Ticket Options

Question Profile

Question Details

TICKET ARCHIVE -> Need to know how to Port Forward

tplabat - Jul 23, 2008 - 6:33 pm

Using Filemaker Pro, I am attempting to use Instant Web Publishing. I am successful within my home network, but can get anyone outside my house to be able to see my file. I was told I needed to do some port forwarding, but no one can explain how to do it. I know my internal IP address of my computer and I know my external IP address but how do I link them? Filemaker defaults to the internal one.

... Oh! I'm so confused. Thanks for any help you can give me.

gsahli - Jul 23, 2008 - 8:51 pm

Port forwarding is done on the setup pages of the router. Do you know what port(s) you want to forward? It would probably be smart to choose a "custom" port that isn't otherwise reserved. This depends on Filemaker's ability to change "server" ports.
Read this:
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1629

Have you read your router's manual about this?

tplabat - Jul 24, 2008 - 2:38 am

192.168.1.107:591/ This is the string of numbers that Filemaker defaults to. I have to put in the 591. I understand these to be the IP address of my computer and the 591 the port I am told to use. However, the external IP address to my modem is 74.240.147.29 Where do I put this number in the Filemaker application? Do I put both number somewhere? Do I tie them together someway? There is a place for advanced web options. I just don't know how to use it. There is this little barrier between my stupidity and the light bulb going on. Please help me turn on the light bulb.

gsahli - Jul 24, 2008 - 7:53 am

You still didn't say anything about your router. Maybe you don't have one? Maybe your DSL/Cable modem is your router? The whole concept of port forwarding is only for setting up the router to allow outside requests to port number 591 to go to your computer. Your computer and Filemaker accept incoming requests on port 591.
Outside computers access your "server" by using a browser and entering:
http://74.240.147.29:591

By the way, in the future, don't give out an internet IP address (74.240.xxx.xxx) unless you want a lot of extra traffic. Give it out like I have with xxx's (except to the people you really want to have access). Internal, local IP addresses (any that start 192.168.) can be given out because the router doesn't let outside requests come in - until port forwarding is setup.

If this doesn't help, tell me the model name/number of your router (probably your modem in your case), so I can read the manual.