RPC over HTTP / Outlook Anywhere

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by Andrewcrawford23

so i did get it right although i never knew the web interface was called outlook anywhere, the ports do need to be forwarded then

Unless he posted from another connection, then port 80 is forwarded fine, as he would not be able to access this website.

---------- Post added at 23:27 ---------- Previous post was at 23:25 ----------

Originally Posted by Broadbandings

Software firewall won't block web browsing

It might if it uses packet inspection.

[Ignitionnet]

Originally Posted by Stuart C

Unless he posted from another connection, then port 80 is forwarded fine, as he would not be able to access this website.

---------- Post added at 23:27 ---------- Previous post was at 23:25 ----------



It might if it uses packet inspection.

It's that he can reach the server ok from his Orange connection that suggests the firewall / router in front of the server is ok. That he can access this website says that there isn't a software firewall in the way.

I appreciate that they can though of course, as I mentioned it's one of the reasons I don't like them, the way they bind to DNE and mess with packets. Would have to join the queue on this machine.

I really don't know what I'm talking about so suggesting that the OP opens Port 135 is probably totally wrong....

[Andrewcrawford23]

Originally Posted by Broadbandings

Strewth. It's not an Exchange server running at this home Andrew, it's elsewhere. It works fine from his Orange broadband ergo it's not an issue with port forwarding at the server side. People rarely run Exchange, which Outlook Anywhere is a front end for, at home.

People who run Exchange servers tend to not mess up things like 'port forwarding' and chances are it's not using port forwarding but static NAT and a virtual IP translating everything going to a public IP to the private IP address of the server in question.

If his software firewall were blocking web browsing he'd have had a rather troubled time posting this thread wouldn't he? I think we're probably safe to ignore that one, and yes I know what software firewalls do, it's why I don't use one of the horrid things

I do hope when you troubleshoot at work you read more carefully. The Exchange server is somewhere in Internet land, it works fine from his Orange DSL, it doesn't from his Virgin Media cable. It's not that he is hosting it locally, sane people don't set up a personal Exchange server on their broadband.

Anyway onto the point.

Irish, either get a packet trace or maybe get the techies who operate the server to see if you are actually reaching it using the Virgin Media cable connection. You mentioned getting a password prompt but you didn't mention at what point, are you seeing the initial screen requesting the logon? Are you giving the full domain and username info if you do according to the prompting? If you're going over ordinary http have you tried going over https?

guess i must be insane then

as for work well considering i know what i am looking for in the first place no i hardly needed to read, but when i do get it wrong people accept it because i have reading diffucults and i then go onto the right track

[Ignitionnet]

Originally Posted by Andrewcrawford23

as for work well considering i know what i am looking for in the first place no i hardly needed to read, but when i do get it wrong people accept it because i have reading diffucults and i then go onto the right track

In that case I want your crystal ball, people still continue to surprise me with the stuff they throw at me, which is how I like it be dull otherwise

[Irish]

Hi Everyone,

Thanks for all of your posts and come now, play nice.
Just to re-iterate some things...
My laptop setup i.e. Software Firewall and Logon Credentials are fine as it works from an 'Orange Broadband' connection.
RPC over HTTP as the name implies uses only the HTTP (80) and HTTPS (443) ports / channels therefore port forwarding is not an issue on my end. Clearly it is at the server end however THIS IS SETUP corrrectly. FYI the Exchange server in question is https://exchange.1and1.co.uk.

Therefore the problem has to lie with either my router down here and its setup or Virgin Media. As I am quite confident in configuring routers I have gone through almost every permutation of security setup etc. but with no joy.

I had not considered that the 1and1 server maybe blocking my IP, I'll contact 1and1 to make sure. Will keep you all posted.

Cheers

Irish

[Uncle Peter]

Couple of things you can do then:

Open your dos prompt and telnet exchange.1and1.co.uk 443

If you see a blank screen with a flashing cursor at top left then it's probably not a host or port filtering issue on either side and you could look at the possibility of your router or VM doing something nasty to your traffic.

Eliminate router as a cause by taking it out of line and connecting pc directly to the cable modem if that's an option. If you're still seeing the problem then your traffic is likely being fiddled with at some point.

[Ignitionnet]

Hi Irish,

The above suggestion to telnet the port will certainly verify that there's no blocking. If you've an IP Address starting with 90 or 92 those were blocked ranges at one point and 1and1 may not have removed them from their lists.

If you end up disconnecting router and plugging straight into modem remember that you'll need to power off the modem before you connect the PC to it, and also remember to make sure you've a firewall of some kind running when you do that

If it still doesn't work even after confirming that you can hit 1and1's address ok straight from PC to modem it points to an issue with VM

What University are you at?

[Andrewcrawford23]

Originally Posted by Broadbandings

In that case I want your crystal ball, people still continue to surprise me with the stuff they throw at me, which is how I like it be dull otherwise

didn't mean it in the literal term, i mean unlike with general computing the problem could be anywhere, but lets says for example virgin technical support (actually not a good example ) but anyway there only dealing with broadband cable internet so they should know wher ethere faults are. if that makes sense to you

[Ignitionnet]

Not really, the stuff I work with is very focussed but also very complex. While some things are just a case of knowing the solution as you know the problem others require a lot of investigation. It keeps it interesting, knowing the answers to every possible issue says it's time to find a new job

[Andrewcrawford23]

Originally Posted by Broadbandings

Not really, the stuff I work with is very focussed but also very complex. While some things are just a case of knowing the solution as you know the problem others require a lot of investigation. It keeps it interesting, knowing the answers to every possible issue says it's time to find a new job

If i knew the answer to ever problem i would be getting a better pay than i get just now anyway this is off topic so i aint posting unless it about original post

[Irish]

Hi Guys,

I was able to tenet to exchange.1and1.co.uk successfully (blank screen with cursor flashing) so looks like the router is being a pain in the arse and doing something with my traffic. On that note, can I just take a moment to explain our full setup in the hope that someone out there can help me out on the configuration side of things.

Firstly, our VM service is Internet + TV + Phone and we are using a Scientific Atlanta EPC2100R2 to connect to the cable etc.
Currently we have a Belkin Router (F5D7230-4 6000) connected to the Modem. This belkin router is essentially a DHCP server for our local network - IT DOES NOT HOWEVER SERVE A WIRELESS CONNECTION. For our wireless we have an Apple AirPort Express (on 802.11n+g+b) in 'Bridged' mode this is connected to the router in the normal fashion and the DCHP and IP's etc.. all work fine - local networking and general internet browsing works a treat.

I have removed the Apple AirPort from this equation and it makes no difference to the RPC over HTTP issue originally explained in my first post.

Ideally, I would like to remove the Belkin Router from our setup, however, I failed to get the AirPort Express to recognise the cable modem. I have tried various settings including entering all of the DNS addresses manually with no luck. If anyone out there has successfully connected an AirPort EXPRESS directly to a Scientific Atlanta cable modem can you please give me some insight into the settings on your AirPort?

Also both the Belkin and the AirPort have the latest firmwire updates.

F.Y.I. I am at the University of Plymouth studying BSc (HONS) Computing for anyone who wants to know!

Many Thanks,

James

---------- Post added at 22:48 ---------- Previous post was at 22:43 ----------

Sorry forgot to say in my previous post, the back of my Scientific Atlanta device does have both an Eternet (RJ45?) and USB B connection. I did briefly try to hook up my laptop directly to the Eternet cable but could not get the internet to connect - clearly my IP settings etc were wrong.

Is connecting directly to the modem easier via USB? I dont happen to have any disks ( / drivers) for the device so are there any tips one can give me for getting it setup?

[Ignitionnet]

Did you switch the cable modem off then switch the Airport on? Modem needs a restart before it recognises the new MAC address it's connected to.

You mentioned that the AirPort is running in bridged mode, it needs to be running in routed mode so that it picks up a DHCP lease from the VM network.

[Andrewcrawford23]

Originally Posted by Irish

Hi Guys,

I was able to tenet to exchange.1and1.co.uk successfully (blank screen with cursor flashing) so looks like the router is being a pain in the arse and doing something with my traffic. On that note, can I just take a moment to explain our full setup in the hope that someone out there can help me out on the configuration side of things.

Firstly, our VM service is Internet + TV + Phone and we are using a Scientific Atlanta EPC2100R2 to connect to the cable etc.
Currently we have a Belkin Router (F5D7230-4 6000) connected to the Modem. This belkin router is essentially a DHCP server for our local network - IT DOES NOT HOWEVER SERVE A WIRELESS CONNECTION. For our wireless we have an Apple AirPort Express (on 802.11n+g+b) in 'Bridged' mode this is connected to the router in the normal fashion and the DCHP and IP's etc.. all work fine - local networking and general internet browsing works a treat.

I have removed the Apple AirPort from this equation and it makes no difference to the RPC over HTTP issue originally explained in my first post.

Ideally, I would like to remove the Belkin Router from our setup, however, I failed to get the AirPort Express to recognise the cable modem. I have tried various settings including entering all of the DNS addresses manually with no luck. If anyone out there has successfully connected an AirPort EXPRESS directly to a Scientific Atlanta cable modem can you please give me some insight into the settings on your AirPort?

Also both the Belkin and the AirPort have the latest firmwire updates.

F.Y.I. I am at the University of Plymouth studying BSc (HONS) Computing for anyone who wants to know!

Many Thanks,

James

---------- Post added at 22:48 ---------- Previous post was at 22:43 ----------

Sorry forgot to say in my previous post, the back of my Scientific Atlanta device does have both an Eternet (RJ45?) and USB B connection. I did briefly try to hook up my laptop directly to the Eternet cable but could not get the internet to connect - clearly my IP settings etc were wrong.

Is connecting directly to the modem easier via USB? I dont happen to have any disks ( / drivers) for the device so are there any tips one can give me for getting it setup?

Connect the thernet cable to your laptop again this time turn the modem off for 10-15 seconds ie pull the power out then power it back on it should get a ip if it works fien then it the router thats doing something, ill need to look up the router as i aint familer with it, but i agree with the broadbanding now it aint port forwarding since it a external exchange server and it works fien from your home.

---------- Post added at 22:51 ---------- Previous post was at 22:50 ----------

Originally Posted by Broadbandings

Did you switch the cable modem off then switch the Airport on? Modem needs a restart before it recognises the new MAC address it's connected to.

You mentioned that the AirPort is running in bridged mode, it needs to be running in routed mode so that it picks up a DHCP lease from the VM network.

The way i read the above he was connecting directly to the router so the wireless shouldnt makea difference anyway although i agree it should be in rotued mode

[Irish]

Hi Guys,

Just an update to say thanks for all your help, the problem has now been resolved. After removing the Belkin router from my setup and connecting the AirPort to the cable modem directly my emails now work fine.

So I can now definively say that the Belkin F5D7230-4 6000 with the latest firmwire does filter / block RPC over HTTP traffic.

My thanks to everyone who posted on this thread,

James