applets work as expected when server is running in IDE but not when server is running stand alone

[ramjet]

I have a server that communicates with java applets via socket connections. Messages move back and forth between applets and the server and between applets (similar to chat) as long as the server is running inside the NetBeans IDE. When the server is running stand alone, applet to server communications work properly, but applet to applet communications do not. The jars that perform the socket connections are signed (currently self- signed). Obviously there is a difference in the environment when the server is running within the IDE and stand alone, but so far I have not been able to figure out what the difference is so I can make changes to the stand alone environment. Can anyone shed some light on this issue or at least point me in the correct direction? No error messages are in any of my server logs (tomcat6) or my own logging processes and no exceptions give any indication of problems. Losing my hair over this one.