EggXpert

Alright, so I downloaded the latest version of the Apache server and I've configured it to work on my network. I can type my local IP address and the port number I configured in a browser and get my site. So Apache works. Woot. My problem is that I can't access it from the outside world. I've forwarded the port from my router to my local IP, but it still doesn't work. The firewalls are all disabled, and I even enabled DMZ hosting to my local IP just in case that might help it. Nothing. I thought perhaps disabling NAT might finally unblock whatever it is that's causing all my trouble, but I have to set up a subnet, and I've no idea how to do that-- I already tried, but it didn't work... so I have no idea what's wrong. I've read a thousand times that forwarding the ports is all I should have to do. Of course, I do have an awkward setup of having a stupid Actiontec modem/router with only one Ethernet port and no wireless connected to a wireless D-Link router. I already read up on this particular awkward setup and was told to disable DCHP on my D-Link router as well as NAT, which I have done-- now the D-Link router should be acting as a switch instead of a router and shouldn't be causing any problems. I don't think that it's the problem-- I'm pretty sure it's something to do with the dumb Actiontec router. Actiontec's support site, besides being written by someone who has little punctuitive skills, tells me basically what I already know. Oh, I've also tried forwarding several different ports on both TCP and UDP protocols: 80, 8080, 1234, 54321. All work locally, none work over the Internet.

Anyway, here's my setup:

Qwest DSL via the Actiontec router (model GT701R) connected via Ethernet to the D-Link router (model  DI-524) connected via wireless to my computer running the Apache 2.2 HTTP server.

I've been trying to sort this out for hours, and my experince in this level of networking is not very high. I mainly stick to sharing printers and files and all that easy stuff. :P If someone with a lot more expereince with servers and such could help me, I would be a very happy person!

Disconnect the server from the router, and connect it straight to the modem, look to see if the site is seen from the outside world.

Also, before you do that what's this port number >>>>> "and the port number I configured in a browser and get my site"

Well, I already pulled my lappy into the room with the modem (I didn't want to move my desktop) and installed Apache on it and connected it directly to the modem. I forwarded the port 1234 and set Apache to listen on 1234, but that didn't work, either (1234 and 54321 are easy for me to remember which is why I use them a lot :P).

The port number I am currently using on my desktop is 54321... I've also used 80, but that always takes me to my modem's main setup page. Other ones I've used are 8080 and 1234. Also, typing my WAN IP address itself takes me directly to my modem's main setup page-- as if I had connected to it via 192.168.0.1. Any other ports that I have used over the Internet bring up an error in Firefox:

Failed to Connect
Firefox can't establish a connection to the server at XX.XXX.XXX.XX:54321.
Though the site seems valid, the browser was unable to establish a connection.

You cant use the IP address to the routers/modems from within the network or it will just take you to the config page.  Use an online proxy like zend2.com or something like that for testing.

Have you set-up the port forwarding in the Actiontec modem to point at the router?  You need to have port-forwarding set-up in all the devices between the phone line and the server.  In my setup, i had to set the modem's DMZ to go to the router (that is, if you use the internet port) then set the DMZ of the router to point at the server.

Then you can test with the online proxy to see if you get through.  I made a summer project out of trying this.  I found out a lot of stuff.  

Let me know if you can't get it to work.

I have kind of the same setup at home.

ISP DSL Modem <----> Linksys Router <---> LAN PC's

The trick is to either set up port forwarding twice (Internet Modem to Router, then Router to LAN)

Or give make the Internet Modem hand out real live IP addresses to the Router. (If you have a static IP Package with multiple IP's). 

I've done every method of forwarding ports imaginable. I've tried forwarding ports twice through the modem and the router, I've tried disabling the router's DCHP and forwarding the ports from the modem and vice versa, etc. etc. I actually gave up eventually when nobody replied to the post for a while, but I've been planning to start working on it again soon once I have enough spare time. I had heard that trying it through the local network wouldn't work... perhaps that's the problem. I'll look up that proxy and try it with different port forward settings and such until it works... or, if it never works, until I give up. Anyway, I'll try working with this again soon if I have time. Thanks! I'll post again when I try it to tell if it works or not.

weildish:

...Of course, I do have an awkward setup of having a stupid Actiontec modem/router with only one Ethernet port and no wireless connected to a wireless D-Link router. I already read up on this particular awkward setup and was told to disable DCHP on my D-Link router as well as NAT, which I have done-- now the D-Link router should be acting as a switch instead of a router and shouldn't be causing any problems.

That might not be true if you have the Ethernet cable plugged into the WAN or INTERNET port.  To properly eliminate it, and run it as a switch, you need the cable between your modem and the D-Link, to be plugged into one of the switch ports on the D-Link. 

since 80 and 443 are 'common' HTTP and HTTPS ports you likely did not have to 'create' service rules for them...only activate the rule, correct ? (firewall)

Placing the apache server's IP in the Router's DMZ is a good idea if you use the D-Link as a Router, as a switch it will not do anything.

With the firewall turned-off in the modem/router device, I've not had to port forward twice....only once, so that is a bit odd.  With the D-Link as a switch, you need to change the port forward rules in the modem/router to the Apache servers IP, rather than forward to the D-Link.

Tallon41 

Nobody has asked the question.....do you have a static IP?

 

 

Ha... ressurrecting this: No, I don't have a static IP, which is pretty lame when you want to have a server accessible from the Internet, but I still wanted to try. I haven't worked on this since, but I remember checking to make sure the IP address I had currently was the IP address I was using to type in to access the server... and it was confirmed that it was the correct IP address because I could access my modem's config page... it's the lame modem/router that seems to not be forwarding any ports I try to send to my computer. I have a weird setup, of course, which is probably the reason why, too. I'm going through two routers, if you read above.

If you put in the IP address your ISP gives you from inside your network, you will pretty much always get the config page.

The way i found around this is to use an online proxy/anonomizer.  I use zend2.com

All you need to do is go to zend2.com, scroll down a little bit to the text box and then punch in the IP address.  Now, if it fails the first time, you may need to go to another proxy or wait.  Reason being is that they cache the pages.  So if it failed, then you fix it and try again, odds are it wont work.

If you need any help, feel free to let us know.