iMac web server connecting from outside problem

[funops]

I am having a problem connecting to my DSL wireless home network web server on the iMac from the outside world. Wondering if someone can suggest what I might be overlooking.

Everything works splendid locally. I have activated PHP in Apache and Web Sharing in System Preferences, created the .conf file to allow access from the home directory, copied into my Sites a collection of PHP/HTML feedback forms and various music tracks for opinions. Works great "if" you happen to be on my DSL home network, the PHP Mail function sends form data to me and my colleagues, etc. I'm very pleased with how easy my iMac made this possible. Works, at home, via the iMac, a Windows XP PC, a Windows laptop, even my iPad (all connected to the home wireless network.)

http://###.##.#.##/~shortname/
http://###.##.#.##/~shortname/testing/helloworld.html

(The "Your Personal Website" as noted when I turn on Web Sharing, etc.)

Created a info.php file in the Sites home directory and it runs, presents my PHP version and settings, etc.

All works thus far. Locally. Then the other shoe drops, try as I may, follow whatever instructions I can find, I just can't get the site to access from the outside world. Firefox times out, IE says it can't connect, etc.

I'm assuming (shouldn't assume but can't think of anything else) that it all has something to do with my DSL Modem/Router? My setup:

iMac with OS X 10.5.8
2Wire Wireless Modem/Router
SBC Global/ATT high speed DSL

I went into the 2Wire administration, Firewall Settings, it recognized my iMac as well as other computers on the home network and I clicked its offering of "Web Server" to add as acceptable access, saved, even rebooted. Still no luck connecting from the outside.

Any thoughts on what I should be looking for to get this working from the outside would be appreciated. Thank You.

Bob

 

[calderone]

There are a few things you need to do:

1. Forward traffic from port 80 to port 80 on your iMac.
2. Get your external IP address: http://www.whatismyip.com/
3. Use the external IP to connect or use one of the free DNS services like http://www.dyndns.com/

I am not familiar with the 2Wire and its "Web Server" option.

Go here: http://portforward.com/

Find your model number and click on any of the various games and applications. You just need to find out where exactly you setup a port forward.

 

[funops]

Outstanding! That did it, thank you very much. Where I went wrong it seems is I mistook the IP that the iMac System Preferences > Web Sharing dialog presented as "Your Personal Website" to be the address for connecting from the outside. Unless I'm mistaken, I believe that IP is for local networked computers. Maybe I misunderstood "Personal" in "Your Personal Website."

But once I got and used my Internet connection's IP via whatismyip.com, created a port opening in the 2Wire administration for 80 to 80 for the iMac, and entered the whatismyip.com IP

http://##.##.##.###/~shortname/test/hello.html

bingo, the outside computers connected straightaway! The PHP scripts and web pages run fine, the PHP form emailed me a test filled in form data from the outside, so it looks like I'm good to go with this. Sweet. Thanks again.

Bob

 

[calderone]

Glad I could help. Enjoy!