No external access to Content Server. Help please

quoddle · 05-13-2016, 06:14 AM

I've used Calibre's content server for a long time allowing friends to access my library. Recently I was told that they could no longer access it, getting an error saying it was taking too long to respond. As far as I am aware nothing has changed at my end and all settings look the same as always.
My router is set to port forward port 12432 which is set up as the server port in Calibre
I can access the content server on my own network with my IP:12432 but when I use this from an external computer I get "Site can't be reached, IP took too long to respond" error.
I have tried turning Windows 10 Firewall off but it is no different.

It's obviously not a Calibre problem but I wonder if someone can suggest what else I can look at as something has changed and is preventing external acces to my IP and I'm totally lost for what else to check.

theducks · 05-13-2016, 09:24 AM

I suspect something has changed that you have not noticed

My ip (the one that still works)?
is that your server IP (192, 10 series IP)?
Was the LOCAL network test done using another device? Yes, then the W10 firewall is not the problem.

Your WAN IP: is it static (or you use a DYNDNS type service and the account is still valid)?
Is your ISP (now) blocking really odd port numbers? Have you tried using a more traditional 4-digit, port?

quoddle · 05-13-2016, 09:51 AM

Thanks for helping and offering ideas.

My Ip is my main IP address XX.172.XXX.XX:12432
This is a static IP address provided by my ISP

The local test using this address was on the same PC that Calibre is running and on a separate laptop on my wifi network. Both work using either 12432 or 9091.

I've just tried port 9091 instead of 12432 but it still doesn't work on a pc not on my network.

theducks · 05-13-2016, 10:03 AM

Lucky you to have an ISP that offers Static IP

Moderator Notice
Never post your Public IP. I have obscured it for you

Local good, WAN bad: ISP or router is blocking

Have you checked that the Static IP is still the same using a service that reports it?

quoddle · 05-13-2016, 10:23 AM

whatismyip.com confirm my IP address is correct

theducks · 05-13-2016, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by quoddle

whatismyip.com confirm my IP address is correct

If it works inside (LAN), it is not a Calibre issue. Got to be a Router or ISP issue.

I know if I were to upgrade to a bonded pair DSL, I can no longer use my existing (standalone) VPN router . The ISP wants a Modem they can manage

quoddle · 05-13-2016, 10:50 AM

What's baffling is that it has worked fine for years and only recently ran into the problem even though nothing has (knowingly) changed on my set up. Certianly the hardware and internet connection is the same.

I have a Techicolor router which is configured simply as a modem (all set up by my ISP years ago) that provides pass through to my router. I have an IP block of tow fixed addresses so that the modem has it's own IP address so that I can interrogate it for synch speed etc. The firewall is on the main router whch is set up as it always has been.

shalym · 05-13-2016, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by quoddle

What's baffling is that it has worked fine for years and only recently ran into the problem even though nothing has (knowingly) changed on my set up. Certianly the hardware and internet connection is the same.

I have a Techicolor router which is configured simply as a modem (all set up by my ISP years ago) that provides pass through to my router. I have an IP block of tow fixed addresses so that the modem has it's own IP address so that I can interrogate it for synch speed etc. The firewall is on the main router whch is set up as it always has been.

What are you using for anti-virus on the computer that is running the content server?

Shari

quoddle · 05-14-2016, 04:02 AM

Windows Defender and Malwarebytes

theducks · 05-14-2016, 07:40 AM

but it is NOT an security software issue if any OTHER local PC can access the content server.

You would have to block JUST the port REQUESTED from the Router (AKA a request from outside path). Personally, I don't think most suites are up to that level of granularity

shalym · 05-14-2016, 07:47 AM

Have you tried changing the port from 12432 to 8080, just to see if that works?

Shari

quoddle · 05-14-2016, 10:50 AM

Tried 9091 with the same result, viewable on any device on my home network but nothing remote

PeterT · 05-14-2016, 11:11 AM

Have you rebooted the router?

quoddle · 05-14-2016, 11:56 AM

Several times since this problem appeared.

quoddle · 05-14-2016, 05:35 PM

I've just tried assigning a different LAN IP address (192.168.1.3 rather than 192.168.1.4) to the Calibre PC and modifying the port forwarding to take that into account followed by rebooting the router. To my surprise I can now access Calibre via a remote computer as in the past. I've no idea why this should have made a difference but it seems to have cured the problem

Thanks for the help and suggestions.

05-13-2016, 06:14 AM	#1
quoddle Enthusiast Posts: 42 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2009 Device: Kobo Libra H20	No external access to Content Server. Help please I've used Calibre's content server for a long time allowing friends to access my library. Recently I was told that they could no longer access it, getting an error saying it was taking too long to respond. As far as I am aware nothing has changed at my end and all settings look the same as always. My router is set to port forward port 12432 which is set up as the server port in Calibre I can access the content server on my own network with my IP:12432 but when I use this from an external computer I get "Site can't be reached, IP took too long to respond" error. I have tried turning Windows 10 Firewall off but it is no different. It's obviously not a Calibre problem but I wonder if someone can suggest what else I can look at as something has changed and is preventing external acces to my IP and I'm totally lost for what else to check.

05-13-2016, 09:51 AM	#3
quoddle Enthusiast Posts: 42 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2009 Device: Kobo Libra H20	Thanks for helping and offering ideas. My Ip is my main IP address XX.172.XXX.XX:12432 This is a static IP address provided by my ISP The local test using this address was on the same PC that Calibre is running and on a separate laptop on my wifi network. Both work using either 12432 or 9091. I've just tried port 9091 instead of 12432 but it still doesn't work on a pc not on my network. Last edited by theducks; 05-13-2016 at 09:56 AM. Reason: obscured IP

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05-13-2016, 09:24 AM	#2
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 29,785 Karma: 54830978 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	I suspect something has changed that you have not noticed My ip (the one that still works)? is that your server IP (192, 10 series IP)? Was the LOCAL network test done using another device? Yes, then the W10 firewall is not the problem. Your WAN IP: is it static (or you use a DYNDNS type service and the account is still valid)? Is your ISP (now) blocking really odd port numbers? Have you tried using a more traditional 4-digit, port?

05-13-2016, 10:03 AM	#4
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 29,785 Karma: 54830978 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	Lucky you to have an ISP that offers Static IP Moderator Notice Never post your Public IP. I have obscured it for you Local good, WAN bad: ISP or router is blocking Have you checked that the Static IP is still the same using a service that reports it?

05-13-2016, 10:23 AM	#5
quoddle Enthusiast Posts: 42 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2009 Device: Kobo Libra H20	whatismyip.com confirm my IP address is correct

05-13-2016, 10:50 AM	#7
quoddle Enthusiast Posts: 42 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2009 Device: Kobo Libra H20	What's baffling is that it has worked fine for years and only recently ran into the problem even though nothing has (knowingly) changed on my set up. Certianly the hardware and internet connection is the same. I have a Techicolor router which is configured simply as a modem (all set up by my ISP years ago) that provides pass through to my router. I have an IP block of tow fixed addresses so that the modem has it's own IP address so that I can interrogate it for synch speed etc. The firewall is on the main router whch is set up as it always has been.

05-14-2016, 04:02 AM	#9
quoddle Enthusiast Posts: 42 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2009 Device: Kobo Libra H20	Windows Defender and Malwarebytes

05-14-2016, 07:40 AM	#10
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 29,785 Karma: 54830978 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	but it is NOT an security software issue if any OTHER local PC can access the content server. You would have to block JUST the port REQUESTED from the Router (AKA a request from outside path). Personally, I don't think most suites are up to that level of granularity

05-14-2016, 07:47 AM	#11
shalym Wizard Posts: 3,032 Karma: 52740263 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: New England Device: PW 1, 2, 3, Voyage, Oasis 2 & 3, Fires, Aura HD, iPad	Have you tried changing the port from 12432 to 8080, just to see if that works? Shari

05-14-2016, 10:50 AM	#12
quoddle Enthusiast Posts: 42 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2009 Device: Kobo Libra H20	Tried 9091 with the same result, viewable on any device on my home network but nothing remote

05-14-2016, 11:11 AM	#13
PeterT Grand Sorcerer Posts: 12,160 Karma: 73448616 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto Device: Nexus 7, Clara, Touch, Tolino EPOS	Have you rebooted the router?

05-14-2016, 11:56 AM	#14
quoddle Enthusiast Posts: 42 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2009 Device: Kobo Libra H20	Several times since this problem appeared.

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05-14-2016, 05:35 PM	#15
quoddle Enthusiast Posts: 42 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2009 Device: Kobo Libra H20	I've just tried assigning a different LAN IP address (192.168.1.3 rather than 192.168.1.4) to the Calibre PC and modifying the port forwarding to take that into account followed by rebooting the router. To my surprise I can now access Calibre via a remote computer as in the past. I've no idea why this should have made a difference but it seems to have cured the problem Thanks for the help and suggestions.