how can i log in to my server from a remote computer?

[adam.co22]

i don't know which link my friends should use to connect to my server and listen to my music.
I've created user accounts but don't know how to access them remotely through the internet.
can someone tell me how to proceed?

[aphuey]

I'm not an expert and don't articulate very well, but I've set mine up to be accessed from outside my home network by doing the following:

1. Set the port in the Subsonic settings to your liking
2. If you have a router you will need to modify the settings on the router so that when requests come in on that port to forward them to the machine that is running subsonic.
3. Then just access it by typing the address in the address bar of any browser (http://XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX:YYYY where X is the your EXTERNAL ip address and Y is the port number).

[adam.co22]

thanks apuhey! can you tell me how to retrieve my IP address?
anyhow i think that my IP is changing everyday but it's worth trying.

[aphuey]

You can go to a site like http://whatismyipaddress.com/ and it will tell you what your external IP address is.

Regarding your IP address changing, if it is important for you to keep a static IP address instead of a dynamic one that your ISP assigns, you can contact them and usually it's only a few extra bucks per month.

HOWEVER, there is also a free service offered by no-ip.com that allows you to create a domain that is in plain english, and assign it to your external IP address. For example, when people ask how to access the music, it's much easier to tell them "go to mysubsonic.no-ip.org" then it would be to tell them "type in http://69.245.254.19:9000/".

They also have an executable that you can download to your machine that runs subsonic that automatically changes the IP address that you have registered with them whenever the program notices that your ISP has changed your IP address. This enables you to hand out the domain that you created and never have to worry about whether your IP address has changed.

The only catch is that in order for it be free, you have to login in to your account at least once every 60 days - no big deal.

[Subberb]

"go to mysubsonic.no-ip.org" then it would be to tell them "type in http://69.245.254.19:9000/".

You can also change your local host file in Windows by going to C:\windows\system32\drivers\etc\hosts >>>> Open with Notepad >>> Then change whatever IP you want for example I will use the 192 block

192.168.0.10 www.WhateverNameYouWant.com

Now when you type this on your friends machine www.WhateverNameYouWant.com will reference 192.168.0.10 and if you want to go to a port just :2216 or w/e after the URL. Simple and you don't have to use a 3rd party to do it.

Peace

[jmlove]

Made suggested changes, up and rolling through the web.

Thanks, ALL!!!!!!!!!

[DubbaEwwTeeEff]

I would also add the following: If you're running Windows Firewall, you may need to manually add an exception for the port you set Subsonic up with. I didn't know this at first and connections other than localhost kept timing out until I changed that.

[bstrdsmkr]

You can also change your local host file in Windows by going to C:\windows\system32\drivers\etc\hosts >>>> Open with Notepad >>> Then change whatever IP you want for example I will use the 192 block

192.168.0.10 www.WhateverNameYouWant.com

Now when you type this on your friends machine www.WhateverNameYouWant.com will reference 192.168.0.10 and if you want to go to a port just :2216 or w/e after the URL. Simple and you don't have to use a 3rd party to do it.

Peace

just fyi for anyone who reads this, this will only work if the two computers are on the same network, not across the internet

[3R3]

Another easy way to connect to your server from far away is using dynamic dns.

it works like this:
a little program running on your server pc checks your ip every 30mins or so, and reports it to the dynDNS service provider (lets say dyndns.org) where you have signed up for a free dynamic dns account.

this account has a pseudo domain name registered to it (lets say yourserver.dyndns.org) now everytime someone tries to connect to "yourserver.dyndns.org" he gets redirected to your real IP adress, which the provider knows from the little program running on your server pc.

So now you dont have to find out your ip and give it out to every user, everytime your ip changes (every day at night on most connections), and all you have to do is sign up a free account with some dyndns provider (there are a few) and run this little programm (i use dyndns.org and they have this little updater proggie i mentioned, i dont know about the others though), preferably in autostart ^^

now, if you use port 80, everything is fine, BUT if not, remember your users to still include the portnumber in the browser when they want to reach your server, e.g. if your server is reachable under "192.168.0.100:666" your users should try to reach it under "yourserver.dyndns.org:666"

if this was too technical, I'm sorry, but its worth it, AND it gets even better^^

the next cool thing would be domain redirection, then you can point a (free or paid for, as you like^^) domain name like "yourserver.tk" to your dyndns adress "yourserver.dyndns.org:666" and spare your users the hassle of remebering the port and all that. rocks? rocks!


to wrap it up again:

You use dyndns so you dont have to give out your ip to your users everytime it changes.
You use redirection so your users dont have to remember the portnumber everytime they want to connect. (sounds dumb, but if a user wants to connect from some internet cafe and just cant remeber the damn port, no go for him then ) better he just goes to "yourserver.tk" and is set and rockin^^

so far the little dyndns guide, saves my poor users a lot of hassle, hopefully yours too.
And of course this works over the internet, stream to your friend in cambodia and let your chinese friend upload some music!

enjoy!

edit: dyndns.org is similar to no-ip.com or whatever, but i never encountered any restrictions like this "login every 60 days" crap...

also for redirection, there are domains like .tk or .lol.us etc from various free providers (google it) they are theoretically ad supported (the one i use) but the ads never show^^ must be all the javascript from subsonic

[phlancelot]

3R3 thanks for the very informative post, this is exactly what I am trying to accomplish with my subsonic server, perhaps you can help me with the last step you mentioned.

I've successfully set up my DNS settings and established a subdomain that points to my login page. http://music.iplh.org:8080

You might guess that what I want to do now is a domain redirect as you had said so that when users go to http://music.iplh.org they are still directed to my login page. And that's where I'm having the trouble because I'm quite new to domain management and DNS and all I don't know where to begin!

I found this site, but it seems quite complicated and looks like I'd need to have to edit .htaccess files and the like which I think are for when you are hosting an http server if I'm not mistaken...
http://www.aitechsolutions.net/apacheredirect.html

Another option which I am currently using I found at this site
http://www.dyndns.com/support/kb/webhop ... tions.html

Basically I managed to setup another subdomain http://tunes.iplh.org which does a URL redirect to http://music.iplh.org:8080. this is not bad but I'd like to be able to connect by just typing http://music.iplh.org as when I do the redirect it still shows the port number in the URL bar.

Any thoughts?

Thanks!

[3R3]

hi phlancelot,

since i assume you are using subsonic in a standard environment (windows, standalone), this would be the easiest and most practical way to do it (and free^^)

you need this http://cdn.dyndns.com/windows/DynUpSetup.exe
from here http://www.dyndns.com/support/clients/#windows,
the dyndns.com updater.

register an free, basic or whatever lowest option avaliable (free though^^) account
with them with dynamic dns services enabled (later in account settings i think).
install the client and
enter account data into it. set it to autostart in the settings.

this got you dynamic dns (ddns). for the redirection you
could (i googled "domain redirection free" just search for
some service providers yourself)
use what you find ("no ads in forums"), well let the
redirection point to "yourdyndnsdomain.org:xxxx"
and you should be set with the redirection too.

just ask if you still have problems. and lets hear it when you succeed

edit: i was in a hurry when i first typed it, sorry for that, it should be more comprehensive now

[phlancelot]

Hey 3R3 thanks for the reply and suggestions.

Unfortunately I'm not sure how much they can help me... though maybe I am not fully understanding.

First off I am actually running Ubuntu Linux Jaunty Jackalope v9.04. So the windows installers and such available on the DynDNS site won't work too well for me.

I think I may have already achieved the redirect thing though with my domain DNS control panel. I set-up another host entry called http://tunes.iplh.org which redirects me to http://music.iplh.org:8080

This works OK for now but IDEALLY I'd like it if users could just punch in http://music.iplh.org and be taken straight to the subsonic login page... no need for redirects and such. Problem is I don't know if this is totally possible, as how would the DNS server know to direct calls to that subdomain to the specific port (8080). I figure there must be some way but it probably involves editing files that are in the hands of my DNS server hosting company... this is what I'm not sure about.

Hopefully that came across clearly... anyone got any thoughts on how to do this?

Thanks!!

-Paul

[donpearson]

just my little bit of rubish input now, i use http://www.dyndns.com/ (have your years and i dont login to it every 60 days) for my server domain and also i use my router to call to dyndns for the ip update so no need for windows installers.

[twent4]

+1 for DynDNS, got it when i got Subsonic running, works like a charm.

If you're not too worried about security, have your router redirect from port 80 to your server:subsonic port (or server/path:port if you set up a relative path), then all you have to do is punch in your DNS address and you're right there, no need to remember ports.

[3R3]

@phlancelot: maybe search the repositories for a ubuntu version or maybe theres already one on the dyndns.com website. the reason i like to use separate updater and not the one in the router is, i own a shitty router which does not (!) update the dyndns after external ip change but when it likes to...so thats another option of course.

now i'm not sure what the problem is, but i assume you set up a dyndns redirect with dyndns.com and it doesnt work, or at least it does not update automagically everyday/after ip change. for this you need the updater/router.

because what you describe plus the updater is essentially the way it works

and maybe i just made this too complicated altogether, if its possible to redirect to "subsonic.com:yourport" from dyndns.com then forget the domain-redirect for pointing to the dyndns.com address (although it gives more freedom for choosing a domain-name) and i'm sorry for confusing anyone, but it works for me anyway.

also thanks for everyone who double-posted without reading the thread

bye