Port Forwarding working...or...not?
MazterJedi
Newbie

Just switched back to FIOS from Cox. Setup went smooth, everything is rocking, nice and fast. I run a media server and have for years (Emby). I have a dynamic DNS that forwards to whatever my current IP address is (typical setup). So normally to login to my Emby server, I can open a browser and type in xxx.no-ip.biz:8096, which takes me to the login page. Ping.eu says the port is open. I can login to the Emby server from my PC on the same LAN by going to x.x.x.x:8096, the local IP, typical. If I try to connect to it via the external method as noted above, I get nothing. I have tried this from all 4 PCs and 2 tablets on premises. However, if I try to connect to it from ANY other PC out there on the interwebs, no problems at all. In other words, I cant see my own server externally from my own LAN. I have turned off windows firewall... Heck, I even put the server on the DMZ...nothing. The ONLY way to see it is from anywhere BUT my LAN. Nothing on the PCs or tablets here has changed. Completely at a loss. Thoughts?

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Re: Port Forwarding working...or...not?
dslr595148
Community Leader
Community Leader

Sounds like to me a loopback/Reverse NAT/hairpin issue

http://pcwintech.com/test-for-reverse-nat

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Re: Port Forwarding working...or...not?
MazterJedi
Newbie

Any known way around this? Didn't see anything obvious in the router. 

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Re: Port Forwarding working...or...not?
dslr595148
Community Leader
Community Leader

Not including replacing the router with a router that supports Loopback (and other terms that mean the same thing), creating a loopback effect with something called the HOST file.

More info about the HOST file https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hosts_(file)

As noted at https://docs.connectwise.com/ConnectWise_Control_Documentation/On-premises/On-premises_knowledge_bas...


How do I fix this?

Review router settings

Many routers will have an "enable NAT loopback" feature. After enabling this feature, you should be able to type in your external IP address inside of your network. Contact your router manufacturer if you have any questions about NAT loopback and your router.

Modify your Hosts file

The Hosts file  maps the host names of sites to their corresponding IP addresses. By adding a new entry into the Hosts file, you may be able to circumvent the NAT loopback. For example, if the ConnectWise Control on-premises installation is on a machine with the static local (internal) IP address 192.168.0.2, and we want to reach http://www.superamazingITGuy23.com, then you could add the following line to your Hosts file:

192.168.0.2	superamazingitguy23.com

You might also have to add your router and any subdomains to the Hosts file, and these Hosts file modifications must be made for every computer on your network.



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