Sharing over the web - need help

[emphasis]

Yes, I have read the notices to check for previous postings on a topic, but have been unable to find the answer.

I have been using Calibre for several months and have been very pleased. I am now trying to expand my use and knowledge of the product by using the sharing over the net feature.

I am using Windows 7 and Calibre 7.24.

I have clicked on preference icon and then sharing over the web icon; then clicked on start server after which I get this message ERROR: Failed to start content server: Port 8080 not free on '0.0.0.0'

I do not know what that means or how to correct it.

Please advise

Thanks


Jerry

[Manichean]

This can, to my knowledge, have two causes: The first one would simply be that there already is a service listening on port 8080. Are you running any other servers apart from the Calibre one?
The second reason you may get this message is because of the Windows firewall- from what I read (I've never actually seen that behaviour myself), the Windows firewall sometimes reports back an IP of 0.0.0.0 if a connection is refused. Check your firewall settings in the control panel and see if opening listening ports is allowed.

[chaley]

Originally Posted by Manichean

The first one would simply be that there already is a service listening on port 8080. Are you running any other servers apart from the Calibre one?

Note that 'servers' will include things like Skype and uTorrent. Look at all applications that are long-lived to see if they hold a network port open.

Alternatively, change the port (in preferences) to something else, like 8181.

[Manichean]

Uhm, yeah. I forgot to add the bit about changing the port number.

[emphasis]

Thanks to both responses.
Changed to port 8181 and it worked.

Now then, I am able to now connect to the server by preferences+sharing over the net + start server + test server and successfully view all ny books via the web.

I then attempted to view the web address from another computer and could not connect [error:sever not found]

Am I not suppose to be able to access this from any internet access????? And given the address should not anyone be able to access the contents?

Then once connected to the server and its contents is one able to download a book? read a book? etc?

Thank you

Jerry

[itimpi]

Being able to access the server from the public Internet involves a lot of extra steps (outside calibre) compared to being able to access it from devices connected to your home LAN/WiFi network. Is that what you are trying to achieve?

[emphasis]

Am interested in public internet access. What would those "lot of extra steps" be

Thanks

[Manichean]

Since you can't connect to the server I'm assuming that you are behind some kind of router. Basically, you need to tell the router to forward connections on its own external interface (= your public IP adress) to your computer. Refer to the manual of whatever device you use to access the internet. Also, please remember that a) this is exposing your computer to the internet and b) only to expose the one port you need.

Seriously. Don't underestimate the part where you expose your computer to the internet. Consider setting up another computer that runs only the Calibre server and what parts the server needs and that lives in a DMZ on the network. Google DMZ if you need help in setup.

[chaley]

I am not sure what you are trying to do, but my guess is that you are going into a tech zone where sysadmins fear to tread.

See this post.