STX allows access from a remote location via the Internet. A high-speed Internet connection is required, both at the company, as well as at the remote location. When using a router for an Internet and/or network connection at your place of business, you must first open a couple of ports on the router – called port forwarding or port mapping.
Each router is different in how the ports are opened. The manufacturer of the router being used should be able to help you open these ports over the phone. When contacting the router manufacturer, give them the following information vital for allowing remote access to the STX data.
- Ports 9090 and 20260 need to be opened on the router at the salon to allow the remote computer access to STX.
- These ports should be opened using TCP/IP protocol, pointing back to the server’s internal IP address.
While we don't have any step-by-step instructions for how to set up remote access on the router, we can give you some information/guidelines you will need to follow in order to accomplish the remote access once the router ports have been opened.
Because you will be launching STX from a remote location, there will not be any STX servers found. If the STX software does not see a server computer when it is launched, you will be asked for a Host IP.
You will need to know the external IP address of the server computer so when you are logging in remotely, you can enter the external IP address of the server.
There is a Dashboard Widget you can download from Apple’s website called IP Widget, which will always tell you the current external IP address.
There is also a website which tells you the current external IP address –
www.whatismyip.com
If you have a Static IP address for the server, you will only need to obtain the external IP address one time as the Static IP addresses never change. If you have a Dynamic IP address, you will need to verify the external IP address of the server each time you want to log in remotely as the Dynamic IP addresses could change frequently, especially if the server computer has been shut down.
If you plan on logging into STX from the remote location when the company is closed, you must leave the server computer running at all times, and it cannot be set to go to sleep. To confirm the appropriate sleep settings, go to the Apple menu and select System Preferences. Choose the Energy Saver option.
Put the computer to sleep when it is inactive for: should be set to Never.
Put the display(s) to sleep when the computer is inactive for: should be set to Never.
Put the hard disk(s) to sleep when possible should be unchecked.
The STX license should include enough seats to accommodate the remote computer logging into STX. To confirm the licensed number of seats, go to the STX menu and select Registration.
However, if the remote computer will be an extra computer logging into the STX data, then you will need to purchase an additional seat for your license.
Additional seats are $125 each. Click Renew / Upgrade Online… to purchase another seat.
If you have problems connecting remotely, it is recommended you contact a network specialist in your area who knows how to configure routers and such for remote access.