RD connection problems

[DJF]

I can establish a Remote Desktop connection when my
laptop is on the same home network as my host computer,
both behind my firewall.

I cannot establish a remote desktop connection from any
computer outside my network. I get an error that says it
doesn't recognize the IP address of my host computer.

- I have enabled remote desktop within XP pro
- I have forwarded port 3389 to my host computer
- I am attempting to connect to the host computer using
the IP address of that computer as found by whatismyip.com
- I can connect to this host computer at that ip address
using netmeeting, so I know that some data is getting
through to that machine.

What could be wrong?

 

[Sooner Al]

To make sure both port forwarding is setup correctly and Remote Desktop is running try this telnet
test and post back. Run this test is over the public internet from a remote location.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q187628

What firewall are you using?

--
Al Jarvi (MS-MVP Windows Networking)

Please post *ALL* questions and replies to the news group for the mutual benefit of all of us...
The MS MVP Program - http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights...

 

[DJF]

Ran the test. The client computer succeeded in
connecting with the telnet application. However the test
site said "On the Terminal Server, Terminal Server
Administration will show a blue computer icon with no
other information."

I don't know what terminal server administration is, and
I didn't see any blue computer icon at all. (my little
computer icon in my system tray however did light up blue
with traffic when he telneted me, if this is what they're
referring to.)

In addition, my router's incoming log table showed the
telnet being received from the client's IP address, and
registering on port 3389.

I'm using a linksys router, which has a firewall built
in. As far as I can tell, the software firewall with XP
is not activated (the boxes are not checked in my network
connections).

We tried using the RD client using the remote server IP
address in the domain field, and both using the computer
name as well as leaving it blank. The client did not
recognize the server address. We tried it with my
router's DMZ enabled and also disabled. Nothing.

moreover, when I use the RD client on my laptop which is
on my network, the RD still works, so I'm confident that
RD is activated. (plus the "remote Desktop" box is
checked on the remote menu in the system control panel)

One other strange piece of evidence:
I can use netmeeting and type in other people's IP
addresses to connect to them. But they can't reach me by
typing in my ip address to reach me. I use Earthlink.
Is it possible that the IP address given to me by
whatismyip.com and my linksys router is not the IP
address that earthlink is really using for me?

I'm at my wit's end!

Thanks for any help you can give me.

-----Original Message-----
To make sure both port forwarding is setup correctly and

Remote Desktop is running try this telnet

test and post back. Run this test is over the public

internet from a remote location.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en- us;Q187628

What firewall are you using?

group for the mutual benefit of all of us...

 

[DJF]

MORON ALERT!! Moron ALERT!!!
I could be the biggest dufus in the history of remote
desktops.

I was typing in my computer name, in the computer name
box, and typing my ip address in the box for domain.

When I typed my ip address in the box for computer, it
worked! (Which leads me to wonder what the domain box is
for...)

Sorry for wasting your time on this. If it makes you
feel any better, I've spent approximately 30 hours over
the past four weeks trying to fix this.

Thanks for your help!