How do I troubleshoot network connectivity problems?

The best way to test your internet connectivity is using the Preferences dialog (Edit > Preferences). From the Preferences dialog, select the Internet Connectivity tab and then click Test Internet Connectivity. If the internet connectivity test succeeds, Mathematica should be able to use the internet. This means that the live updating system for documentation and data collections should work normally. If Mathematica reports that the internet connectivity test failed, try the following troubleshooting tips.

You can inspect the current proxy settings in two ways. You can click Edit > Preferences to open the Preferences dialog. When it is open, click the Internet Connectivity tab to show connectivity options, and click the Proxy Settings opener to show the proxy settings and edit them according to the configuration of your internet connection.

Preferences Dialog Box

Alternatively, you can evaluate $InternetProxyRules. In the resulting list, look at the field, UseProxy->val.

The default setting for UseProxy should be Automatic.

Use the UseInternetProxy function to set the UseProxy value.

In[1]:=

You can also use the SetInternetProxy function to assign specific proxies to protocols. See the following example.

In[2]:=

Please note that if Internet Explorer is set up to use a proxy configuration script, Mathematica cannot use the same values. You will have to set proxies manually using SetInternetProxy. You can find the proxy settings by launching Internet Explorer, clicking Tools > Internet Options, and clicking the Connections tab.

If you have personal firewall programs with strict settings, they might block Mathematica's attempts to use the internet. Most firewall programs will display a warning when a program is trying to use the internet, and will ask whether it should be allowed or not. Be aware that it is the JRE in the Mathematica layout that is making the attempt, not the kernel. If you suspect firewall problems, you can turn it off temporarily to see if that fixes it. If so, just configure the firewall to allow our JRE to use the internet. (You may need to consult the documentation for your firewall program.)

The following information covers issues concerning several popular personal firewalls and how the live updating system for documentation in Mathematica 6 can possibly be made to work in conjunction with these firewall applications. We make no recommendations, implied or otherwise, as to which firewall you should use. Nor do we recommend in favor of, or against, using a personal firewall. This information is provided merely as added assistance for your Mathematica use.

If you have any further questions or problems, please contact the technical support organization for the firewall product you are using.

Even with the strictest settings, Windows Firewall accepts all solicited incoming packets over port 80, so Windows Firewall will not block the transfer of data collections.

ZoneAlarm may block data collection transfer. When it does, the following dialog will appear.

ZoneAlarm Security Alert

The destination IP listed is not a Wolfram IP. This appears to be the DSL domain name server. When you click the View Properties hyperlink, this is what you see. Hovering over the Location hyperlink shows a tooltip with the full path to javaw.exe in our layout.

Properties Dialog for javaw.exe

Norton firewall has a feature called "Automatic Program Control" which is turned on by default. While on, it will automatically configure Mathematica's javaw.exe correctly with respect to documentation paclets. If you override the default and turn off this feature, the following dialog will appear.

Norton Personal Firewall Dialog Box

Since this is marked as "Low Risk", has the right default action, and shows the Mathematica path in the dialog, there is little room for confusion.

Using the default settings, here are the dialogs that come up when Mathematica is launched.

Comodo Firewall Dialog Box

Comodo Firewall Dialog Box

Comodo Firewall Dialog Box

Comodo Firewall Dialog Box

Here are the settings when you double-click the javaw.exe link from the dialog.

Comodo Firewall Dialog Box

Comodo Firewall Dialog Box

After Mathematica has started and once you try and access documentation for, say, Sin using F1, the following dialogs appear. Both are appropriate.

Sygate Personal Firewall Dialog Box

Sygate Personal Firewall Dialog Box

Download this FAQ as a Mathematica 6.0 Notebook

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