Need help with an Internet access problem

[Jim]

While this is not a WHS (Windows Home Server) newsgroup, I’m hoping someone
with networking experience could advise me on what appears to be an Internet
access problem.



I’m operating 3 Windows XP computers on a LAN. I also run a WHS system which
has been going great for many months. BUT just recently I’ve been unable to
access this system via the Internet. I’ve tried just about everything with
no success. The following ports are forwarded to (198.162.1.102) on my
Linksys BEFS41 V.2 router as per the instructions.



HTTPS port 443 TCP

HTTP port 80 TCP

Remote port 3389 TCP

RDP port 4125 TCP



I’ve also changed my domain name (xxx.homeserver.com) several times with no
difference – still unable to access it.



Someone said that Comcast may be blocking access but I’ve pointed out that I’m
also running an IIS Web server on another XP machine with no access
problems.



GREATHY appreciate any/all suggestions.

 

[Bob Lin \(MS-MVP\)]

Can you telnet port 443 and 80 internally? If yes, can you telnet them in
the Internet?

--
Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on
http://www.ChicagoTech.net
How to Setup Windows, Network, VPN & Remote Access on
http://www.HowToNetworking.com

 

[John Wunderlich]

While this is not a WHS (Windows Home Server) newsgroup, I’m
hoping someone with networking experience could advise me on what
appears to be an Internet access problem.



I’m operating 3 Windows XP computers on a LAN. I also run a WHS
system which has been going great for many months. BUT just
recently I’ve been unable to access this system via the Internet.
I’ve tried just about everything with no success. The following
ports are forwarded to (198.162.1.102) on my Linksys BEFS41 V.2
router as per the instructions.



HTTPS port 443 TCP

HTTP port 80 TCP

Remote port 3389 TCP

RDP port 4125 TCP



I’ve also changed my domain name (xxx.homeserver.com) several
times with no difference – still unable to access it.



Someone said that Comcast may be blocking access but I’ve pointed
out that I’m also running an IIS Web server on another XP machine
with no access problems.

My first observation is that you seem to be port forwarding to an
address that is part of the BEFSR41's default DHCP range. Is it
possible that your device's IP address has changed to something besides
..102? Usually a Server device is assigned a fixed IP address that is
outside of the DHCP range to sidestep this eventuality.

-- John

 

[smlunatick]

My first observation is that you seem to be port forwarding to an
address that is part of the BEFSR41's default DHCP range.  Is it
possible that your device's IP address has changed to something besides
.102?  Usually a Server device is assigned a fixed IP address that is
outside of the DHCP range to sidestep this eventuality.

-- John

You might forget that some routers offer DHCP IP reservation. With IP
address reservation, once the router sees the Network Interface Card
(NIC) MAC address, that network card will always be assigned the same
IP address.

 

[John Wunderlich]

m:

You might forget that some routers offer DHCP IP reservation.
With IP address reservation, once the router sees the Network
Interface Card (NIC) MAC address, that network card will always be
assigned the same IP address.

No, I didn't forget. I have a BEFSR41 myself and it doesn't have the
IP reservation feature.

-- John

 

[Jack-MVP]

Hi
If you run a server on another computer using port 80 you can not use it on
a second computer.
A port can be Opened only toward one Computer/IP.
Any computer that uses a port Opening through a Linksys BEFS41 V.2 should be
configured with a static IP since the Router can Not do IP reservation.
Beside the Router you have to check WHS Firewall too.
I do not know what you mean by "domain name (xxx.homeserver.com)".
But after a change it might take some time for the Remote DNS to update
itself.
Jack (MS, MVP-Networking).

in










My first observation is that you seem to be port forwarding to an
address that is part of the BEFSR41's default DHCP range. Is it
possible that your device's IP address has changed to something besides
.102? Usually a Server device is assigned a fixed IP address that is
outside of the DHCP range to sidestep this eventuality.

-- John

You might forget that some routers offer DHCP IP reservation. With IP
address reservation, once the router sees the Network Interface Card
(NIC) MAC address, that network card will always be assigned the same
IP address.

 

[Jim]

Jack,

Looks like you hit the nail on the head, I am running both my IIS Web server
computer and my WHS using port 80. Need some time to do some checking but
will get back to you.

Many Thanks

Jim

 

[Jim]

Hello Jack,

You were absolutely correct, I was using port 80 on two different computer
servers (IIS Web and WHS). I removed the one on IIS Web and now WHS access
is working just fine. Is there any (simple) way around this problem or
should I just run one server at a time?

MANY, MANY THANKS. I just spent about 3 days trying to figure out this
problem and you were the only one who understood it!!

Jim

 

[Jack-MVP]

Hi
Hey, it can happen to the best of us .
You can run a second server provided that it is running on port 80.
Change the port of IIS, http://support.microsoft.com/kb/149605
If let say you change it to 61111, open 61111 toward the IP of the server.
To access it from the outside you type into the browser,
www.xxx.homeserver.com:61111
Or if it does not work with the domain xxx.homeserver.com you can use
another Domain name from a DNS provider that does port redirection at the
DND Server.
Jack (MS, MVP-Networking)

 

[Jim]

Many thanks Jack.

Jim

Hi
Hey, it can happen to the best of us .
You can run a second server provided that it is running on port 80.
Change the port of IIS, http://support.microsoft.com/kb/149605
If let say you change it to 61111, open 61111 toward the IP of the server.
To access it from the outside you type into the browser,
www.xxx.homeserver.com:61111
Or if it does not work with the domain xxx.homeserver.com you can use
another Domain name from a DNS provider that does port redirection at the
DND Server.
Jack (MS, MVP-Networking)