Mapping another DSL linked computer

[danno]

I am trying to map my son's computer to mine on the internet. We both have DSL connections and are running Win 98. I have tried to use the "find Computer" by providing his IP address but have had no success. I cannot ping his computer either.

He can map mine just fine. My DSL IP address is fixed, his changes with each reboot. We both use the same service provider and were 300 miles from each other so the provider may have different local configurations for the DSL service.

In the past we could both map each others computers when he had a different DSL provider, at that time his IP address was fixed. Does the fact that his IP address is being reassigned imply he is behind a NAT's router and I can't see him?

Danno

 

[Rockn]

What kind of an address are you trying to connect to? You may be right about his connection

 

[mole]

Your son's ip is a moving target, yours is fixed so it works more easily. There are ways to redirect the output of ipconfig (or winipcfg on Win9x) to a text file, find the string containing the assigned ip address and push via FTP to a hidden redirect file on a website you can access, but it is rather complicated. It might be better to get the ip address and send via email or some messaging program. The ISP could also block certain ports that you need to connect to share on remote PCs.

Do be careful, you are vulnerable to having your computer browsed through by some folks you'd rather not allow unless you use a firewall.

 

[danno]

Each time I attempt the connection, I call him and ask him for his current IP address. That is the address I attempt the connection with.

I downloaded UExplore this morning and attempted to use it. It was able to locate my son but unsuccessful setting up an ftp connection. I used the "private" mode of connection to prevent others from attacking my system. My son tried the same from his end and had the same negative results. The software is poorly documented so I may not have used it correctly.

 

[danno]

Interestingly enough, I can successfully ping his DSL box using his PPOE address but the next hop to his NIC's IP address just times out. Comments?

 

[mole]

I use FTP on my home network and a handy FTP client called Webdrive, South River Software or something close to that. It will map a drive letter to an FTP site for you. If you can get your son to connect to your PC running an FTP server, then you should be able to move files between you easily with Webdrive or Explorer or barebones FTP commands from his. You don't need servers on both ends.

Originally I thought you were file sharing with Windows networking which is scary over the internet, but it sounds like you are running FTP/Web servers. What exactly do you want to do?

If it is a web server, my ISP blocks port 80 traffic into their residential DSL network segment, but you can move to another port easily and keep going. You shuld be able to move to another port for FTP if they are blocking 21.

You son's ip keeps changing because his ISP is using DHCP which dynamically assigns an address as users connect.

 

[mole]

Oh, PPPoE.

Use the address you can ping on his modem, not his NIC. The one on his NIC is a dummy ip like 192.168.0.1.

Yes, PPPoE is a pain in the you know where.

I'll get you some links you might find interesting.

 

[mole]

I didn't catch your last post and refresh my browser, thats how we got out of synchronization. I think your remark about PPPoE cleared up a few questions I had.

DSL Reports is a good start

<a href="http://www.dslreports.com/pppoe" target="_blank">http://www.dslreports.com/pppoe</a>

I suggest your son try <a href="http://user.cs.tu-berlin.de/~normanb/" target="_blank">http://user.cs.tu-berlin.de/~normanb/</a> for PPPoE freeware alternatives.

And a favorite site of mine for the past few weeks, <a href="http://www.wown.com" target="_blank">http://www.wown.com</a>

 

[danno]

Thanks for the additional reading sites. They were usefull in supplying additional insite into my problem. I still cannot connect to his computer but will keep you posted if I am successful.

Background, We have large files >10Mb we need to transfer back and forth. (Architecture) Our email services limit attachments to <10mb. So email is out of the question. I could use something like Morpheous but do not want to get involved in file sharing with the general public. If there is an application that only works between two machines, then I'm interested. (Thats why I tried the application UExplore) The biggest issue is I can't see/logon to his machine.

When he finds my machine and begins a file transfer, it typically hangs after 5-50MB's worth of transfer. So we have been unsuccessful in any transfers that could not be handled by email.

Any suggestions?

 

[mole]

danno,

I understand the frustration you must have. Right now I'm fighting a hinky PPPoE connection to my ISP.

So far it looks like your son can see your computer. Here's what you could do:

1) Run an FTP server on your system (computer A) with appropriate security like passwording, firewall, anti-virus, etc.


2) Your son on computer B can install a client like Webdrive (<a href="http://www.webdrive.com" target="_blank">http://www.webdrive.com</a>.

3) Your son creates a connection with Webdrive to your FTP server and sets his password, your ip, however he wants webdrive to run, maybe mapping drive letter z:\ on his computer B to your FTP site on computer A.

4) If you place a file a directory that is also a virtual directory on your FTP server computer A, it shows up on your son's computer B when he navigates to drive z:\ in explorer, DOS or whatever he likes.

5) You son on computer B copies a file to his drive letter z:\ and it is transferred to your FTP server virtual directory on computer A.

That is a solution if your son can get to your computer. It doesn't matter if you can't get to his because there is still a two way connection.

I use Webdrive very extensively, not because I can't use Explorer or FTP commands, but because it integrates well with the I do things and having an FTP server's directory mapped to a drive letter from which you can treat it like another hard drive on your PC or a network drive is great.

Webdrive responds to Windows netorking commands (like "net use") and will even show up in your Network Neighborhood or My Network Places in whatever version of Windows you are running. I even mapped an FTP resource to an LPT printer port by hacking the registry keys a bit.

Not trying to sell Webdrive, just if your son can see your PC, I think the battle has been won. Let us know what happens.