Preparing Your System for Installation

BigTime gets installed on only one computer in your office. That system needs to be a Windows XP (Pro), Windows 2000 or Windows 2003 computer with the "IIS" component installed. Vista computers will require that all of the web server components are installed in order to operate properly. For a basic 10-user evaluation, you'll want to have a computer with at least 512MB of RAM (1GB is preferred) and 120MB of available hard disk space. You'll also need the following.

• Note Your Computer's "name." You should know the name of the computer BigTime will be loaded on (from your My Computer... Properties link), and it's IP address (if you plan to connect to BigTime from MAC computers in your office). When users access BigTime, they'll type that computer name into their browser, so it's a good idea to change the computer name to something that makes sense (e.g. 'BigTimeServer' or just 'BigTime').

  If you don't know the computer name, just right click on your MY COMPUTER icon. Choose PROPERTIES and select the COMPUTER NAME tab. Jot down the computer name and keep it handy.

• Install a Default Printer. Your BigTime server should have a default printer installed so that your system can create and distribute reports. If you don't have a default printer, then just add any of the standard Windows postscript printers (e.g. – HP or Lexmark printers) and make it your default printer.
• Make Sure Microsoft's Web Server (IIS) Is Installed. Remember, BigTime turns your computer into a mini web-server, you you'll need to make sure that the tool(s) it uses to accomplish that take are installed and running properly. Internet Information Server (IIS) is the software that Microsoft uses to run web-based programs, and it needs to be installed on your BigTime server.

  To check to see if this already exists on your system, just go to your CONTROL PANEL and select Add/Remove Programs. Choose the WINDOWS COMPONENTS section, and scroll down to see that the IIS box is checked. If it isn't just check it and click NEXT to install the component.

• Firewall Settings. In order for the other users on your corporate network to see the BigTime website, they'll need to be able to browse to the website that gets created when you install the system. WindowsXP and Windows 2003 users should make sure that the Windows Firewall software is either turned off or setup with a "port exception" (TCP/IP port 80) so that other computers in your office can see your BigTime website from their browser.