Web sharing through a DSL router

[Anim8r]

I am trying to set up personal web sharing running through a Linksys DSL router.

I have pointed people to my IP on the router... but of course it doesn't point to the mac. Any ideas or workarounds for this type of setup?

Thanks

Ian Eisenberg

[wstotler]

Don't hold me to it, but I have a similar router (Linksys Etherfast) setup and I've attempted what you want to do successfully. (To use Apache to put a mini Web site, accessable only by the IP address and not by name, out on the Web. Ditto ftp)

(As I remember it. . . .)

You need to:

(1) Log in to your Router via your browser
(2) Click the orange "Advanced" tab
(3) Click on the "Forwarding" tab
(4) Change one of the "0" port entries to "80" (for http/Web)
(5) Designate the LAN IP address of your Mac on the corresponding "IP Address" line.
(6) Change another of the "0" port entries to "21" (for ftp)
(7) Designate the LAN IP address of your box on the corresponding "IP Address" line.

This assumes:

(1) Your box has a LAN IP on your internal network, one that you've assigned by: (a) disabling the "DHCP Server" option on the Router (go to the DHCP tab to do this) and (b) you've assigned a static LAN IP address (like 192.168.1.100) to your Mac in your TCP/IP (9.x) control panel or (X) System Preferences (Networking) panel.

(2) Your ISP will allow direct hits to your box.

OK--this is what I remember about getting it to work on my box with OS X (I seem to recall).

BUT I *do not* know the security ramifications. You REALLY should find out more about that before you proceed. I've seen posts about Apache scripts that need (I think) to be modified prior to "going live" to provide increased security for your box. I was too concerned with security to keep anything open and available for very long.

The other problem you may encounter is if (when) your provider changes your external IP address--you'll need to tell your friends about the change everytime you have it reassigned for them to "see" your box.

Good luck.
Will

[wstotler]

Oh, yeah.

You need to know the *external* address of the router (not your internal LAN address) to tell your friends.

You can find this by logging into the Router's Web interface, clicking the Status tab, and reading the WAN IP address.

This is what they'll need to find you as it's your Mac's ISP-assigned IP address.

Will

[wstotler]

OK.

The way this works is that your friends will hit the WAN IP address you give them (see my last post) and their request will be passed by the Router to the LAN IP address of your Mac (see my first post).

That is, by setting things up the way I described you're telling the Router: "External requests for Port 80 (http/web) should be passed to my Mac, which lives at 192.168.1.100 (or whatever your static LAN IP you designate)."

The Mac should respond by serving your friends the page they request.

Will

P.S. Dear Mac Gurus, if I've given incorrect information to this person please correct me--don't flame me. Thanks.

[Anim8r]

That was pretty much the procedure I followed.
I am using a dynamic addressing service to route to my Mac's IP (noip.com).
I am still unable to surf via any of my other machines if i have disabled DHCP and entered static LAN IP's.

I am confused... at least the noip service is free!

Ian Eisenberg