what address to use (absolute beginner)

Problems with the Windows version of XAMPP, questions, comments, and anything related.

what address to use (absolute beginner)

Postby mikexyz » 14. November 2009 02:51

Have just installed XAMPP with Apache and MySql. Both are running and passworded.
All works when I connect using localhost http://localhost/xampp/ but when I substitute my IP for localhost http://219.56.xxx.xxx/xampp/ it simply times out.
My firewall shows that it is trying to make a connection, but the IP is being modified to include my ISP name as well as the actual IP;
Browser HTTP rule FIREFOX.EXE myISPname219056xxxxxx.xxxxxx.net HTTP Outbound TCP

I'm kinda baffled by this.

Thanks in advance to anyone who can spare a moment to advise.

Mike
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Re: what address to use (absolute beginner)

Postby Izzy » 14. November 2009 03:02

Not an issue with XAMPP but rather a possible configuration issue with your router so I have included a couple of links that should help with configuring it or at least checking that you configured it correctly - fingers crossed. :)

The links require that you know the router make and model.

This one has a commercial app but if you read on then you can do it manually with out making any purchases.
http://portforward.com/

This one has a free piece of software that may do the job automagically.
http://www.pcwintech.com/node/8

Good luck.
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Re: what address to use (absolute beginner)

Postby mikexyz » 14. November 2009 03:11

Thanks mate. Looking at the second link now. Oh, I forgot to add that the router then goes to a hub (if that makes any difference).
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Re: what address to use (absolute beginner)

Postby Izzy » 14. November 2009 03:26

Again, not really an XAMPP for Windows issue so it may be deemed off topic in these forums but hubs don't require IP addresses so should not be affecting your issue.

Your firewall, if a NAT, may require correctly configuring.

Here's a couple more links that may help clear the fog a little.

Search results 1

Search results 2

Happy hunting. :)
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Re: what address to use (absolute beginner)

Postby mikexyz » 14. November 2009 03:48

Thanks Izzy. I've dug out the router handbook which is all in Japanese - really! Before I get started, which ports need forwarding to what?

Should I forward all incoming HTTP and HTTPS to port 80 on the local address?

Thanks again
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Re: what address to use (absolute beginner)

Postby mikexyz » 14. November 2009 04:15

Yay! The good news is that after stabbing around blindly due to the router interface being entirely in Japanese, I seem to have enabled NAT. It seems I am able to connect to my IP because I now get the message;
Access forbidden!

New XAMPP security concept:

Access to the requested directory is only available from the local network.

This setting can be configured in the file "httpd-xampp.conf".

If you think this is a server error, please contact the webmaster.
Error 403
219.xxx.xxx.xxx
11/14/2009 12:10:52 PM
Apache/2.2.12 (Win32) DAV/2 mod_ssl/2.2.12 OpenSSL/0.9.8k mod_autoindex_color PHP/5.3.0 mod_perl/2.0.4 Perl/v5.10.0


So ow I will stumble around a bit with the "httpd-xampp.conf" file (whatever that is) :-)

Seems I am now The Webmaster! I like the idea :-)

Thanks for pointing me in the right direction Senior Webmaster Izzy!
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Re: what address to use (absolute beginner)

Postby Izzy » 14. November 2009 04:21

Make a Copy of the httpd-xampp.conf file first located in \xampp\apache\conf\extra folder.

Down at the bottom of the file is the section you will have to add your IP(s) but try and follow the format or you may get issues trying to start Apache if you make mistakes - keep your ey on the error.log file in the apache\logs folder.

After editing the conf file you will have to try and restart Apache.

Now you are on topic I can be more help so if you provide your IPs I may be able to provide the required edits for that section.
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Re: what address to use (absolute beginner)

Postby mikexyz » 14. November 2009 04:35

Thanks Izzy.

If I open it up so that any IP can connect, what would regular folks have access to? Would their access be theoretically limited to C:\xampp\htdocs ?

Thanks again mate.

Oh, IP here is 219.56.140.36
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Re: what address to use (absolute beginner)

Postby Izzy » 14. November 2009 04:49

mikexyz wrote:If I open it up so that any IP can connect, what would regular folks have access to? Would their access be theoretically limited to C:\xampp\htdocs ?
No, this section is for LAN access to these mostly private (webmaster) folders of XAMPP as defined in this line
Code: Select all
<LocationMatch "^/(?i:(?:xampp|security|licenses|phpmyadmin|webalizer|server-status|server-info))">
As you can see they are not for WAN access but for LAN access as the IPs and IP ranges define.

Opening to all removes this very useful new security feature.

Your problem is not with this httpd-xampp.conf file even though you had the access denied message but more with port forwarding still.

Your WAN IP you posted needs to be forwarded to port 80 so Apache listening on port 80 will serve the required pages - at the moment Apache thinks that the IP is a local IP and so denies access.

You need to go back to my first set of links and try and follow the port forwarding configuration for Apache ports (clue) - find your router in the lists for the correct configuration or post here the make and model and I will see if I can find it (in English) ;)

Also make sure your ISP does not block port 80 and any other XAMPP ports - some do.
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Re: what address to use (absolute beginner)

Postby mikexyz » 14. November 2009 05:33

...No, this section is for LAN access to these mostly private (webmaster) folders of XAMPP as defined in this line
Code:
<LocationMatch "^/(?i:(?:xampp|security|licenses|phpmyadmin|webalizer|server-status|server-info))">
As you can see they are not for WAN access but for LAN access as the IPs and IP ranges define.

I'm sorry. I really do not understand at all. Thanks for advising that these "webmaster" files are somehow important, but aren't they passworded? Also, why can't a webmaster access them remotely?

Where should regular "non webmaster" type files be put?

I realise these may be pretty stupid questions to some folks, so I beg your tolerance.


You need to go back to my first set of links and try and follow the port forwarding configuration for Apache ports (clue) - find your router in the lists for the correct configuration or post here the make and model and I will see if I can find it (in English) ;)

Thanks :-) The router is an Ambit Trio-3G (supplied through Softbank who is my ISP)

Also make sure your ISP does not block port 80 and any other XAMPP ports - some do.

Lol... ROFL Given the language barrier, that would be a Mission Impossible, but I'll try to persuade Mrs Phelps (My Japanese wife) to have a go at it later - before I self destruct.
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Re: what address to use (absolute beginner)

Postby Izzy » 14. November 2009 06:05

I prefer the term server administrator over webmaster.

All files and folders accessed from the web are stored in the \xampp\htdocs folder unless an Alias directive is configured in the httpd-xampp.conf file or defined in a VirtualHost directive in the http-vhosts.conf file.

For obvious reasons access to your PC's file system from the web via a web server has to be denied with the strongest of security measures possible - passworded or not, imagine a hacker being able to access any file or folder they choose on your PC including bank details etc. and believe me there are many out there who don't have a life other than for persistently trying to access naively managed open web servers.

So even as a server admin you can't readily or easily access your PC through a web server, you would need to setup a remote access application correctly and securely configured to be able to do that.

Web search results for Ambit Trio 3g in English (but not checked, time constraints - thats your job :) )

This perhaps:
http://www.ambitusa.com/

However I did find this in the second port forwarding link a posted above:
http://www.pcwintech.com/node/999
So you might be able to help this provider and possibly others by following their link.

Your doing fine and hopefully you know a little bit more now than when you started this exercise and reading and experimenting with what you learn can only be beneficial as that's where we all had to start - this will not happen overnight but rather will take often many years, worse is this business is always in flux. :)
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Re: what address to use (absolute beginner)

Postby mikexyz » 14. November 2009 06:36

Thanks again, Izzy.
I'm just about done doing a fresh XP install on another 'dispensable' machine specifically for this project, as my usual machine has so many layers of security that it doesn't even remember its own name.
Will let you know how I get on.

Cheers Digger
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Re: what address to use (absolute beginner)

Postby Izzy » 14. November 2009 06:39

Your welcome, thanks for your comments etc.

BTW that ambitusa web site is as useless as tits on a bull. :D

There is an English site for Softbank if it helps:
http://mb.softbank.jp/en/
Just checking it out now.

Edit - no luck finding any info on the ambit, seems to be a 'phantom of the routers'.
Perhaps you may have to wait for your good lady wife to translate the manual.

Good luck, mate.
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Re: what address to use (absolute beginner)

Postby mikexyz » 15. November 2009 03:52

Hi again from Japan.

I have XAMPP running on a fresh install of XP on another machine now.
Have forwarded ports 80 81 443 3306 to that machine's local address. One of the links provided by Izzy had a step by step guide for dummies.

Now when I connect using my wan IP (different IP to the one posted above) using the address http://219.56.xxx.xxx/ I get an authentication requester for "WebAdmin". Is this normal?

Thanks,

Mike
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Re: what address to use (absolute beginner)

Postby Izzy » 15. November 2009 05:51

mikexyz wrote:Now when I connect using my wan IP (different IP to the one posted above) using the address http://219.56.xxx.xxx/ I get an authentication requester for "WebAdmin". Is this normal?
No, not normal as I don't know of any WebAdmin in XAMPP at all even less one that would request authentication - maybe your firewall/router/modem???.

Is Apache running?
You can see the Welcome Page by typing http://localhost/ in your browser.

Did you put a web site or some pages in a folder in the htdocs folder?

http://219.56.xxx.xxx/yourfolder/index.html should find it if indeed there is such a folder with an index.html file in it (yourfolder name is only an example).
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