[icruise]

I have my powerbook connected to my ADSL line through an SMC Barricade wireless router. The internet etc works file, but I want to try and set up a Carracho server on this computer (no, not for warez). I can't for the life of me figure out how to configure the router to allow me to do this. I've done all kinds of web searches and done a lot of trial and error experimenting, but so far no dice.

I understand how to configure the router using the web browser interface, but I don't understand what settings to put in. The Carracho FAQ has the following entry:

Is there a way to use Carracho behind a firewall/proxy?
To use Carracho through a proxy/firewall ask your system administrator to open the ports 6700(TCP) and 6701(TCP) for the Carracho server and 6702(TCP and UDP) for the Carracho client. If it is a SOCKS v4 firewall, you can enter its address in the Internet control panel (MacOS X doesn't support this function yet).

First of all, do I need to be worried about the "Virtual Server" or the "Special Application" section of the config screen? Secondly, what do I put where? I'm not normally this clueless, but this has me stumped. Any help would be appreciated.

[John Strung]

It's the virtual server section. First of all, you should set your computer to a fixed IP address, rather than using DHCP. Then in the Virtual server section, put the port numbers from the Carracho web site in for both the private and public ports and the IP of your computer under "private IP". Click the appropriate buttons for whether the port is TCP or UDP. If it is both, you will likely have to make two entries.

[icruise]

Thanks for the reply. I think I've already done what you describe in the Virtual Server section -- how do I set my computer to a fixed IP address? Do I just set it to manual in "Network" and type in the IP (DHCP always seems to use the same IP address from the router, so I put that in).

What address should people be using to access the server once this is all set up? Under the router status page it gives me a number for the WAN IP -- I would assume that this is the actual internet IP that I would use? Would I then add something like :6700 to the end for the port?

[superlarry]

right, set it to manual in "network" and type in the IP. you can just keep the one you have right now and type it in there (having it on DHCP would allow that address to eventually expire, so out of nowhere one day your virtual server would stop working).
and right, you'd give people the address of your router's WAN IP.

[aaanorton]

Originally posted by superlarry:
you can just keep the one you have right now and type it in there (having it on DHCP would allow that address to eventually expire, so out of nowhere one day your virtual server would stop working).

Wouldn't you have to assign an address out of the DHCP range of the router? This is how I've always done it.

[ghporter]

Yes, assign a new address in the same subnet (192.168.1.XXX) that is NOT within the range your DHCP server uses. You can adjust this range in the setup for the Linksys-they usually default to something like 192.168.1.100 through 192.168.1.149 (though it may give you something like "starting address" and "number of addresses to assign").

You want a NEW address so the DHCP server won't accidentally assign the same address to some other device, which would give you all sorts of crazy problems. Remember: the IP of a device on a network must be UNIQUE on that network-otherwise the results are "undefined." That's a fancy way to say otherwise you'll get all messed up.

[icruise]

Thanks guys, I really appreciate the advice. I guess I basically understood the process, but needed a little nudge in the right direction. It seems to be working now.