Ok - that's clear. A router is a bit like a transformer. While a transformer has high voltage on one side, and low voltage on the other, a router has 'public' (or 'external') Internet addresses on one side (accessible from anywhere) and 'private' ('local' or 'internal') addresses on the other (accessible only within the local network). So when you connect from the kitchen, you need to use the 'local' address beginning 10.0.0.whatever, and when you're in the coffee shop or school campus, you'll need to know the 'public' address (and have port-forwarding working). The problem is, that your public address usually changes from time to time (look up DHCP or Dynamic Addressing if you want to know more about this). When you're at home, try running ipconfig in a command window, to see the local address that the computer has (it will begin 10.0.0.something on your network). Then visit the website www.whatismyip.com, and you'll see the current public IP address. Different! To solve the problem of changing public addresses, you can get your service provider to give you a fixed or static address (charges usually apply) or you can use a dynamic dns service, like no-ip.com. All these things take a while to get your head around, so if you can get a knowledgeable friend to fix it up for you then you can concentrate more on the stuff you care about! But I hope that's given you something to be going on with.
If you really want to understand all this, it'll be important to get your head around dynamic addressing. The computers on your local network will be issued with an address by the router, so they will all have related addresses (probably starting 10.0.0.* - some routers use 192.168.1.* or 192.168.0.* - these specific address ranges are *only* used for private local networks). On the public-facing side, your router will (usually) be issued with an address, in broadly the same way, by your service provider, but this is likely to change every time you restart your router. These "leases" last for a certain amount of time. On the local side, the lease may be an hour or a day (although most routers let you adjust this period, or even fix the address a particular machine gets every time). On the public side, the service provider will usually give only a very short lease - zero minutes, even. So you need to get them to assign a "static" address (for a few dollars a month, £5 in the uk is typical) or use a Dynamic DNS service to help you keep track of that changing address. There are other systems, some of them free for home users, which use a smart server up there in the cloud to avoid all this complexity. Logmein is one such, I believe, and there are others (GoToMyPC?). Might suit you well, perhaps. Good luck! Philip Herlihy Email: phi...@herlihy.eu.com Tel: 020 8521 9157 Mobile: 07931 546660 Fax: 0870 0511055 -----Original Message----- From: John Cunniff [mailto:johncunn...@gmail.com] Sent: 03 April 2012 20:50 To: 'Philip Herlihy'; vnc-list@realvnc.com Subject: RE: VNC v4.1.2 and XFINITY Modem Hello, Phillip, I am very sorry if I didn't give you clear information. I am happy to explain better system for you to understand. Here is what my system look like: Desktop runs on VNC version 4.1.3 through an Xfinity modem [with a built-in router.] It's located in my bedroom. I bring my laptop to a WI-FI available such as kitchen table, front porch or a coffee shop or school campus and then, I'd type http://desktop_ip_address:5800 from wi-fi connection. I am glad that you suggested me about Xfinity. I can ask my neighbor to help me since I am Deaf-Blind, she can assist me with port-forwarding issues. She may know how to contact Comcast with the complexity of the recording since I cannot follow the relay's instructions very well since I am a legally blind. So, she can deal with the stuff for me related to phone support. Thank you for your suggestion. I want to apologize for not being clear. I have been hectic and stress from work and work on the committees. I am having a little problem with the members lately so, please accept my apology for not giving you prompt answers. Ask me if you want to know more about what I need. I think you get the better answer now. Thank you. Johnny :) -----Original Message----- From: Philip Herlihy [mailto:phi...@herlihy.eu.com] Sent: Tuesday, April 03, 2012 12:01 PM To: 'John Cunniff'; vnc-list@realvnc.com Subject: RE: VNC v4.1.2 and XFINITY Modem Well, you still haven't told us what you are trying to do with VNC, so it's still hard to advise. With VNC, you have a 'server', which is the machine you wish to view remotely, and a 'client', which is the machine you're sitting at to view the remote machine. If both are on the local network, you don't need to worry about port-forwarding. If either is somewhere else and you're traversing the Internet, then you're going to need to set up port forwarding either on the router where the server is, or on the router where the client is if you're using a 'listening' client and connecting from the server to the client (instead of the other way round as normal). You need a certain amount of networking knowledge to set up both VNC and port forwarding. It's often helpful to try to get things working with both server and client on the same local network first, so that you don't have to worry about port forwarding. You need to make sure you've set a connection password on the server, and that the server is configured to allow connections from the relevant addresses (subnet or individual machine IP address). Plus you have to make sure any firewall on the server is configured to allow the connection through. Then if you want to traverse the Internet you'll need to set up port forwarding. Best thing to do is to get hold of the modem/router's user guide, and look up "port forwarding" or "virtual server". You may find that Xfinity customer support are able to help if you are eligible for phone support perhaps. Philip Herlihy Email: phi...@herlihy.eu.com Tel: 020 8521 9157 Mobile: 07931 546660 Fax: 0870 0511055 -----Original Message----- From: vnc-list-boun...@realvnc.com [mailto:vnc-list-boun...@realvnc.com] On Behalf Of John Cunniff Sent: 03 April 2012 02:08 To: 'Philip Herlihy'; vnc-list@realvnc.com Subject: RE: VNC v4.1.2 and XFINITY Modem Dear Phillip, Thank you for your information. Sorry if you didn't get my post clear. Let me tell you. I went to www.portforward.com, you gave me. That is what I needed information. I went to Router List, unfortunately, I cannot seem to find XFINITY but, I do see Comcast routers, but they seem not to match me, I think. I haven't get my magnifying glass to read the model number yet. I came home from my friend's home and got busy to do business first. But, I visited Port Forward website. The really nice thing is to use FPConfigure. Unfortunately, it is not free, I must purchase it for $29.95 a copy. It is not helpful, I have to disagree with you. I tried to look for software list, but, it is not easy for me. I am a blind user. Not easy for me, either. Did you use FPConfigure from there, if not, what should I do step-by-step how I can follow better? By the way, I logged onto http://10.0.0.1 which is my router's address. I got the logo that says 'XFINITY Login' and I entered my router username & password then, Log in. I can see "Port Forwarding" so, I need to find out how I can do with VNC since I think that www.portforward.com does not list this router. I also tried Google to find out, unfortunately, no luck, either! Sigh. Any suggestion? Thanks, Johnny :) -----Original Message----- From: Philip Herlihy [mailto:phi...@herlihy.eu.com] Sent: Monday, April 02, 2012 6:37 AM To: 'John Cunniff'; vnc-list@realvnc.com Subject: RE: VNC v4.1.2 and XFINITY Modem You haven't said exactly what you're trying to do with VNC, so it's hard to advise. If you're trying to access a machine on that network from elsewhere, you'll need to set up port forwarding. www.portforward.com is a big help. I assume everything on the local network picks up an IP address from the router, so they should all be on the same subnet. The 5800 port is for the Java viewer, so you'd type http://<ip address>::5800 in a browser's address bar (not a search box). For the VNC client the port to forward is 5900, with 5500 if you want to make a reverse connection out to a 'listening' client. Watch out for firewalls! Philip Herlihy Email: phi...@herlihy.eu.com Tel: 020 8521 9157 Mobile: 07931 546660 Fax: 0870 0511055 -----Original Message----- From: vnc-list-boun...@realvnc.com [mailto:vnc-list-boun...@realvnc.com] On Behalf Of John Cunniff Sent: 31 March 2012 02:06 To: vnc-list@realvnc.com Subject: VNC v4.1.2 and XFINITY Modem Hello, Everybody! I am a new user, but actually, I was an old subscriber back in 2000's. Anyway, I got a new XFINITY modem, it was messed up including my Videophone [VP] by Sorenson Communications. Yesterday, my tech guy came. He fixed the wires. It is much better also, he reconfigured my VP for XFINITY modem. It works great for now. Unfortunately, my VNC cannot be connected from my laptop's end. I've tried ip-address:5800 and I got Connection Timed out. I checked the settings, I got the router so, I don't understand the settings yet. I am running on: Windows XP x86 Comcast high-speed internet using XFINITY modem VNC 4.1.2 Server/Viewer My router's IP address starts with 10.0.0.x... I think so. When I got into router, it says XFINITY - Login so, I did logged on. I got the main screen: HOME > At A Glance Home Networking Network Connection It listed the hardware stuff. It is very basic. Can someone tell me how do I set my VNC to go through to the internet? Let me know. Thank you very much! John Cunniff President, Deaf-Blind Contact Center E-mail: jo...@shellworld.net Phone: 866-350-7482 voice or VP _______________________________________________ VNC-List mailing list VNC-List@realvnc.com To remove yourself from the list visit: http://www.realvnc.com/mailman/listinfo/vnc-list _______________________________________________ VNC-List mailing list VNC-List@realvnc.com To remove yourself from the list visit: http://www.realvnc.com/mailman/listinfo/vnc-list _______________________________________________ VNC-List mailing list VNC-List@realvnc.com To remove yourself from the list visit: http://www.realvnc.com/mailman/listinfo/vnc-list