If, like I was, you’re going insane trying to configure port forwarding on a SpeedStream 6520 router, read on…
I was trying to redirect port 80 to expose our internal webserver, but after putting in the information, going to the external URL kept bringing me to the router configuration screen. Changing the router’s port or trying to map port 8080 didn’t do anything useful either.
It turns out that this is by design.
Once I overrode the domain in my hosts file everything was fine, as confirmed when I checked the site out from another (outside) server.
FreeME | 26-Apr-07 at 7:10 pm | Permalink
I have the same problem…
Could you please explain how you “overrode the domain in the hosts file” for those who are a little less experienced in computers (like me) ?
Thanks!
Jason | 26-Apr-07 at 10:29 pm | Permalink
You betcha!
You need to gather two pieces of information, and they’re going to co-star in a line of text. The easiest is the hostname that you’re trying to set up. Oddly, it comes second in the line. Maybe the engineers wanted to make it end easier than it started, I don’t know, but the first part of the line is the one that needs qualification.
The other thing you need is an IP address, and to keep things relevant, it’s got to be the EXTERNAL IP address, as in not the 192.168.ohbaby.wakeup or the 10.0.hi.mom address - the router is blocking the outside address that the rest of the world is trying to use, so you need to trick your PC.
Oh, and as for the file itself, if you’re on a unix-based system you’ll want /etc/hosts and if you’re on Windows, it’s c:\windows\system32\drivers\etc\hosts.
The line in question looks like this:
[IP address] [hostname]
No square brackets. As in:
64.191.203.30 digg.com
If you also want www.digg.com to work, ’cause I know you’re secretly running digg from your home network, dupe the line with the secondary host name and the same IP.
Hopefully that makes sense - it’s been a heck of a day.
Wade McGrath | 18-May-07 at 4:53 am | Permalink
Mate I got a similar problem, I can’t access my web page externally, I’ve modified the host file and I think I just need to get my port forwarding configuration right. I got the same router as above. Thanx mate any help would be apprecited.
Jason | 22-May-07 at 10:23 am | Permalink
Wade check your email…
Luke J | 03-Jun-07 at 1:55 am | Permalink
Hey guys, I have the same issue with the SS6520 router.
A friend of mine has just installed a video camera security system in their shop and to gain remote access to the video, they need port forwarding.
In the modem I set up a custom entry for TCP and UDP as it specifies in the manual, sending all packets from port 9013 to 10.0.0.10 as per the security firms instructions.
Apparently it doesnt work. Would overriding the domain in the hosts file make a difference? Im not sure of the host name either.
Any help would be greatly appreciated, thankyou.
Jason | 05-Jun-07 at 3:59 am | Permalink
Luke, did you try it from inside the shop or from an outside computer? The hosts file change should make the camera visible on the intranet (the computers hooked up to the router), but if it’s not working on the internet (like from my house), then something else is going on.
Kataris | 19-Jun-07 at 9:18 pm | Permalink
I don’t quite understand what I must do to override the domain in the hosts file, and how exactly it helps with port forwarding. There’s tons of ports that I want to forward, so I’m just confused
Kataris | 20-Jun-07 at 6:50 pm | Permalink
Actually, I understand it now. I need to put in the IP and the hostname, right?
wrinkledcheese | 10-Jul-07 at 2:58 am | Permalink
I have the same problem, it seems the solution would be on this page but all you said was “check your email”.
I’m trying to set up a publically accessible web server, for testing and stuff. Easy sharing of images, etc.
Carolyn | 12-Jul-07 at 4:56 pm | Permalink
Can you explain this a to a newbie? I bought a network camera to put in our vacation home. It is a panasonic. I hooked it up with the instructions and it worked great for over a month. I could even view it on viewnetcam as well as my web site. I had to move things and unhooked it and all the trouble came. Now some people can see it some not, sometimes you can access it from the web page, sometimes not. Could the domain issue be the same for me?
Archibald Sheran | 05-Sep-07 at 11:07 pm | Permalink
Hey, under the instructions to the website yo u link with the error report it says:
You can add an entry into your HOSTS file that shows your server domain name linked to the Private LAN IP
So, basically you go to your router check out what INTERNAL ip your computer has and add a line to /etc/hosts that has the ip and the something.com line.
Maher | 23-Nov-07 at 5:47 pm | Permalink
hey man
i was wondering if u can help me by telling me the easiest way to open some of my router ports for a Speedstream 6520 router..
thanks