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Technical Requirements
Technical Requirements

The following requirements are suggested in order for your Communities of Practice experience to be as valuable as possible.

Minimum Requirements

Operating System

  • Windows 95
  • Windows 98
  • Windows NT 4.0
  • Windows 2000
  • Windows XP

    Browser Software

  • Microsoft Internet Explorer version 6.0 or higher
  • Netscape Communicator version 6.1 or higher
  • SPECIAL NOTE FOR AOL USERS: AOL users should access the Internet through AOL, then open IE or Netscape to visit the SLA Communities of Practice web site.

Checking for Required Browser Version

Microsoft Internet Explorer

  1. Open your browser.
  2. Click Help on its top menu bar.
  3. Click About Internet Explorer. A popup window displays information about your browser. The version number is the first item listed.

Netscape Communicator

  1. Open your browser.
  2. Click Help on your top menu bar.
  3. Click About Communicator. A popup window displays information on your browser, including the version number.

Upgrading Browser Software
The more recent your browser version, the better you can take advantage of available features while using the Internet. Both Microsoft and Netscape maintain websites that provide free downloads of recent versions of their browsers.

Note: Browser files are large and can take a long tome to download if you are using a dial-up connection.

Microsoft Internet Explorer

  1. Go to http://www.microsoft.com/downloads. (If clicking this link does not work, copy and paste the address into your browser address box and click "Go." You will be taken to Microsoft's Download Center Home Page.
  2. Click the "Internet" link in the left frame. Because this is a popular download, it's usually listed in the "Most Popular Downloads" section at the top of the page. Click the link (As of this writing, the version available is Internet Explorer 6, Service Pack 1.) If you do not see it, use the drop-down list box below to select "Explorer" and then click "Go."
  3. Click the "Download" link (currently found on the right side of the page) and save the program to disk.

Netscape

  1. Go to http://channels.netscape.com/ns/browsers/download.jsp. (If clicking this link does not work, copy and paste the address into your browser address box and click "Go.") You will be taken to Netscape's Browser Download page.
  2. In the "Download Netscape Browser" (as of this writing, it's Netscape 7.1) box, click the Download button.
  3. You'll find a link to "Installation Instructions" directly below.

Setting Your Browser to Accept Cookies
Cookies are data files written to your hard drive by some web sites when you view them in your browser, so the server can identify you. A cookie is needed so that the CoP site can recognize you and open your Personal Page without needed to log in again. If you have your browser security setting at "high," you will not be able to view your page.

You do not have to accept cookies in order to use the CoP site. Cookies are used just as a convenience.

If you are not sure if your browser is set to accept cookies or would like to change your settings, here's what to do:

Internet Explorer 6.0 or higher

  1. Open your browser.
  2. From the menu bar, select Tools > Internet Options.
  3. When the Internet Options window opens, select the Privacy tab.
  4. Drag and drop the slider bar to Low.
  5. Click OK.

Netscape 6.1 or higher

  1. Open Netscape.
  2. From the menu bar, select Edit > Preferences.
  3. In the left frame, Double-click Privacy and Security to expand the list.
  4. Click Cookies. Choose the Enable All Cookies radio button.
  5. Click OK.

Deleting Cookies
In some instances, you may need to delete your old cookies in order to login to the site.

Internet Explorer

  1. Start your browser.
  2. From the top menu bar, select Tools > Internet Options.
  3. A pop-up window with Internet Options will appear. Under the Temporary Internet Files section, click on the Delete Cookies button.
  4. It may take a few minutes for your computer to delete all your cookies. Once the task is complete, click on the OK button at the bottom.

Netscape 6.1 or higher

  1. Open Netscape.
  2. From the top menu bar, click on Tools > Cookie Manager > Manage Stored Cookies.
  3. The Manage Stored Cookies window opens.
    1. To delete all of your cookies:
      1. Click Remove All Cookies.
      2. Click OK
    2. To delete only the cookies related to the Communities of Practice.
      1. The View and Remove Cookies that are stored on your computer panel lists all cookies by site. Select the cookies related to cop.sla.org.
      2. Click the Remove Cookie button.
      3. Click OK

Checking Your Operating System
It's possible you'll need to contact technical support at some point with a question. You'll need to know what operating system and version your computer uses. To find out:

  1. From your desktop, right-click the My Computer icon.
  2. Left-click Properties. The System Properties window opens.
  3. System information appears on the General page.

Pop-Up Blocker Software
Some areas of the Communities of Practice web site use new windows to view information. If you are using pop-up blocker software such as Pop-Up Stopper, Zero Popup, or similar applications from sites such as Google, AOL, or Earthlink, you will not be able to view some content. The SLA web site does not deploy advertisements in pop up windows, and it is recommended that pop up blocker software be turned off while you are interacting within the CoP site.

JavaScript and Java Applets
The chat feature of the Communities of Practice web site uses java scripts and applets to execute the chat window. If you do not have the Java Plug-In already installed on your browser, you will see the following message and/or icon:

Internet Explorer 6.0 or higher
When Internet Explorer first encounters a web page that specifies Java Plug-in, Internet Explorer will open a message window and ask the user if it is OK to download an ActiveX control that is digitally signed by Sun Microsystems, Inc. and verifiable by the associated certificate.

  1. Click "Yes." Internet Explorer will quickly download a small ActiveX control from Sun's web site that will handle downloading the main Java Plug-in ActiveX control and Sun's JRE. This will include selecting the appropriate locale-specific JRE and offering the user a list of suitable download sites. It will then download the files automatically and install them.
  2. The Java Plug-in ActiveX control will then run.
  3. The next time Internet Explorer encounters a web page that specifies the Java Plug-in, Internet Explorer will seamlessly load and run the ActiveX control, requiring no user intervention.

Netscape 6.1 or higher
When Navigator first encounters a web page that specifies Java Plug-in, users will see a plugin-missing picture on the HTML page.

  1. Click on this picture to go to the Java Plug-in download page.
  2. Download the appropriate version of the Java Plug-in in accordance with your Operating System and install it.
  3. Java Plug-in will then run render the applet.
  4. The next time Navigator encounters a web page that specifies the Java Plug-in, Navigator will seamlessly load and run the plug-in, requiring no user intervention.

If you are still having problems connecting to Chat, and are connecting to the chat from a company network, you may need to contact your IS department to let them know they need to open ports 7777 and 7877. This will allow you to connect to the chat.

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