web server problem: can ping but cannot browse

[cyh781s]

hi,

I know this question might have been asked several times but I just couldn't find the right answer.

I got few questions about setting up a web server and hope you can guide me. I have linksys router connect to cable modem and all of my computers share the internet through linksys router.

my problem is, when I tried to access abc.no-ip.com or just type the ip address from my isp, I got the message "operation timed out when attempting to contact abc.no-ip.com".
But, I can ping abc.no-ip.com without problem.

things i have done:

1. i got free domain name from no-ip.com, so i have abc.no-ip.com.
2. apache runs perfect when using 127.0.0.1 or 192.168.1.101(private ip assigned by router).
3. as you know, i use router, so i set linksys router ipforwarding port:80, TCP checked, 192.168.1.101 enabled. (i only open this port 80)
4. at /httpd.conf, i set 'servername abc.no-ip.com'.

any idea what I should do next or what I did wrong?

thanks in advance :)

[Hayl]

did you restart apache after changing the configuration?

[mrjones]

yeah lol i had the same problem, i worked and worked and followed every manual there was, no success so i said forget it, shut it off, came back the next day, tried it again, and kicked myself in the butt!!! Not the kinda thing you want to lose sleep over. So yeah, just remember, restart the service after you make a configuration change!

[cyh781s]

thanks for the reply.

forgot to mention, I did restart server every time I made change on configuration by issuing the following "/etc/rc.d/init.d/httpd restart".

But no luck, still can ping only under terminal. :(

except the /httpd.conf and router ip-forwarding, what else I have to configure to get it work? I think I must miss some steps.
my isp is earthlink, do you think they block port 80? should I change it? to what?
what i check /etc/hosts, it shows localhost, should I modify it? (it says Do not delete it or the network will fail or somehting like that, so I am afraid of modifying it)

sorry about so many newbie questions, still new here :P

thanks again for helping me out

[bradfordgd]

Some ISP's do block port 80 on their home accounts. Not sure if Earthlink does though, you'd have to call and ask them. I assume you have a static IP from them and have that IP address assigned to your router? I can't ping you from here.

Name: abc.no-ip.com
Address: 203.169.174.128

#
# ping 203.169.174.128
no answer from 203.169.174.128
#

[cyh781s]

actually I don't have static ip, I use DHCP.

Sorry about the misleading, the "abc.no-ip.com" is just an example that I use to ask question. :P
My real one is "whiteginger.no-ip.com".
One thing I have found out is when I ping, I got 4 replies only when I ping from my other computer in my home network. what does this mean? I can ping?

any idea?

thanks

[rioguia]

what group is assigned to apache?
chown group name filename or
chmod777 file name (just for testing purposes)

[saturn-vk]

is apache added to your hosts.allow file?

[andycrofts]

One thing I have found out is when I ping, I got 4 replies only when I ping from my other computer in my home network. what does this mean? I can ping?

Your other computer is a Windows machine. Ping defaults to 4 pings (like ping -c 4 in linux) in windows.

[cyh781s]

uh, after i check /etc/hosts.allow, it showed only comments. So what should I do with it??

and about the apache group, in /httpd.conf, it shows
user apache
group apache
is this what you meant the "group assigned to apache"?
if so, could you please tell me more details about how to do it.
I mean, I know how chown group and chmod 777, but where should I do it?

again, thank you very much for all helping me :)

[cyh781s]

after i did lots of researches and asked my friend, I still couldn't get it done.
Can someone please guide me to a site or somewhere that tells how to setup www server with a real router (i know people can set linux as a router by adding 2 NIC).
if it includes how to set up router too would be perfect.

i know a newbie like me should not setup a server unless I have better knowledge of networking and routing.
Just couldn't hold it. I really want to try it out.

It will be a great motivator for me if I sucessfully setup the www server so I will keep learning more deep knowledge of networking and web security.

thanks again

[cyh781s]

ok guys,

update a little bit.

I just contacted my ISP and got the information that they do not block port 80 as well as not locks ping.
But my friend still couldn't ping my ip from his home.

I guess the problem is the router, I will have to read the guide book of linksys router in order to solve the problem.

any further commects or idea will be appreciated.

[Brat2dbone]

I'm not sure if this would apply to a linksys router, but the router I use gives an option under security to place a computer in a DMZ (outside of the firewall) for server-type purposes. You could always try it temporarily for a test to see if it makes a difference.

[andycrofts]

..www.cablewebserver.com
-Andy

[uncle__fester]

If you have the cable internet from Earthlink, then they do block port 80. Had that issue last year in Central Florida

[andysimmons]

Try a portscan on yourself (the wan address) to see if 80 is open or not. Nmap (http://www.insecure.org/nmap/) is good.