Network Settings

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Softros LAN Messenger gives you powerful options to configure your Softros LAN Messenger for your network hierarchy, either locally or network-wide. Softros LAN Messenger defaults to saving all network settings in network.cfg in the current Windows user's folder (for example: C:\Documents and Settings\User\Application Data\Softros Messenger). However, this file may be saved in any local folder or in a server's shared folder to be remotely accessible.

Network Settings Location

System defined location – this option saves all network settings in network.cfg together with general settings in the Windows user account's folder (such as C:\Documents and Settings\John\Application Data\Softros Messenger). Choosing this option still allows changing settings locally (see below in the Broadcasts Settings section).
Load network settings from this file – if this option is selected, Softros LAN Messenger will load all network settings from the indicated file at its start-up. In this case you may not change any network settings. Choose this option if you want all your users (computers) to have the same network settings.

Broadcast settings

“Broadcast list:” – shows current broadcast addresses that are used to collect the users list from the network. You do not need to remove the default (255.255.255.255) broadcast address if all Softros Messengers work properly on your network. You should have at least one broadcast address in the list to allow Softros Messengers to communicate on your network.

“Broadcast address:” – you can add a new broadcast address to list. Type its address and click the “<– Add” button. To remove a broadcast address, select it from the list and click the “Delete” button.

“UDP port:” and “TCP port:” – Softros LAN Messenger listens on these ports to retrieve the users list, messages and files.

“Connection time out:” – this value is used for connection time outs sending messages. The default value is optimal for small and large networks; however you may increase it if you have a very slow or a heavily loaded network.

“Export...” button – click this button to export your current network settings. (Please read about this feature below.)

How to export network settings to load and use them for each computer on the network.

Choose the “System defined location” option first. This allows changing of network settings.
Configure your network settings (see Broadcasts Settings section).
Click the “Export...” button and save your data to a file.
On each computer choose the “Load network settings from this file” option and specify the path to the folder (on the local or a remote computer) where you saved your settings file in step 3; open this file.
Click the “OK” button. Softros LAN Messenger will now load its network settings from this file at start-up.