Catalyst Knowledge Base

Predict network actions setting disabled in Google Chrome

Summary Google Chrome includes a ‘predictive’ network capability designed to increase the user browsing experience. As designed, this feature ‘pre-fetches’ pages based on the values entered by the user or instructions by a website. Problem When enabled, the predictive feature …

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Using Browsium Catalyst to control which browser is used for which Security Zone

Browsium Catalyst has the ability to define Rule actions based on several categories: Whole/Partial URL String Pattern Matching Security Zone Internet Domain This knowledge base article reviews how Security Zones work and ways to ensure proper use of Security Zones …

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Browsium Catalyst 1.0.1 Release Notes

The Browsium Catalyst 1.0.1 Release Notes provide specific details on what’s new and known issues for this version. Browsium-Catalyst-1.0.1-ReleaseNotes.pdf

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Catalyst Rules don’t always work on homepages in Chrome or Firefox

Summary The first page loaded when a browser is launched is known as the ‘homepage’. Organizations using Browsium Catalyst may want to ensure users view the corporate homepage using either Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox. This article covers some known …

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How does the Catalyst 30-Day Evaluation Kit function?

The Browsium Catalyst Evaluation Kit can be used on an unlimited number of PCs in your organization and be used to test both local registry and Group Policy deployment. It will time out 30 days after installation on each system …

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Catalyst Extension for Chrome not enabled by default

Google has added functionality to Chrome version 25 and later to prevent software installers from enabling extensions for Chrome by default. Details on this Chrome feature can be found here. This may impact the Catalyst Client-Add-on after installation as client …

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Privacy modes and Browsium Catalyst

Summary Modern browsers include more security and privacy features than ever before. One of these new features provides the ability for users to avoid leaving ‘tracks’ on the local computer about where they have browsed and sites visited. Internet Explorer …

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Why does Catalyst require a reboot after installation?

The Browsium Catalyst Client Add-on installer requires a machine-wide restart because of restrictions in Windows related to elevation of privileges. The Catalyst installer runs an elevated process and therefore can’t automatically restart browsers or start the Catalyst Controller. Double clicking the Catalyst …

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Can Catalyst control the browser to use by IP address rather than URL string?

Yes, any address with a valid protocol (scheme) prepended to it that is recognized by the operating system to be opened up in a browser will be manageable from Catalyst.

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How does Catalyst handle web pages with sub-frames which come from other domains?

Catalyst currently handles top-level navigations only. For example, if a page primarysite.com contains a sub-frame from anothersite.com, only primarysite.com, the top-level page, is used in evaluating the Catalyst rules.

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If Catalyst rules are found for both the machine and the user, which takes precedence?

Catalyst follows the Windows Policy-Preference standard, the same standard followed by all Microsoft products. The following list is in order of precedence, 1 being the highest and 4 being the lowest: Machine policy (HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Browsium) User Policy (HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Browsium) User Preference (HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Browsium) …

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Can the Catalyst software and/or settings be distributed via SCCM?

Yes, any enterprise software distribution tool can be used. The Catalyst client software installer is an MSI file and the settings are stored in an XML file for flat-file distribution (or an Group Policy template for Active Directory distribution).

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Creating a Rule for Windows Update on Windows XP

Summary By default, Windows Update will only run in Internet Explorer when run on Windows XP. (Windows Update has its own Control Panel Applet on Windows 7). If the Block Other Requests setting for Internet Explorer is enabled in Catalyst, …

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Pro Tip: Using “Absolute URI” and “Is” in a Rule? Don’t Forget the Forward Slash!

Using “Absolute URI” and “Is” in your rule is handy when you need an exact match to a very specific page, but don’t need everything else on the site to use an Ion or Catalyst rule. But “Absolute URI”is picky: it …

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Catalyst does not manage navigation of links from Jump Lists in Windows 7

Note: This issue has been addressed in Catalyst 1.0.1. Summary Windows 7 includes a feature to streamline the experience when opening recently viewed items. The Jump List feature is designed to take you right to the document or website you …

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Catalyst Controller fails to start on Client-only systems

Note: This issue has been addressed in Catalyst 1.0.1. Problem: On systems with only the Catalyst client installed, the Controller.exe process may fail to start. The issue is caused by a missing or unreadable required Registry Key which should be …

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Browsers referenced in projects must match browsers installed on client PCs

Note: This issue has been addressed in Catalyst 1.0.1. New projects created in Catalyst Configuration Manager assume that all client systems include Chrome and Firefox browsers, in addition to the built-in version of Internet Explorer. By default, these project files …

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More questions? Read our Catalyst General FAQs.