Ipconfig displays only local IP; where is global IP?

GrandSpleen

Member
Jun 10, 2002
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0
Hello all,
I am trying to help a friend get a server program running, but we're having difficulties. He is running WinXp, and he's connected to the net through a router which in turn is connected to his cable modem. Unplugging the router is not really an option (although we could possibly mess with its settings).

The problem is as follows: You can set the server's IP address under its general setup. In order for it to run, the IP address in this option has to match the IP address Windows displays. When he types ipconfig from a command prompt, the only IP address he can see is his local one via the router (192.168.x.x ...). The server will run if the IP is specified as such, but obviously no one outside of his LAN can connect to him in this state. Even typing "ipconfig /all" fails to yield his global IP address -- we were only able to find it by using a site like http://www.whatismyip.com/ .

Trouble is, I don't know how to get his computer to acknowledge his global address, much less display it INSTEAD of the local one. The way this server works, if we just specify his global address, it won't boot up -- we get an error message. I tried having him manually specify his global IP as his IP, but (almost without saying), all that did was fail to interact with the router, and he had no connection at all.

Is there a way to fix this, or a workaround? We'd appreciate any help we could get!
Thanks,
GS
 

n0cmonkey

Elite Member
Jun 10, 2001
42,936
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The fix is probably to forward the appropriate ports to his machine through the router. The local machine will not acknowledge the external address, only the one it is assigned.
 

jjyiz28

Platinum Member
Jan 11, 2003
2,901
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what router are u using?? most likely it used a web interface for management.

open ur web browser, type in your router's IP addy, 192.168.0.1 which is pretty much the universal default, unless u changed it, go to status, and it should show you your WAN IP addy
 

Sideswipe001

Golden Member
May 23, 2003
1,116
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Originally posted by: GrandSpleen
Hello all,
I am trying to help a friend get a server program running, but we're having difficulties. He is running WinXp, and he's connected to the net through a router which in turn is connected to his cable modem. Unplugging the router is not really an option (although we could possibly mess with its settings).

The problem is as follows: You can set the server's IP address under its general setup. In order for it to run, the IP address in this option has to match the IP address Windows displays. When he types ipconfig from a command prompt, the only IP address he can see is his local one via the router (192.168.x.x ...). The server will run if the IP is specified as such, but obviously no one outside of his LAN can connect to him in this state. Even typing "ipconfig /all" fails to yield his global IP address -- we were only able to find it by using a site like http://www.whatismyip.com/ .

Trouble is, I don't know how to get his computer to acknowledge his global address, much less display it INSTEAD of the local one. The way this server works, if we just specify his global address, it won't boot up -- we get an error message. I tried having him manually specify his global IP as his IP, but (almost without saying), all that did was fail to interact with the router, and he had no connection at all.

Is there a way to fix this, or a workaround? We'd appreciate any help we could get!
Thanks,
GS

I think you're confused about how IPs work here. The server's IP address IS the 192.168.x.x one. The Router's IP address is the "global" one (although the router should have 2 IP addresses - a 192.168.x.x one listed as the 'gateway' when you IPCONFIG /all, and the WAN IP (the one you are looking for)).

It would help to know what you're trying to do, but basically, n0cmonkey is right. You need to open up whatever ports the program you're running uses, and have the router forward it to the server.

For example:

Your server is an FTP server. It's IP is 192.168.1.1. The IP of the Router is 192.168.1.254 (locally) and 65.25.1.54 (Internet IP). You would have to log into the router's setup, and tell it to forward all requests on port 21 to IP 192.168.1.1. Almost all routers have this ability. AFTER you do that, all FTP requests to 65.25.1.54 will automatically be forwarded to your server, and it will work just fine.

In short...your server will never list the Internet IP address, and shouldn't. You need to reconfigure your router.