Problems getting started

[mswanson00]

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm174/mswanson00/Settings.jpg

Windows Vista Ultimate 64bit
Linkys RT31P2 Router (wired)
Trying to run it at port 8080
Setting up to share over internet

Ok, I first started out by trying to host a file server for some friends; I tried out Xampp, Filezilla Server, and U-Seve, all of which was unable to be accessed by those outside my LAN.  So, I googled alternatives to file servers and thus brought me here.  So I do the normal setup and got the same results, which I expected.  So I'm here for help.

The included picture has most of the settings you'll need to see what's what and if anything is wrong.  Please refer to that.

So currently I have no problems getting to the server from my pc or any pc on this LAN.  Window's Firewall is disabled.  I even set up a Static IP in hopes that would solve something but it didn't.  I also set up an account DYNDNS.com but I'm not sure if I need that or how to go about doing anything with this; My router has options for this as well.  When I ping 127.0.0.1 it'll ping fine but when I ping it with the port I'm using  "127.0.0.1:8080" as you can see in the picture it doesn't ping it? Also when I did the Canyouseeme.org site - it's unable to see me no matter which port I put in but when I used YAPS to scan avaliable ports, it obviously finds it?  I keep getting the "You are behind a router. Ensure it is configured to fowards to port 8080 to your computer" - which it is set up for that.  Any ideas or help that will help me share files with some friends over the net would be awesome.  If you need more info just ask.  Thanks in advance.

[rejetto]

it's very strange, it seems to be all correctly set up.
the only advice coming to my mind is: restart your router (after having eventually saved) and see if the forwarding rule persists.
in the while i can give you this information that may come useful for a clearer vision

- static local ip is useful because a change would invalidate the forwarding rule you set on your router

- dyndns is not useful for basic functioning, it's just a convenience for your friends

- ping doesn't work with ports: pinging the second address makes no sense

- pinging 127.0.0.1 will always work, it's not useful in any way

- canyouseeme it's very similar to what the "self test" does

[Bob]

Hello,
just wanted to let you know i had the same problem.This is a problem with your ISP they do not want you to run a server on your home pc.So what they do is block common ports for http servers.What you have to do is go back into your router and change your port number.Choose a port like 192 and forward this instead og 80,or 8080.Then once you do this change the port that HFS uses to the port you forwarded and then run the self test.It should work then.Remember ISP's don't want you running servers so they will do anything they can to stop you.
Hope this was helpful   Bob

[rejetto]

Thank you for sharing, Bob

[Bob]

Rejetto,
I must thank you for great software.I now use HFS server instead of Filezilla.I find HFS so much easyer to use for people who don't know how to use an ftp client.With your great server all a person has to do is type in my http address into the browser address bar and "WHAM" " BAM" your in.
Thanks from Bob

[MarkV]

...while there are still areas where FTP is better than HFS. It's all a matter of what you want to do with it. For easy file sharing/hosting, HFS rocks, for unaltered transfer of large folder structures FTP is better. I personally am using both.

Welcome to HFS.

[rejetto]

yes, i also use both FTP+HFS on the same server computer.

[Fysack]

I also set up an account DYNDNS.com but I'm not sure if I need that or how to go about doing anything with this

You need it, as explaind. Your visitors can then type htttp://text instead of htttp://numbers. And the reason this is confusing, is that all those websites you have ever visited, is actualy just numbers converted into names.
But what you DONT need, is to download and install and run the dyndns client.
HFS has an option to fill in the account information obtain`d from dyndns. Then HSF will take care of "business" (dynamic(domain naming service)

[kdognva]

Hi all, just wanted to comment on this issue since I to struggled with setting up access with my router.

First, make sure you open a browser and get into your router ( 192.168.x.x ) ,now go to your services tab and set up a service for your server. When choosing the web service HTTP most routers will set port 80 by choice,this will not work if you have dynamic ip service you must bypass choosing the normal web service and manually configure the port, I personally use port 8080 (Verizon) and it works fine.
 Now that the port is open make sure you go into your firewall settings and you have file sharing, web server, and HFS checked in your exceptions.
Next, you run HFS select Menu, IP Address, get external IP Address, ( you should now see the ISP IP Address ), now go back to Menu, SELF TEST, if it comes back ok then great you are working. But now you want to run DYNDNS to auto-update your IP Address instead of trying to find it every time it resets right, this was tricky if you have never used any DNS or Host service before. I used NO-IP and set up a host and configured it to go to a specified IP Address ( not a domain ), "unless you currently have one" and set the port to 8080. You will also have to download the client software that will auto update to NO-IP to give them your IP Address change. So now all is set up but you still cant use HFS on the internet, the last trick is to go back into HFS and select Menu, update DNS, NO_IP Wizard, and enter your name,password,full URL exactly like you set up with NO-IP. That is what it took to overcome the problem with me getting HFS to work outside the local network, I can also access it at work thru our proxy!!
Hope this was helpful, I am new here and I have not seen this posted anywhere else yet.
 

[Fysack]

Yo kdognva, i see dobble right now. So buy judging your amount of letters i would say you got it all wrong.
I see you are mention dns and get external ip. Those two words are not in the same family.
This is the way to do it:

Open your router device web page - open a port (if you aint shure) open 80 on yor router, and let it flow to 80 on your computer.
Create an DNS account on the web.

Open HFS, put that user/pass obtained from your dns, in Dynamic dns updater, custom. (dont forget to also include (http://))

Yours sincerely

[kdognva]

Fysack, sorry to be confusing but yes you do need to select external IP when setting up your service with NO-IP ( or it will think you have a domain ). Also port 80 is a default with alot of HTTP routers, this will not work with a dynamic ISP like Verizon. Alot of people have been confused and set up accounts only to see a "This page cannot be displayed"or "Not responding error". Again sorry if my explination is confusing. Just trying to help some of the weaker people set up their service.

[Fysack]

Dont be sorry kdognva, its me that have to be sorry, you see, i was me that did not pay attention ;-) i confused the sequence of reply order here.
I lay me down flat, and say:

Thx for helping out kdognva, you are verry welcome..