PS RAS Connection Manager FAQs
Note: The legacy RAS (dial-up networking) and PeopleSoft RAS Connection Manager (also known as PSRC or PSRCM) are in the process of being retired. To standardize dial-up access, the integrated PeopleSoft company is deploying iPass and VPN as the dial-up solution. For more information, see Eureka! document 54040 — iPass Frequently Asked Questions.
PS RAS Connection Manager FAQs
Using PS RAS Connection Manager for the first time - what do I do?
Log onto your machine (don't check the "Log on using dial-up..." box).
Launch PS RAS Connection Manager from your Windows desktop or click Start then Programs, then PS WinApps, and then PS RAS Connection Manager.
Enter or check your network information (username, password, domain) on the left side of the screen.
Choose the correct country on the right side of the screen.
If available, enter your Area code in the Area code field and your phone number in the Phone number field.
Click Connect.
NOTE: Once you use PS RAS Connection Manager to choose a phone number, you can use Dial-Up Networking (by clicking the "Logon using dialup..." option on your Windows logon screen) when you boot up your machine.
For more information about using PS RAS Connection Manager for the first time, see Eureka! document 55092 — How to use PS RAS Connection Manager.
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What if the PS Connection entry in Dial-Up Networking is blank?
If the PS Connection entry in your Dial-Up Networking phone book is blank ( i.e. , no phone number appears in the Phone number preview field on the Dial-Up networking screen), you must use PS RAS Connection Manager to obtain a number. For instructions on how to use PS RAS Connection Manager, click here.
To avoid this problem in the future, do not launch PS RAS Connection Manager if you do not plan to use it to RAS in during that machine session.
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Why does PS RAS Connection Manager keep flashing in my Windows taskbar?
Once you launch PS RAS Connection Manager, you can open other applications on top of it. However, until you actually connect to a PeopleSoft server, the application will flash or blink in your Windows taskbar (usually, at the bottom of your screen.)
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Cost issues relating to PS RAS Connection Manager
If you incur phone costs when using the PS RAS Connection Manager, you can include them on an expense report. For most users, the line item is Telephone (Home or Hotel). For more tips on keeping your costs to a minimum and for tips on containing the costs, see Eureka! document 55101 — How to handle the costs of calls made by PS RAS Connection Manager.
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Will I get a warning when my network password is about to expire?
Because you log into the local machine FIRST and THEN log into the network, you will not receive any password expiration warning because you are not fully authenticated on the network.
PS RAS Connection Manager is to be used mainly to choose a local number for you to use. If you do not change locations between connections, you can use Dial-Up Networking by checking the "Logon using dialup..." on the Windows Logon screen.
If you have had to get your password reset by Technical Support Operations because it expired, click here for more information about how to RAS in if you have changed locations since the last time your RASed in, see Eureka! document 55107 — Changing your network password while using PS RAS Connection Manager.
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Wrong area code appears in PeopleSoft local number field
If the wrong area code appears in the PeopleSoft local number field, make sure you have entered the correct area code for the number from which you are calling.
Additionally, in some areas, a call to another area code may still be a local non-toll call. Even if a different area code is dialed, the number is NOT a toll call (such as calls in the San Francisco Bay area between the 415 and 510 area codes). There are more areas with similar issues. If you are unsure whether the call will incur a charge, contact the local phone company.
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Toll free number list appears - how do I get a local number?
We applaud you who are concerned about saving PeopleSoft money and appreciate all your efforts.
If you are getting a list of toll-free numbers instead of a PeopleSoft local number, double check your area code and phone number. If that information is correct, it is all right to choose a toll-free number from the list provided.
You may also want to check to see if your state has a special local number you could use in lieu of the toll free number generated by PS RAS Connection Manager. For steps on how to find those numbers and use them, see Eureka! document 55104 — Getting a list of toll-free numbers - want a local number.
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How do I change my network password if I use PS RAS Connection Manager?
To avoid synchronization problems while changing your network password, check the box next to "Logon using Dialup..." on the Windows logon screen. Then RAS into the PeopleSoft network and change your password. However, if you have changed locations since the last time you RASed in, the PS Connection entry in Dial-Up Networking may not be the correct one to use for your current location and you will have to change the number. To change the PS Connection number to match your current location and then change your network password:
Log on your local machine.
Launch PS RAS Connection Manager. Enter your current location information (area code and phone number) and network password and click Connect. You don't need to actually connect. You can just make sure that the number dials completely and then click Disconnect.
Log out and back into the machine by click on the Start menu, then Sh ut Down... and then Log off username.
For more details, see Eureka! document 55107 — Changing your network password while using PS RAS Connection Manager.
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What is PS RAS Connection Manager?
PS RAS Connection Manager is a utility that works together with the Microsoft Dial-Up Networking utility on your machine and "Focal" (local phone number) technology to help you choose a local phone numbers to RAS in, where possible. It helps you choose a number to use based on the phone number of your current location
For more information about PS RAS Connection, see Eureka! document 55027 — What is PS RAS Connection Manager?.
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How do I turn off call waiting when using PS RAS Connection Manager?
To turn off the call waiting feature on your phone when using PS RAS Connection Manager (in the United States): enter *70 in the Outside access field of PS RAS Connection Manager before you dial your number. You may wish to put a comma after the *70 to allow time for the phone to process the request.
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Picking a country: If the country from which you are calling is not listed on PS RAS Connection Manager's dropdown list of "Country or Region,", choose a country that is geographically close to you. We still want to keep the toll costs down for RAS connections. Note that most toll-free numbers must be used in the originating country.
International access code: If you must RAS in to a server located in another country, please check the number PS RAS Connection is dialing. To do this, enter your information and click Connect. Watch the number dialed in the lower left hand corner of the screen. If the number is incomplete, click the Disconnect button. Most likely, an international access code will be missing from the front of the number. Enter that information in the Outside access field.
In the future, more tips are available in Eureka! document 55043 — Tips for international users of PS RAS Connection Manager.
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What if there is no local number for my current location?
U.S. users: We do not have Focal coverage throughout the United States yet. If there is no Focal number available (meaning, no number appears in the PeopleSoft local number field for the phone number you enter, a list of toll-free numbers will appear. You may also check to see if your state has a local number you can use. Click on the State or Province field where "800 Access" currently appears. If your state has a local number available, it will appear in the Access numbers: box. Use that number ONLY if it will not incur toll charges. If you are not sure, use a toll-free number.
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Note: If you get a list of toll-free numbers when you enter your area code and phone number into the appropriate fields in PS RAS Connection Manager, don't panic. Just check to make sure you entered the correct numbers into those fields. Then go ahead and choose a number provided. Focal is updating their database on a quarterly basis, so a local number may come up in the near future in your area code.
Here is the list of areas covered by Focal. That means that those areas have the possibility of dialing in using a local number; however, not all prefixes in one area code are necessarily covered by Focal technology. Cellular phone numbers are generally not covered. For more details, see Eureka! document 55103 — Focal sites currently active.
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What's the difference between PS RAS Connection Manager and Dial-Up Networking?
They are merely 2 different ways to use a dialup number to connect to the PeopleSoft network. PS RAS Connection Manager helps users in areas serviced by "Focal" technology to sift through hundreds of phone numbers to choose the most cost-effective one. If Focal technology is not available in your area, PS RAS Connection Manager lists the phone numbers available for use.
For more information about how the 2 different systems work, see Eureka! document 55015 — When to use PS RAS Connection Manager.
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Why not ALWAYS use PS RAS Connection Manager to dial in?
Although PS RAS Connection Manager maps your N: and P: drives for you, you are not fully authenticated on the network. This is a feature of how Microsoft networking security works. Generally, you could work on the network while not fully authenticated, but when changing your password , you should log on the correct way through Dial-Up Networking. (Check the box next to "Log on using dialup..."). Also, access to some network drives may not be available.
Once you use a number to dial in via the PS Connection Manager, that number will be available via Dialup Networking as the PS Connection entry:
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When do I use PS RAS Connection Manager and when do I use Dial-Up Networking?
Here's a chart to help you decide:
| When to use PS RAS Connection Manager | When to use Dial-Up Networking |
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How come my desktop icons with PeopleSoft RAS phone numbers don't work anymore?
The installation of PS RAS Connection Manager removes all PeopleSoft standard RAS phone numbers. The information in the shortcuts to these numbers will no longer be available, so the shortcuts will no longer work.
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Will I lose my personal phone numbers to my ISP that I've entered into Dial-Up Networking?
No. Those numbers will still appear in the Dial-Up Networking phone book. So any connections you created to, for example, your ISP, will still be available.
Note: You may have to reenter your user name and password for those personal connections because your PeopleSoft user name may appear instead of your personalized connection information. This is a limitation of the program.
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Why do I have to reenter my phone number information every time (but others don't)?
(US users only) By design, PS Connection Manager remembers the last local number you used to connect to the PeopleSoft network with the application. However, if the last number your used was a toll-free number, that number is removed from PS Connection Manager to encourage users to use local numbers whenever possible.
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If you are connected to the PeopleSoft network, you can launch Eureka! to view more information about PS RAS Connection Manager:
If you are unable to connect to the network, you can contact Technical Support Operations:
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Created by the PeopleSoft Knowledge Management Team.
Copyright © 2004
All rights reserved.
Created: kcw 05/23/2001
Revised: pmg 08/06/2004
Reviewed: 09/13/2004