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[Jeff]

Jim and Remy and all..

I was able to figure out my problem of yesterday and not being able to connect to the media server.

My ISP is blocking all incoming web server requests.

I had to get to a network admin to get to the bottom of this!

If your running media server and simply not able to connect from other places, this could very well be why. If you call your ISP, be sure you are talking to a network admin and not a "help desk" type person. That's one of my big lessons here..

To solve it I need to get a "real" static IP address from the ISP. Currently I have a dynamically allocated IP address which almost could be considered static since they change it so rarely, but, still with this type of connection they block all web server requests.

Thank you very much for all the input and help!

-Jeff

[Gatobrit]

Jeff - can't you change the port Media Server is running on to something other than port 80?

[RemyJ]

Good news Jeff.   Yeah, try setting your media server to a port outside of the standard range.  You may be able to get through your ISP with a port of 20080 or something similar.

Remy

[KingSparta]

was that 2080 or 20080?

[Jeff]

Yes, I had tried ports 80, 82 and 84 (see previous post!)
But I will try another higher port like you suggested. I'll give 2080 a shot.
I wonder.. wouldn't the ISP be blocking the protocol rather than the port? So that if they see a http request come in they simply block it.. I don't know.

Thanks,

Jeff

[RemyJ]

Actually, 2080 is the standard port for "Autodesk NLM".   Technically, even 20080 is in the "Registered/Reserved Port" range but it's currently unassigned.  If you want to be really IANA compliant, private use ports start at 49152 and go up to 65535.

IANA Port Assignments

Using port 80 (or any port in the "well-known-service" range) is a bad idea for anyone running a private service because it's a favorite target of denial of service (or more serious)attacks.

Remy

[RemyJ]

Jeff, Pick a port that's VERY high but less than 65535.  Your isp is probably blocking ranges of ports and 2080 would probably be included in that range.  I doubt they're examining packet contents to look for HTTP requests.  That's a lot of work.

[Jeff]

Yes, Thank you.. Absolutely, I will do that, a very high port but less than 65535.
I see, they are most likely blocking ports..
Can't wait to give it a shot!

Thanks,

Jeff

[gateley]

It's worth a try, but don't count on it. It would be unusual to have your firewall block 2080, 20080, but not ports 40000-60000. (Unusual is probably not a strong enough word :^)


j

[KingSparta]

RemyJ

Thanks For The Link, I Did Not Know That.

[Jeff]

YESSSSSSS!!!!!  
That did the trick... I set the ports high 60xxx and bing-bang-boom I'm in business!

I was pretty pessimistic about this since as gateley mentioned, if they block common addresses they most likely are "smart enough" to block all.  Perhaps it is because I am using a port over 60000? I wonder why then they don't block all. I'm not a network guy, so I'm just guessing in the dark.

I'm glad I tried this before forking over extra $ for a "real" static IP.  I would have had to upgrade the modem and pay an additional monthly fee to the ISP.  Now to hope that it stays like this for a while..

Thanks again to everyone!


Jeff

[gateley]

I would have lost money on that one :^)

j

[KingSparta]

As I Said In Here Before Some Of The Users Can Really Help Other Users Out.

A Bit Better Then Other Juke box Help Systems, Seneding A E-mail And Getting No Responce Or When You Do Get A Responce You Get A "I Don't Know".

MJ Has I Think Some Of The More Intelegent Users Than Other Juke Boxes.

They Must Be Since They Are Using Media Jukebox.

(I Am Not A Sales Person)

[RemyJ]

Generally speaking most local ISPs are run by hobbyists or those who wished to cash in on the Internet boom.  I say "generally" because there ARE some really good ones who actually know what they're doing and genuinely wish to assist their customer base.  Sort of like the MJ Development Team's equivalents in the ISP business.  It's just hard to find them.

Remy

[JimH]

Thanks Remy, and thanks for your patience in solving this one.

It is a big complicated world out there, and it's doubly difficult now for everyone because there are so many "standard" and they are changing so rapidly.  User firewalls, for example, weren't much in use two years ago.  Now everyone has them, creating a whole new set of problems.

I agree with you, King, that we're lucky to have such smart guys hanging around, ready to pounce on problems.

[dnoyeb]

let not forget, if they block gaming ports all hell would break loose...So their are some lower ports unblocked likely.  I have comcast and I know they block a few.  Plus they "Illegally" scan for openings on port 80 as well...  I got a letter to shut down my FTP server back in the day, they didnt block it, but they scanned for it.  Such as with port 80.  If they blocked it, how would one surf the internet?