Topic: Unable to connect to webpage from Internet (Solved)

[Jeff]

Hi everyone,

In addition to being new to this forum, I am also new to PHP/Apache, and my current aim is to be able to create some simple web applications that I can send to a few friends and have them test the pages for me, and then perhaps eventually deploy my own webpage. I have searched the forum for a solution to the following problem, but I can't seem to get it to work on my setup:

PC:
XP Home
Wired to a linksys router

Laptop:
Windows Vista
A wireless connection to my linksys router
WAMP Setup (Version 1.7.2)
- Apache 2.2.4
- PHP 5.2.3

When it comes to configuring apache, however; I am a complete novice! So far, I have been able to set up apache to allow me to test pages on http://localhost/, but I havn't been able to set it up to show online. Considering that I have only begun learning PHP, and am only doing basic applications for the moment, I havn't bothered getting a DNS / Static IP Setup, and I just want to be able to throw my current IP to my friends so that they can view a page.

I have tried following many of the solutions to this same problem posted on this forum such as enabling Port 80 on my router, and checking to make sure that my ISP allows Port 80, but I am still a little unclear on what I need to edit in some of the config files such as httpd.conf to make this work. I'm fairly certain that the problem is something very simple that I am just overlooking, but perhaps there is something that I have just missed altogether.

Hopefully I've posted enough info here, but in case I'm missing something, please let me know.

Hope someone is able to help

-Jeff

[JoJoRaz]

I had the same problem. I could access my pages via http://127.0.0.1, but when I tried to access the site using my extrenal IP I would only get the router login dialogue.
However, while talking to a friend on Skype, I gave him the URL and asked him to tell me what he gets. He got the full site, no problem.
I tried again and I still got the router login dialogue. I then used a web-proxy http://www.prospector.cz/Free-Internet-services/Web-proxy/ to attempt access and I got the full site. So, it seems (to me) that there's a problem accessing the server from the same IP.
I suggest you (1) get someone to check the URL from a remote machine, (2)Access your page through a web-proxy just to confirm it's working.

Now, if the siite is ok via http://127.0.0.1 I'm generally happy with it. I use the proxy occasionally just to reassure myself that all's well.

Good luck!

[Jeff]

Thanks for the reply

I've tried giving my IP to a couple friends, and they either get a 404, or a connection timeout. I get the same results when I try it with a proxy, or if I type in the IP myself. I'm thinking that the problem is being caused by some sort of mis-configuration in the config files for apache, or is somehow related to my wireless setup on my laptop...

[Jeff]

I've been playing with some settings in the port forwarding area on my router, and now I am able to view my website by typing in my IP, only on Firefox. It gets a connection timed out error when I use IE, or when I attempt to view my pages using a proxy on either browser.

Any suggestions on what may be causing this?

[Jeff]

I believe I have finally fixed my problem...

I allowed port 80 to be forwarded through my Anti-Virus protection, (McAfee) and I also enabled port 80 on my firewall on my Windows XP machine.

Thanks again.

-Jeff