Port numbers identify the TCP ports from which the BMC Remedy Action Request (AR) System server and the plug-in server will run.  The following topics are provided:

Portmapper registration

A portmapper is a service that runs independently of the BMC Remedy AR System server and serves as a directory of port numbers.

Depending on whether or not the server is registered with a portmapper, users must perform the following actions while logging on to BMC Remedy AR System:

• If a server is registered with a portmapper, users do not need to specify the port number in the client, because the portmapper can locate the port and direct clients to the appropriate location.
• If a server is not registered with a portmapper, or if a Port 111 firewall blocks the portmapper port, users must specify the port.

When you start the server, it opens a port to listen to. You can specify a port for the server or let the server obtain an available port dynamically.

You can register a server with a portmapper and assign a port number. For example, if you do this and do not expose the portmapper outside a firewall, clients within the firewall do not need to be configured to access the specified port number. They can access the portmapper, which directs them to the port. Clients outside the firewall must be configured to access the specified port number.

Portmapper detection

On Windows, the AR System installer searches for an existing portmapper. If a portmapper is installed and running and you choose to register with a portmapper, the BMC Remedy AR System registers the server with that portmapper. If the installer does not detect a running portmapper and you chose to register with a portmapper, the installer installs the portmapper and registers the AR System server with that portmapper.