Problem with external access to BBB

[andrian]

Hi,
I'm having problem with setting up BBB server from my extenal IP and
looking forward to find the solution here. (:

Basically , I followed the FAQ steps,
http://code.google.com/p/bigbluebutton/wiki/FAQ#Can_I_provide_external_access_to_a_BigBlueButton_server_behind_m

Initially, the BBB server works correctly without problem with
my internal BBB IP addr : 192.168.0.104
Then, I tried to configure external access from a free DNS hostname
(no-ip.com)
as it maps the hostname to my extenal IP addr: 110.159.241.144
bbb-conf --setip myfyp.myftp.biz

Given that, I've forwarded necessary ports (80, 9123,1935) to my
internal IP address, and manually opened those ports with windows
firewall advance setting
I'm using D-Link model (DIR-615 and Firmware Version : 7.05),
the modem configuration can be viewed here
http://u.kaskus.us/33/3bz6gnby.png

This is what I got from 'ipconfig' of my windows cmd prompt
http://u2.kaskus.us/33/5xi8sc82.png
and 'ifconfig' from my VMWare
http://u2.kaskus.us/upload/do_upload (wonder why my given inet addr
from VMWare is different from IPv4 addr..)

Additionally, no problem was found when I did bbb-conf -c,
when i checked /etc/nginx/sites-available/bigbluebutton, the server
name is configured correctly as follows:
listen 80
server_name myfyp.myftp.biz

Found the String: BigBlueButtonURL = "http://myfyp.myftp.biz/
bigbluebutton/";
in /var/lib/tomcat6/webapps/bigbluebutton/demo/bbb_api_conf.jsp

I looked through the /var/www/bigbluebutton/client/conf/config.xml and
it seemed to have my domain name everywhere.
and I added a line in /etc/hosts -> 192.168.0.104 myfyp.myftp.biz

Basically, when I tried to access the domain name or extenal IP addr
from inet browser, I get directly to my D-LINK modem internet
configuration page, same as 192.168.0.1
however given my previous BBB server addr (192.168.0.104) gives me the
"Welcome to nginx!"

I wonder what problem that causes me to be unable to access BBB server
from outside the firewall.
I tried every solution in http://groups.google.com/group/bigbluebutton-setup/browse_thread/thread/47757d4cdfffa971#
but it didnt do any better.

[andrian]

and 'ifconfig' from my VMWare

http://u2.kaskus.us/33/nqur1vtl.png

I previously gave a invalid link

[Fred Dixon]

Hi Andrian,

Thanks for taking the time to write a very detailed post -- it's much
easier to help others when a lot of the key information is so well
provided.

I think your setup is slightly different ... the most common setup is
to run a stand-alone BigBlueButton behind the firewall, but you are
running a BigBlueButton server from within VMWare behind a firewall.

Still, it should work no problem. Can you try the following

1. On your Unix machine (running inside VMWare Player)

ping myfyp.myftp.biz

It should return your internal IP address.

2. On your Windows host

ping myfyp.myftp.biz

It should return your *external* IP address

3. You wrote

> Given that, I've forwarded necessary ports (80, 9123,1935) to my
> internal IP address, and manually opened those ports with windows
> firewall advance setting

As a suggestion, can you temporarily disable your Windows firewall
while testing (just to remove one variable from the setup, you can
re-enable it once everything works).

4. Do you have a second computer on your network that you can try to
open your external host name in a web browser?

The windows host running VMWare Player might be a little too aware of
the 192.168.0.4 server, and if you have a second independent machine
on the same network, we can see if there is any different between the
ping/URL access to your external hostname.

Let us know the answers to the above and we'll dig a bit deeper.

Regards,... Fred

[andrian]

Hi Fred,
Thank you for your time helping me out,

Firstly, as what you have asked:

1. ping myfyp.myftp.biz (with my VMWare Player)
the packets received and it returns my internal IP address
(192.168.0.104)

2. ping myfyp.myftp.biz (with windows cmd prompt)
the packets received and it returns my external IP address
(110.159.251.8*)

3. Apparently, my windows firewall is closed

4. When I tried use my other PC (within LAN) to access my external
host name from web browser, it gives me the router configuration page,
exactly the same as my current PC gives me.
However, with the internet connection outside my router, the
myfyp.myftp.biz is still ping-able with windows cmd prompt but not
accessible through web browser "could not connect to
myfyp.myftp.biz".
From my mobile phone, it gives an error message "Unable to determine
IP address from host name

Additionally, I even tried to use port 81 instead of 80 (bbb-conf --
setip myfyp.myftp.biz:81),
unfortunately it gives me hell a lot more probs, something like:
- IP doesn't match
- This server couldn't connect to BBB through http://myfyp.myftp.biz,
and asked me to look at the wiki FAQ page, which I've gone
through like 50 times :S

Am not really sure with the port forwarding from the modem
configuration I've shown before is correct (http://u.kaskus.us/
33/3bz6gnby.png ), looks for me that my modem doesn't resolve anything
from my external IP addr.

Regards,
Andrian

[andrian]

Is there anyone here who is kind enuf to help me on this?
Kinda stuck with this things like weeks :s
I supposed I already tried everything I could, but just couldn't
manage to solve this :s

On Oct 21, 7:35 am, andrian <andrian.suw...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi Fred,
> Thank you for your time helping me out,
>
> Firstly, as what you have asked:
>
> 1.  ping myfyp.myftp.biz (with my VMWare Player)
>     the packets received and it returns my internal IP address
> (192.168.0.104)
>
> 2.  ping myfyp.myftp.biz (with windows cmd prompt)
>     the packets received and it returns my external IP address
> (110.159.251.8*)
>
> 3.  Apparently, my windows firewall is closed
>
> 4.  When I tried use my other PC (within LAN) to access my external
> host name from web browser, it gives me the router configuration page,
> exactly the same as my current PC gives me.
> However, with the internet connection outside my router, the
> myfyp.myftp.biz is still ping-able with windows cmd prompt but not
> accessible through web browser "could not connect to
> myfyp.myftp.biz".
> From my mobile phone, it gives an error message "Unable to determine
> IP address from host name
>
> Additionally, I even tried to use port 81 instead of 80 (bbb-conf --
> setip myfyp.myftp.biz:81),
> unfortunately it gives me hell a lot more probs, something like:
> -  IP doesn't match

> -  This server couldn't connect to BBB throughhttp://myfyp.myftp.biz,

[Fred Dixon]

Hi Andrian,

I'm stumped.

> 4.  When I tried use my other PC (within LAN) to access my external
> host name from web browser, it gives me the router configuration page,

This one is strange. If you ping myfyp.myftp.biz and get your
external IP, but if you access myfyp.myftp.biz from your browser and
get your internal router configuration page, then my best guess is
that something on your router is configured incorrectly.

You could try resetting your router ... you'll have to reapply all
your settings, but it might work if you start with a clean setup.

Accessing your external hostname, which is mapped to your router,
which, in turn, forwards packets to your BigBlueButton server, should
return your BigBlueButton server. That setup has worked for others.

Regards,... Fred

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