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problem port forwarding through linksys

M

mattpegher

Platinum Member
The pharmaceutical database, epocrates requires frequent updates to my Ipod touch. The problem is the linksys network at my home will not allow the autoupdate program to download the updates dispite enabling port forwarding for port 80 as instructed by the epocrates website. The only firewall that the ipod should be behind is the wireless router, as it is directly connected to the cable modem.

Linksys is no help. as they refuse to instruct me without a service agreement, although my research suggests that there may be no way to completely disable the firewall temporarily and they refuse to confirm this.

Anyone with any knowledge on this subject?

Thanks
 
Does this auto update program run on the Ipod touch itself or does it run on an external server and try and push the updates to you? If it's on the Ipod touch, there should be no reason you need any ports forwarded. Port 80 is only for web servers, not sure why that is what you would need to have forwarded in the first place.
 
The program runs on the Ipod itself. The statement from epocrates is:

If you encounter a prompt from your firewall while installing Epocrates, please respond to the prompt in such a way that will grant Internet access. If that doesn't help, we suggest disabling your firewall. You can also configure your firewall to accept traffic to and from our server's IP address if you do not want to completely turn it off. Our AutoUpdate server's IP address is 63.241.66.139. All traffic from our server comes from port 80. If you do not know how to configure or turn off the firewall, please contact your firewall provider's support department for instructions. If you are behind a Network firewall at your place of employment or school, please contact your company's IT department or Helpdesk.

But I cannot find anything about the update being blocked by my wireless router.

The Ipod is acting like it has no internet access. It can access most sites including epocrates index site, www.epocrates.com, but not the "forgot password address" or "new account" pages.
 
The firewall Epocrates is referring to is not the router, but a software firewall on the client device, in this case your ipod. It is possible that although the program is installed on the ipod, it cannot properly connect to the update site itself.
The router will not block an update request from your ipod to the server.
 
Just did a little test, I stopped at the free wifi at panera bread and had no trouble updating. So the problem is definitly in my home wifi. The only thing I can think of is port forwarding. Any other suggestions?

Thanks
 
Is your iPod set to get always the same IP (i.e., static IP, or static DHCP).

Router's port has to be forwarded toward a specific IP, if the iPod IP changes it would not work.

Opened port 80 toward an iPod is Not a big deal since it is an iPod and not a fully loaded computer.
 
Port forwarding of the router will not help. As almost always the case with such instructions, Epocrates' instructions are unclear and confusing because they don't explain how the traffic is initiated and maintained.

Looking at their FAQ, update conversations are initiated by the IPod. The Ipod contacts the update server at 63.241.66.139 on their TCP Port 80. The problem comes with firewalls that aren't allowing the conversation to continue.

Port forwarding of the Linksys would only help if the Epocrates update server was INITIATING the update conversation. It's not. If it was, you'd have to tell their server what your IP address was and that would change every time you move your IPod.
 
I used epocrates years ago with iPaq through a Router and I do not remeber any specific problems.

You can try to put the Router on the DMZ for few minutes and see if it helps, if it does not, then it is Not the Router fault.

What about uPNP?
 
Originally posted by: mattpegher
Just did a little test, I stopped at the free wifi at panera bread and had no trouble updating. So the problem is definitly in my home wifi. The only thing I can think of is port forwarding. Any other suggestions?
Click to expand...
And that's why the problem isn't going to be fixed by port forwrding. Panera Bread isn't port forwarding TCP Port 80 from their router to your Ipod. Nor have they set up a DMZ and forwarded every single incoming port to your Ipod.

Since it did work at panera bread, it could be a firewall setting (not port forwarding) on your Linksys.
 
In theory unless there is some type of blocking that was set a while ago and forgotten there is No other setting for the Firewall that can cause it.

Ii could be iPod issue with the Router too.

If memory serves me well there should an epocrates version for Desktop too. If there is one, give it a try, it might lead you to further to a solution.
 
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