Frequently Asked Questions |
General Questions:
How do my employees or customers access our IcePORTAL?
After you have followed the Getting Started Instructions for IcePORTAL, you will have one or more user accounts created and given permissions to log into your IcePORTAL. Each portal has a unique URL that you would enter into your Internet web browser (such as Internet Explorer). IceWEB can also configure a customized URL for your company. Once connected to the IcePORTAL, users must enter a user name and password in order to view the site.
The IcePORTAL system can be accessed from any computer's web browser as long as you have an Internet connection. IcePORTAL fully supports Windows, Macintosh, and Linux computers.
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Can I have a custom URL or link to my portal such as portal.mycompany.com?
Yes, you can use an existing Internet domain name or purchase a new one from IceWEB. Once you have a registered Internet domain name, you can create an A RECORD in your DNS system that points to the default URL that IceWEB will provide you. For example, your new IcePORTAL may have the default URL of http://mycompany.portal.iceweb.com but you can create an A RECORD in DNS that has the name http://portal.mycompany.com. This "friendlier" URL may be easier for your users or customers to remember and can better fit into your existing web site naming convention/standard for your company. There is no additional charge for the use/configuration of a custom URL
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Are the communications between my desktop computer(s) and IcePORTAL secure?
Yes, IcePORTAL includes 128-bit encrypted SSL communications at no additional charge. All data transmitted across the Internet is completely secure. Additionally, all login authentication utilizes Kerberos encryption of the user ID/password.
The assigned "administrator" of your IcePORTAL will have complete control over which users have access to each page and each list/document/file on your portal.
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Does IcePORTAL support Macintosh or Linux-based computers?
Yes, IcePORTAL supports both Macintosh and Linux-based computers. Some web browsers will have a slightly different look and feel but most browsers are supported.
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Can I access my document libraries directly from Microsoft Office or by mapping a network drive?
Although the primary method for accessing your IcePORTAL site is through a web browser, you can also map a network drive or create a shortcut on your desktop computer that links you directly to a particular document library (or folder within a document library). You can also link directly to a specific document should you wish to place a shortcut on your desktop PC.
IcePORTAL is based on Microsoft's SharePoint Services 3.0 platform so you can also access documents and document libraries through Microsoft Office (version 2003 and newer). You can create document workspaces and team workspaces directly from within Microsoft Office applications without having to open a web browser first. If you do access IcePORTAL via a web browser, you can check in/out documents and select "edit" and the appropriate Microsoft Office appliation will automatically start and load the selected document. When you save or close our of the document, Microsoft Office will automatically prompt you to save the document back into SharePoint and even offer to check the document back in.
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How much storage space does IcePORTAL include?
There are several IcePORTAL packages available. Each of the packages has a default amount of disk storage space that can be used for all of your documents, files, lists, events, web pages, etc. During the initial purchase, you can choose to add additional storage space or additional user licenses to your IcePORTAL package/bundle.
If you need to purchase additional storage or user licenses after your initial purchase, you can do this through the IceWEB Account Control Panel or by contacting IceWEB Customer Service.
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Do I need Virtual Private Network (VPN) access into IcePORTAL?
No, Virtual Private Network (VPN) access is not required. Security is ensured through SSL encryption and IcePORTAL does not require VPN settings or software on each desktop PC. Eliminating the VPN connection makes using IcePORTAL much easier.
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Does IcePORTAL include an email address/account for my users?
IcePORTAL does require that a user account (along with email address) exist for each user. This email address is used for alerts and workflow within IcePORTAL. For example, users can sign up to receive alerts within IcePORTAL whenever a new document or item is added to the portal or whenever someone else updates a document. These "alerts" are sent to the user email address defined within IcePORTAL.
If you are not using the IceMAIL messaging service, we HIGHLY RECOMMEND that you configure each user account/email address to forward to an external email account that you and your users already have. Otherwise, your users will not receive these alerts and workflow-based email notifications. You can also sign up for the full IceMAIL messaging service in which case IceWEB will be your primary email provider and you will enjoy additional integration between IcePORTAL and IceMAIL.
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Can I upgrade my basic IcePORTAL user account to full IceMAIL mailboxes?
IcePORTAL users have basic email addresses and account so that alerts and workflow settings will function within IcePORTAL. These email accounts can be configured to forward to an existing (non IceWEB) email account. If you would like to use full IceMAIL email accounts (500MB storage per user plus shared calendars, tasks, contacts, notes, etc.), contact IceWEB Customer Service and we can upgrade your exisitng user accounts for an additional monthly fee.
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Can I use my existing domain name (e.g. mycompany.com) for my IcePORTAL login accounts?
All IcePORTAL users will have an account login ID in the format of an email address (e.g. johnsmith@mycompany.com)--refer to the FAQ "Does IcePORTAL include an email address/account for my users?" for more information on this.
If your email domain name (e.g. mycompany.com) is hosted with IceWEB, you can use the same email accounts and login IDs for your IcePORTAL users as you have with other IceWEB services such as IceMAIL. If you domain name is NOT hosted with IceWEB, we cannot assign your IcePORTAL accounts to have the same email address/domain name as it would cause a mail routing problem. In these situations, we have to assign you a new domain name or a free icemail subdomain name (e.g. mycompany.icemail.com). An alerts of workflow in IcePORTAL that send to your IcePORTAL email address can be routed/forwarded to your existing (non-IceWEB) email provider.
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Can I have my calendar events or lists within IcePORTAL appear in Microsoft Outlook?
Yes, users can subscribe to one or more lists or calendars that are stored within IcePORTAL. These lists could be customer contact lists, employee directories, a company calendar of events, or a project schedule. These events or lists can appear directly within Microsoft Outlook without even logging into the IcePORTAL. To fully leverage this capability, you must have IcePORTAL along with the IceMAIL messaging service.
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