I have noticed that different routers behave differently on my network.
Let me explain …
I have a couple of Windows 2k3 servers on my network, and I quite often do data-driven web development on one of them. Of course I can access the server over my local network by its name or IP address. So, I can type its local IP address, e.g.:
http://10.0.0.123/web-app-name
and can test my web application in a browser on a workstation on my network.
However, sometimes I wish to go out from my network, onto the Internet at large, and come back into the server, via my router, which is configured, using NAT/Port redirection to direct HTTP packets at my server.
So, if my external IP address is 123.123.123.123, I expect to be able to type
http://123.123.123.123/web-app-name
and get into my server by that rather circuitous route.
OK, so here is the question:
All the Belkin routers that I have ever had, permit this to be done.
Very few other makes of router permit that.
Does anyone know why? Can anyone explain to me what I need to do to make it work on all router?
Just for info: regardless of which router I use, the server is available if I try to access it via my external IP address BUT via another network rather than my own – e.g. if I log in on my laptop by diallup.
Also my clients can access my server via their networks regardless of which router I use.
Hoping for some enlightenment!
Kenneth Spencer