3.1  DVD version

ePER is a client/server application, i.e. made up of two different programs or components that communicate with one another. The CLIENT component is the Internet Explorer browser, whilst the SERVER component is a program in Java (servlet). The two component communicate with one another using the http protocol.

 

It is important to make sure that the server component continues to work even when the browser is closed.

 

When you click on the ePEr icon on the desktop or you select the item "ePER" in the Start ->Programs menu, a procedure is actually carried out which checks that both components are working, otherwise it carries them out in sequence, i.e.:

 

         1)       It executes and initialises the server component (Java servlet)

         2)       It executes the client component (Internet Explorer browser)

 

The first operation may take some time, depending on the speed of the PC, whilst the second operation is only carried out when the first is completed.
Clearly if the server component is already in progress the client component (browser) only is activated. 
To check whether the server component is working, look whether the ePER, icon, the one circled in red in the example below, is present in the Windows toolbar (system tray, normally on the bottom right of the Windows desktop where the clock is displayed).

Fig. 2: ePer server component in Windows system tray

 

Right clicking on the mouse above the icon will display a menu through which it is possible to end the server component by selecting the item "Exit" (the first at the bottom).

 

Note: The menu also contains other items that allow the server component configuration to be changed. It is advisable that only expert users make use of these options.

 

Ending the server component is an operation that is always necessary in the following cases:

 

»    Before replacing or removing the DVD that ePER is using. 

»    Before installing a new version of the ePER program.

»    Before making changes to the PC network configuration (e.g. changing the ip address)

»    When you want to free the resources occupied by ePER in progress (memory and CPU usage).

»    When ePER does not seem to be working properly or the client component (browser) does not manage to display the ePER pages.