[RESOLVED] Running a Web Server on ICS...

[BeanieBoy]

Is there any way to run a web server that can be seen from outside the ICS network off of a ICS client? I'm not attached to ICS so if there is any other way of Networking that would allow me to Use a webserver as well as hiding the fact that I'm using my connection for 2 computers, I'm all for it... Thanks

[EvilCabbage]

Wouldnt be something I would recommend.

Why host the page yourself anyway.. thats what ISPs and such are for...

[BeanieBoy]

Hosting it on my own computer makes it easier for me to update and I can also store a lot more stuff on it...

[EvilCabbage]

You wouldnt want to do it with your windows 9x based machine in any case.

You also need to look at :
your connection will need to be *constant*, you will also need to consider just how much bandwidth your going to be using, and how secure you think this will all be.

It would be agonising to maintain, keep going, and pretty much impossible to keep it secure.

Methinks you would be better off just asking your ISP about some space, and a domain.

[Ron Prestenback]

Buuuuuuuttt, if you *do* decide to go ahead anyway, ICS won't do the trick. You'll need to use a real NAT program. ICS is a slimmed-down version of NAT, and it doesn't allow you to adjust any of the NAT translations, which is exactly what you're talking about here. What you need to do is set up a specific port mapping so that even if your computer did not initiate the connection, the software still know what port goes to what internal connection. Example:
The non-host computer starts Internet Explorer. It sends a DNS query to the host of the NAT software. Let's say your non-host is 192.168.0.1, your host is 24.1.2.3, and your ISP's DNS server is 24.5.5.5
NAT does this:
It receives
"DNS query, 192.168.0.1:53, 24.5.5.5:53"
That reads <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">ns query, from IP address 192.168.0.1, port 53 to 24.5.5.5, port 53"
NAT changes it to this before it actually sends this packet on:
"DNS query, 24.1.2.3:45678, 24.5.5.5:53"
The DNS server will send the response to whatever port it received the query from, so, the next packet looks like this:
"Packet x, 24.5.5.5:53 24.1.2.3:45678 hostname"
At this point, NAT knows that this packet actually goes to 192.168.0.1, because that's what port that IP address is assigned in dynamic memory right now.
So you need the functionality to manually specify that, for example, all packets addressed to 24.1.2.3:22222 actually go to 192.168.0.1:80, and then you have a web server! I use WinRoute, by Tiny Software, which can also function as a firewall, as can any properly configured NAT software.

[BeanieBoy]

Ok, I've got WinRoute now.. I'm very confused as to how to go about setting it up... I've follwer the instructions in the help file... am I supposed to get rid of ICS?

[Ron Prestenback]

Well, by default, all connections you have on the host computer should be able to talk to each other. WinRoute automatically sets up your routing table so that all connection route to each other, as well as enabling all of them to use the internet. Get rid of ICS. At this point, it will only get in the way. What you want to do is go to Settings, advanced, port mapping. You're going to create a port mapping.

For protocol, select TCP, for Listen Port select 80, for listen IP, select unspecified, for Destination IP, type in the IP address of the internal computer that is hosting your web site, and for Destination port, select 80. After you click OK, Internet users will now be able to access port 80 on your internal computer.

BTW, if you're havbing trouble getting into the configuration mode, the default username is Admin, and the default password is blank. (No password). Let me know if you have any more questions.

[82camaro]

I don't think I would do this set-up you are talking about, but ICS can do port-mapping. You just need the ICS config program. The ICS config allows you to turn off and on DHCP and adjust the address's DHCP uses, as well as other config stuff. The config program is on download.com.

[Ron Prestenback]

Hmmm, I've never heard of ICS config. Thanks for the update. I'll check it out and pass on the info to anyone who needs it. A nice alternative to learning a completely new program. I'm still leery of Win98 ICS, which reminds me. Cow, what OS are you using? If you have Win2K Server, you can do all this from the OS, using RRAS.

[BeanieBoy]

I'm runnin 98 and I had ICS config before I even posted... I looked at the settings after I started all this and found I could just enable the web server dealie part of it...

[Ron Prestenback]

Hehehe.....oops! <IMG SRC="smilies/redface.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/confused.gif" border="0">