RADS will run in either connected mode or disconnected mode. If you choose to run in disconnected mode, your client will not report back to any server. In essence, it will become a completely unmanaged / standalone client. You must also configure when you want the OfficeScan Client software to automatically update the pattern files that protect your system against viruses and spyware.
Here is a brief summary of differences between connected and disconnected mode:
| Connected Mode | Disconnected Mode | |
|---|---|---|
| OfficeScan Client settings configurable | Yes | Yes |
| Scheduled Update of pattern files configurable | No - Always runs at the time configured on the server the client reports to | Yes - Use the Scheduled Update Configuration Tool to configure updates |
| Updates are downloaded from | a local Rutgers server | Trend Micro's servers |
| Updates automatically received by clients as soon as they are available | Yes | No - Must rely on scheduled update to get pattern file and component updates |
| Automatic upgrades to new versions of the OfficeScan Client software | Yes | No - Must manually update to newer versions of the client software |
| Normal system tray icon |  |
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By comparing the two modes, you can see that keeping your system in connected mode will provide your system with updates faster than disconnected mode since the updates are retrieved from a local server rather than a server on the Internet. In addition, connected clients receive updates as soon as they are available and do not need to rely on scheduled updates*.
| *NOTE: |
| Clients that are behind a firewall without inbound TCP port 8081 opened or that reside on private, unroutable address space will rely on scheduled updates and will not receive updates immediately from the server. |
You can choose which mode you wish to run in during the client installation. However, if you change your mind later, it is possible to switch from one mode to the other. For information on how to do this, please review the Frequently Asked Questions.