DMZ, Port Forwarding still no NetMeeting

[Jerry B]

I have Windows XP and have used NetMeeting with my Linksys WRT54G in the past
with no problem. Then I upgraded firmware on the WRT54G to v 3.01.3 and
haven't been able to complete a call since. I'm trying to call my Dad's PC.
He has no router, just cable modem, and is using XP. We've connected easily
in the past.

I've read and followed Thomas DeBellis' long list of suggestions posted at
Brian Sullivan's Meeting by Wire site. I tried using his port triggering
suggestion, I tried port forwarding and I tried putting my PC in the DMZ.
None has worked. I would try Thomas' third suggestion of using PPTP but his
notes don't address how to accomplish this with my router, and I'm not well
schooled in networking.

Any other suggestions on how to connect a Netmeeting call using a Linksys
WRT54G router with firmware version 3.01.3?

[Brian Sullivan MVP]

Post by Jerry B
I have Windows XP and have used NetMeeting with my Linksys WRT54G in
the past with no problem. Then I upgraded firmware on the WRT54G to v
3.01.3 and haven't been able to complete a call since. I'm trying to
call my Dad's PC. He has no router, just cable modem, and is using
XP. We've connected easily in the past.
I've read and followed Thomas DeBellis' long list of suggestions
posted at Brian Sullivan's Meeting by Wire site. I tried using his
port triggering suggestion, I tried port forwarding and I tried
putting my PC in the DMZ. None has worked. I would try Thomas' third
suggestion of using PPTP but his notes don't address how to
accomplish this with my router, and I'm not well schooled in
networking.
Any other suggestions on how to connect a Netmeeting call using a
Linksys WRT54G router with firmware version 3.01.3?

Generally you should not have a problem connecting a call --regardless of
what port forwarding/dmz setup you have(NATs generally cause problems
receiving calls or on receiving audio/video on outgoing calls).

How are you attempting to connect? Direct via IP or ...? Are you sure you
are calling the correct IP?

[Jerry B]

I've been calling directly, using the IP Address that appears under
Netmeeting/Help. I suppose it is possible that my dad read the IP Address
wrong. But I did connect with him recently when I removed my router and
plugged my PC directly into my modem. *(Yikes!)

I'm a bit relieved to hear you fell it SHOULD have worked. At least that
tells me it is possible. I will continue to troubleshoot. Do you have any
detail regarding Thomas DeBellis' suggestion (on www.meetingbywire.com) to
use PPTP as a means to connect? Specifically, he mentions setting up one PC
as a client, one as a server. How do you set the client machine up with a
virtual private network connection to the IP address of the remote WAN? Does
that client machine need to be using a router? (My Dad's PC does not use a
router...yet.) If he doesn't have a router, how would he rout port 1723 to my
machine (which does have the WRT54G router)?

As always, I appreciate your expertise and willingness to share.

Post by Brian Sullivan MVP
Generally you should not have a problem connecting a call --regardless of
what port forwarding/dmz setup you have(NATs generally cause problems
receiving calls or on receiving audio/video on outgoing calls).
How are you attempting to connect? Direct via IP or ...? Are you sure you
are calling the correct IP?
--
Brian Sullivan
Meeting by Wire ( http://www.meetingbywire.com)
------------
Is your PC protected? --
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/default.asp

[Brian Sullivan MVP]

Post by Jerry B
I've been calling directly, using the IP Address that appears under
Netmeeting/Help. I suppose it is possible that my dad read the IP
Address wrong. But I did connect with him recently when I removed my
router and plugged my PC directly into my modem. *(Yikes!)
I'm a bit relieved to hear you fell it SHOULD have worked. At least
that tells me it is possible. I will continue to troubleshoot. Do you
have any detail regarding Thomas DeBellis' suggestion (on
www.meetingbywire.com) to use PPTP as a means to connect?

No -- I just included the information because I thought it would be useful
to somebody -- my recommendation is to use the dmz (with appropriately
configured local software firewalls). The approach in his posting I think is
just to complicated.

Post by Jerry B
Specifically, he mentions setting up one PC as a client, one as a
server. How do you set the client machine up with a virtual private
network connection to the IP address of the remote WAN? Does that
client machine need to be using a router? (My Dad's PC does not use a
router...yet.) If he doesn't have a router, how would he rout port
1723 to my machine (which does have the WRT54G router)?

As I said the process is just to complex -- use the dmz on your machine --
it is much more understandable and can be used on most routers.

I indicated before ( unless you have done something really weird with the
router) though that your problem is not the router at your end -- something
at the other end is blocking the connection ( could be incorrect IP or a
firewall -- without more investigation it is impossible to know.).

[Brian Sullivan MVP]

Post by Brian Sullivan MVP

Post by Jerry B
I've been calling directly, using the IP Address that appears under
Netmeeting/Help. I suppose it is possible that my dad read the IP
Address wrong. But I did connect with him recently when I removed my
router and plugged my PC directly into my modem. *(Yikes!)
I'm a bit relieved to hear you fell it SHOULD have worked. At least
that tells me it is possible. I will continue to troubleshoot. Do you
have any detail regarding Thomas DeBellis' suggestion (on
www.meetingbywire.com) to use PPTP as a means to connect?

No -- I just included the information because I thought it would be
useful to somebody -- my recommendation is to use the dmz (with
appropriately configured local software firewalls). The approach in
his posting I think is just to complicated.

Post by Jerry B
Specifically, he mentions setting up one PC as a client, one as a
server. How do you set the client machine up with a virtual private
network connection to the IP address of the remote WAN? Does that
client machine need to be using a router? (My Dad's PC does not use a
router...yet.) If he doesn't have a router, how would he rout port
1723 to my machine (which does have the WRT54G router)?

As I said the process is just to complex -- use the dmz on your
machine -- it is much more understandable and can be used on most
routers.
I indicated before ( unless you have done something really weird with
the router) though that your problem is not the router at your end --
something at the other end is blocking the connection ( could be
incorrect IP or a firewall -- without more investigation it is
impossible to know.).

Duh -- "too complicated" and "too complex" is what I meant.