Support Team
Redcort Software

Troubleshooting Remote Computer Time Clocks

Just like time clock clients can connect to the time clock server software over the local area network, remote clients can connect to the time clock server over the Internet to provide the same employee time clock software functionality from a different location.

Troubleshooting Existing Remote Time Clock Client Connections

If you've been running Virtual TimeClock for some time and your remote time clock client stops connecting, there are a couple of easy troubleshooting steps you can take.

• Verify the time clock server is up and running at the main location.
• Make sure your Internet is still working.

If the time clock server software is still running at the main location and you've tested your Internet connection, then you'll need to look deeper.

The IP address of the time clock server may have changed. This will invalidate the port forward that's part of the router configuration at the main office. If the port forward is broken, local clients can still connect but not remote clients.

Troubleshooting New Remote Time Clock Client Connections

If you're having trouble connecting remote time clock clients for the first time, then there are a couple of things to check.

• The number one culprit is likely the built-in firewall on the time clock server computer. You'll need to set up a couple of port exceptions within the firewall configuration.
• The second possibility is that the port forward was never set up in the router configuration at the main office.

We've got full instructions for setting up your Internet time clock on our website.

If you're still having trouble connecting your time clock clients, contact time clock software support for assistance.

Jeff Morrow

Technical Support Team

Redcort Software

Internet Time Clocks

One of the great features about Virtual TimeClock is the ability to network time clocks at different locations over the Internet. This allows you to monitor employee status real-time from the convenience of your own computer, and process payroll from 1 spot rather than having to make a trip to each remote office to gather the hours worked.

2 things must be done before using Virtual TimeClock over the Internet. The Internet connection at your time clock server computer location needs to use a static IP address, and you need to open a port on the router managing that Internet connection.

Static IP address

A static IP address is necessary to access your network from a remote location because a static IP address doesn't change. Have your Internet service provider (ISP) upgrade your Internet service to include a static IP address and have them update the router configuration at your time clock server location to use the new static IP address.

Port forwarding

You must also open a single port on the router at your time clock server location to allow remote time clock clients to connect. The employee time clock clients then connect to the router using the static IP address and the router forwards the information to the time clock server. This is commonly known as 'port forwarding' or 'port mapping'. To use port forwarding, you must configure TCP/IP manually on the computer running the time clock server so it uses a specific IP address rather than obtaining one automatically.

Since every router is a little bit different, you'll need to consult the user's guide that came with your router for the exact steps to set up port forwarding. We do have some router configuration examples on our website that you may find helpful.

Jeff Morrow

Technical Support Team

Redcort Software

Using Time Clock Software Over the Internet

We get a lot of questions from businesses regarding using their employee time clock software from different locations. Sometimes they've got a couple of stores across town, or maybe it's a dental group practicing in several different cities, and other times it's a small business owner wanting to do payroll from home. With all these scenarios, businesses are looking for the same thing: they want all their time clock program data available from a single, centralized place. I should be able to clock in at Store A, then drive across town and clock out at Store B and have all of my hours worked show on a single timecard software report. That's the advantage of using Virtual TimeClock software over the Internet.

There are 2 requirements for setting up a remote time clock:

• Obtain a static IP address from your ISP (Internet Service Provider)
• Setup a port forward on your router

The key to remote access is to open a port on your router to allow remote time clock software clients to connect using the static IP address of your router. The router then sends the information to the time clock server. This is commonly known as 'port forwarding'. For information on setting up a port forward, take a look at the user's guide that came with your router, call your ISP, or visit helpful websites like portforward.com.

Server Location Setup

1. Launch your Virtual TimeClock Server app and note the TCP IP address and port in use by the time clock software on your network.
2. Access your router configuration settings and note the WAN static IP address assigned by your ISP.
3. Setup a new port forward on your router using the IP address and port noted in number 1 above.

Remote Location Setup

1. Install and launch your Virtual TimeClock Pro Client app.
2. From the File menu, choose Connect Manually To Server.
3. Enter the WAN IP address and port, then click Connect.

More detailed information about using network time clock software over the Internet can be found on our website.

Jeff Morrow

Time and Attendance Specialist

Redcort Software