NDS resolution failure behind the VT1000 router

Posts: 1 · New Forum Member Joined: Jun 14, 2004 Posts: 1

First: EVERYTHING WORKS except this: with a server and another client computer on a switch, behind the router, the external (ISP-Provided) DNS fails to resolve a request from the client to the server. (If you paid close attention, that describes it in full.)

In more detail, here's the issue, and I believe it's a fault of the Motorola VT1000's router firmware.

My IP address to the world is 206.55.250.10. I have my server behind the VT1000, and my client behind the VT1000. On my server are two websites: tracyvalleau.com and linksware.com. The whole world can resolve these two alphanumeric URLs. The whole world can type in "206.55.250.10" and get my website.

However >I< cannot. (My client is at 192.169.102.3, and my server is at 192.168.102.2, behind the VT1000.)

If I type in, from my client "206.55.250.10" or any alphanumeric URLs that resolve to my server, the browser simply hangs.

I assume that this is because the router determines that the resolution to those address is behind it, and the request is from behind it, and refuses to allow my ISP's resolved information back thru.

Most "real" routers will allow this, but either there is a software switch that is not properly set, or the firmware is written incorrectly.

Why is this an issue? Well, someone at Motorola forgot that there might be a server behind their router, and someone might actually want to configure it! As it now stands, I'm unable to access my own server, for updates, or just to even look at it. (Yes, I can access the default host by typing in 192.168.102.2, but 1) that only lets me access the one default host, and none of the virtual hosts, and 2) any part of the site that links to "http://tracyvalleau.com/somepage.html" fails for me (because it's behind the router.)

I believe that this calls for a firmware upgrade from Motorola, or (better yet) someone to let on to the secret code I can type in my Terminal to switch off this (ahem) "automatic resolution..."

Cordially

TValleau

Posts: 77

I ran a web server for a few years. Everything was fine till last week when I installed a VT1000 between my modem and my router. From that very moment I can't access my web sites. I thought it was a problem of port forwarding with the VT1000. But when I read your post on DNS resolution, the problem take another dimension. So...

Should I understand that:
1: you operate a webserver behind a VT1000
2: your configuration is: modem/cable(or DSL) > vt1000 > router > (hub or switch) > computer and/or web server
3: you use port forwarding (port 80, or 8000 etc) on VT1000 only, on router only, or on both
4: the ROW (rest-of-the world) can get your web site (fine looking sites: linksware and tracyvalleau)
5: you can't access from within your network

If my understanding = true, then I conclude that
1: It is possible to run a web site behind a VT1000
2: Many members of that forum make a false statement when they say they can't run their website. The truth is that they can't access their server and consequently they can't see if it actually runs or not.

If my understanding AND my conclusions are true, then I have a few questions to ask you:
1: Did you change (or have to change) your router settings after installing your VT1000? (I presume you ran server prior to install VT1000)
2: Do you use default VT1000 settings or did you customize VT1000 settings?
3. Am I right to presume that ROW (but me) can access my websites behind the VT1000? And that the solution to the problem is to find a way to access webserver from within my network?

And a suggestion
Your server and your client being networked, you should be able to access your site from Safari or other browser through "Open file..." instead of "Open address..."
I know this does not solve the problem of updating sites through FTP.

Thanks.

Posts: 1 · New Forum Member Joined: Dec 11, 2004 Posts: 1

Yeah, I've come to the same conclusion. The Vonage box is blocking a local loopback through my external IP. Any loopback to local host or the internal IP works fine.

I have my Vonage box DMZ'ing my router and it worked until I added it there. It's stopping local loopback through the external IP address.

So your webserver works fine, its just you can't access it from your local network. All is right, save the firmware glitch.

Posts: 77

Ask Vonage to replace your Motorola device with a Linksys router with 2 phone ports (RT31P2). It does the job and sites are reachable from the inside as from the outside.