Does Paratext Live, even on a local server, require access to the internet?

Question

We have a team that has been attempting to use Paratext live on a local server and finding it difficult. They are on Paratext 9.3.103. The internet in their area is unstable which is why they were attempting to use a local server, but the connection keeps getting lost.

I’ve never used Paratext live before so this is new to me.

I’ve got two laptops setup to connect to my cell phone as a hotspot. I’ve found that when I attempt to run Paratext live over this hotspot, and with mobile data enabled, PTx Live works. But once I turn of mobile data, PTx Live stops working. Is there a way to get PTx Live to continue to function using a local server when the internet drops, or is out for a few days?

Answer 1

It might help us to know more about which options you’re selecting in the Paratext Live menu. If you’re all connected to the hotspot, with mobile data disabled, are you able to start a server with the option ‘Select a different server’ → ‘Local default’ or ‘This computer’?

It is possible that you’ll have issues using a phone as a hotspot, because it may not allow multiple devices on its local network to communicate with each other. When your data is enabled, PT Live may functioning via the internet rather than locally. Or the cell phone local network might not be as stable as having a local network using a proper router.

Comments

Thanks Stephen+Katt,
I found an old dlink switch in a cabinet and found that we could use Paratext Live just fine with that, and there was no internet connection. So I think your hypothesis about it being an issue with the cell hotspot is probably accurate. The team I’m trying to help is using a 4g Router. As it has Lan ports, I’m going to see if putting a switch (probably wifi) on it and seeing if that enables the computers to talk with each other.

MSEAIT/LT

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To round out this topic. The team has a 4g router that they use to provide wifi into the office. It prevented communication between it’s clients. We couldn’t see in the controls how to turn that off. We disabled it’s wifi, and hung a wifi router off of the 4g router. This enabled the computers to talk to each other, and Paratext Live worked. To complete the thought, we added windows desktop to the network, configured it to log in on startup and run the pararatext log in. Now the server is ‘always’ available.

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I’m not familiar enough with servers/routers/networks to be able to do this. But I also see great potential in being able to use Paratext Live on our office network/server. I’m wondering if you or a Paratext admin person could write up step-by-step instructions for how to do this. I’m sure others could also find it useful.