But it does not work.  It seems to be trying to access something from openerp.com.  Both my client machines and the server are all in the same building.  I have to prep the server elsewhere in order to load software on it.

Unfortunately this is a remote farm house and there is no mobile coverage and no land line service available.  Yes I know, this is the 21st century and I live in a "developed" country, but that is the situation I live in.  

How do I configure Odoo not to try to access the outside world?

David