Configuring Open Dental Port Numbers

Configuring the correct port numbers in Open Dental is essential for ensuring your workstations can reliably communicate with your database server. If these settings are incorrect, you will experience frequent connection timeouts, "Server not found" errors, or an inability to access patient data across your office network.

Requirements

Before adjusting your network settings, ensure you meet the following prerequisites:

• Version: You should be running Open Dental version 25.2 or 25.3.
• Permissions: You must have the "Setup" security permission enabled for your user account.
• Access: You must have physical or remote access to the computer acting as your database server.
• Network Knowledge: You should know the static IP address or the computer name of your server. If you are unsure, consult your IT professional, as changing these settings without knowing your network architecture can disconnect your entire office.

Step-by-Step Setup

Open Dental typically uses the default MySQL port 3306. If your IT professional has configured a custom port for security or network traffic management, you must update this on every workstation.

1. Close Open Dental on the workstation you are configuring.
2. Locate the OpenDental.exe shortcut on your desktop.
3. Right-click the shortcut and select Properties.
4. In the Target field, you will see the path to the executable. You do not need to change this, but you will need to ensure the configuration file is updated.
5. Navigate to the folder where Open Dental is installed (usually C:\Program Files (x86)\Open Dental\ or C:\Program Files\Open Dental\).
6. Locate the file named OpenDental.config and open it using Notepad.
7. Look for the line that contains <add key="MySQLPort" value="3306" />.
8. Change the 3306 to the specific port number provided by your IT professional.
9. Click File > Save in Notepad and close the file.
10. Re-open Open Dental. If the port is correct, the login screen will appear as usual. If the port is incorrect, you will receive a connection error.

How to Verify It's Working

To verify that your workstation is successfully communicating with the server using the new port numbers, perform the following test:

1. Open Open Dental and log in with your standard credentials.
2. Navigate to the Appointments Module.
3. Attempt to create a test appointment for any patient.
4. If the appointment saves successfully and appears on the schedule, your workstation is correctly communicating with the database server.
5. If you receive a "Database Connection Failed" error, double-check the OpenDental.config file to ensure there are no typos in the port number.

Tips & Best Practices

• Consistency is Key: Ensure that every workstation in the office is configured to use the same port number. Having different workstations trying to connect to different ports will cause inconsistent data access.
• Consult Your IT: Never change port numbers unless explicitly instructed by your IT professional. These settings are often tied to firewall rules; changing the port in Open Dental without updating the firewall will result in an immediate loss of connection.
• Document Your Setup: Keep a simple document in your office manager's binder that lists your server name, IP address, and the specific port number used for your database. This is invaluable when adding new computers or troubleshooting after a power outage.
• Security: If you are using a non-standard port for security reasons, ensure your firewall is configured to allow traffic only from your internal office network to that specific port.

If you continue to experience connection issues after verifying your port settings, contact your IT support provider to ensure the MySQL service is running on the server and that the Windows Firewall is not blocking the chosen port.

This article is provided by opendentalsupport.com, an independent community resource. We are not affiliated with Open Dental Software, Inc.