Hi everyone
here i go with my issue.
THE WISH: I want to run moodle from my home pc which will act as server. students will access it from internet.
WHAT I HAVE DONE ALREADY: I installed easy PHP(apache +my sql+php package) 1.8 version. Then installed moodle 1.6 in its www directory. Now i am able to run moodle from my comp as http://localhost/moodle/.................no issues.
STUMBLING BLOCKS ON MY PATH TO SERVER:
1. DNS: since i had a dynamic ip address, i installed dynDNS service which gave me a subdomain tsmindbend.dyndns.org and keeps redirecting everyone to my IP address whatever it may be.this hurdle overcome.
2. FIREWALL: I use zonealarm personal firewall (free edition) which was set to max security (Stealth mode)
THE REAL PROBLEM:
WHEN I TRIED TO ACCESS MY SERVER BY TYPING MY SUBDOMAIN NAME IN A BROWSER, IT WOULD FAIL TO CONNECT.
So i used a tool on dyndns website which detects whether port 80 is opening or not
First time around, it said: "An attempted connection to 54.144.97.163:80 timed out. This typically
indicates that traffic to that port is being actively blocked by
either a firewall or your ISP."
Second time around i lowered my security to medium which said that incomimg NetBIOS will be blocked(whatever that means) and filter traffic over 1394 (whatever that means) Then i ran the tool again. the result: "An attempted connection to 54.144.97.163:80 was refused. This typically indicates
that there are no services available on that port, but that it is
NOT being blocked by a firewall or your ISP." same result when i turn my firewall fully off.
NOW CAN SOMEONE TELL ME WHY IS THIS HAPPENING? WHY IS MY COMP REFUSING CONNECTION WHEN EASY PHP IS RUNNING, MOODLE IS ACCESSIBLE FROM LOCAL HOST AND INTERNET BROADBAND IS ON AND IP ADDRESS UPDATER IS WORKING FINE??
LONG QUERY BUT THE BETTER I INFORM YOU GUYS, THE MORE U WILL TELL ME....ISN'T IT?
Regards
Dr Bhatia
hi mate,
my initial thought (based on previous experience) would be that your ISP doesn't support service on port 80... but...
... on trying that address I get an error... either coming from your apache configuration (less likely) or your broadband router (much more likely).
Are you sure that your Apache configuration is set up to listen for requests to the domain you've specified(tsmindbend.dyndns.org)? Your machine will always route localhost addresses (localhost, 127.0.0.1) to the right place, but not the new dns entry...
Is there a config option on your broadband modem/router to allow dyndns support? Your router should be set up to allow port forwarding on port 80 to your desktop machine (which should have a static internal IP).
Make sense?
Myles C.
my initial thought (based on previous experience) would be that your ISP doesn't support service on port 80... but...
... on trying that address I get an error... either coming from your apache configuration (less likely) or your broadband router (much more likely).
Are you sure that your Apache configuration is set up to listen for requests to the domain you've specified(tsmindbend.dyndns.org)? Your machine will always route localhost addresses (localhost, 127.0.0.1) to the right place, but not the new dns entry...
Is there a config option on your broadband modem/router to allow dyndns support? Your router should be set up to allow port forwarding on port 80 to your desktop machine (which should have a static internal IP).
Make sense?
Myles C.
well thanx Myles............ here is my reply---
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
either coming from your apache configuration (less likely) or your broadband router (much more likely).
------------------------------------well i don't have a router but a simple adsl modem connected directly to my single pc. no networks. (btw which address did u try?)
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Are you sure that your Apache configuration is set up to listen for requests to the domain you've specified(tsmindbend.dyndns.org)?
--------------------------no i am not sure at all. i was unaware of it.(I am a doctor u c.......as if That can explain my ignorance) Can u tell me how to make apache listen to requests..(i will try even though i have not succeeded in making my own personal wife listen to MY requests for last 10 years but i believe apache is male
..........}
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Is there a config option on your broadband modem/router to allow dyndns support? Your router should be set up to allow port forwarding on port 80 to your desktop machine (which should have a static internal IP).
-------------------------------------now this is another hitch. for all practical purposes my broadband modem is plug and play.......just insert wire in LAN card and modem and bingo..........but at present i am using it thru USB port and had to install some software for this. i'll exploire to see if it caN be done.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
and thanx a ton friend for the effort
dr bhatia
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
either coming from your apache configuration (less likely) or your broadband router (much more likely).
------------------------------------well i don't have a router but a simple adsl modem connected directly to my single pc. no networks. (btw which address did u try?)
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Are you sure that your Apache configuration is set up to listen for requests to the domain you've specified(tsmindbend.dyndns.org)?
--------------------------no i am not sure at all. i was unaware of it.(I am a doctor u c.......as if That can explain my ignorance) Can u tell me how to make apache listen to requests..(i will try even though i have not succeeded in making my own personal wife listen to MY requests for last 10 years but i believe apache is male
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Is there a config option on your broadband modem/router to allow dyndns support? Your router should be set up to allow port forwarding on port 80 to your desktop machine (which should have a static internal IP).
-------------------------------------now this is another hitch. for all practical purposes my broadband modem is plug and play.......just insert wire in LAN card and modem and bingo..........but at present i am using it thru USB port and had to install some software for this. i'll exploire to see if it caN be done.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
and thanx a ton friend for the effort
dr bhatia
Myles is right on the money...
If you have "home" service from your ISP, you are not going to have port 80 (Default webserver port) and they are not going to open it either. Apache will listen to any request coming over port 80 by default. 8080 is a good second option
There are some workarounds but your modem/router is going to come into play here as well. It may "plug/play" but it most certainly has configuration settings that block ports as well.
ZoneAlarm: This is certainly going to cause issues as well. I personally can not stand this software (I am a network specialist as well as MCSE). Windows firewall and ZA do not play well together and frankly (IMO) running 2 software firewalls is just asking for problems.
A router combined with windows firewall is going to typically provide all the firewall services you need. (Routers make very nice surrogate hardware firewalls).
The other problem is that your upstream connection is likely 386 to 512kps and so with anymore than 1 or 2 users, well it is going to be painfully slow.
Another problem is that if your ISP determines you are running a web server of any kind (expressly forbidden by virtually every ISP providing home service) they can get pretty cranky about it.
I would personally suggest spending $50-100 for the year and get a hosting account. It will prove to be infinitely easier, faster and not be reliant upon your home pc to be up and running.
Maintaining a new Moodle install combined with the securitiy issues of securing a public access server is typically more than most casual computer operators can muster.
Just my opinion and your mileage may vary
Hello R.Obert
Thanx for the reply
The idea of runnning server on my home PC was to test out all settings from my office PC and then we are two psychologists who need to create stuff. so both can work simultaneously and then we thought we'll take a backup and restore this backup of courses and tests into the REAL server that we may later install.
By ur description, it seems it'll be a better idea to get it hosted. But in my town in India, it'll be something like 75000 Rs/year FOR A DEDICATED SERVER which becomes something like 15,000 US $/year if we try to create an analogy based on economic purchasing power of the 2 currencies. So that's the issue.it's way too expensive.
And yes i use most of free type of software like zone-alrm etc to save money which i can put at other places to promote business.
ok..FINAL QUESTION: WILL IT BE OK TO HOST MOODLE LIKE WE HOST WEBSITES ON A LINUX SERVER?
I EXPECT NOT MORE THAN 10-15 STUDENTS AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT.
REGARDS
Thanx for the reply
The idea of runnning server on my home PC was to test out all settings from my office PC and then we are two psychologists who need to create stuff. so both can work simultaneously and then we thought we'll take a backup and restore this backup of courses and tests into the REAL server that we may later install.
By ur description, it seems it'll be a better idea to get it hosted. But in my town in India, it'll be something like 75000 Rs/year FOR A DEDICATED SERVER which becomes something like 15,000 US $/year if we try to create an analogy based on economic purchasing power of the 2 currencies. So that's the issue.it's way too expensive.
And yes i use most of free type of software like zone-alrm etc to save money which i can put at other places to promote business.
ok..FINAL QUESTION: WILL IT BE OK TO HOST MOODLE LIKE WE HOST WEBSITES ON A LINUX SERVER?
I EXPECT NOT MORE THAN 10-15 STUDENTS AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT.
REGARDS
15G ??? ; wow....
Tell you what, I will give you an account for your purposes that will be hosted on a real Linux server. When you go into production use, you can either obtain a permanent account from my company or you can find one more local to you. Either way no big deal, but IMO fighting a server AND a new content management system is only going to cripple your chances of success. Please send me (via the message system here) a private email address where I can send you account info.
Cheers
Randy
Ok, you are all set...
Please check the gmail account you sent me and it should have all the information you need to logon, create your system and exercise it a bit
Keep in mind I am by no means even close to a "Moodle Guru" but I do know how to keep the servers up and running well
Hey Randy
Thanx a ton
NOW..... the account says someone has paid 54.96$ for my account. Who paid? that site doesn't offer free hosting i see. so what's the deal??
i want to know the kind of dough i'll have to roll out in future to keep this account alive after the first six months that it appears to be valid for. Since you so kindly generated the account, i'd like to know just this much from you. for future doubts i'll use their forum and not trouble u.
Thankz again for the kindness and help
regards
Thanx a ton
NOW..... the account says someone has paid 54.96$ for my account. Who paid? that site doesn't offer free hosting i see. so what's the deal??
i want to know the kind of dough i'll have to roll out in future to keep this account alive after the first six months that it appears to be valid for. Since you so kindly generated the account, i'd like to know just this much from you. for future doubts i'll use their forum and not trouble u.
Thankz again for the kindness and help
regards
That account runs $99 per year (USD) and as I own the company (been running since 2000), I donated the account to you so that you could try out Moodle in a stable, reliable environment.
If you decide you want to continue after 6 months, you can either use us, use someone else, or try to run your own. Really not a big deal either way you choose. I will help you migrate the database if you move the site
For now just play with Moodle and figure out if it is going to work out for you.
i want to upload my moodle from localhost to real hosting..but it cannot read n blank on browser when i configure it..can someone help me please..which part i can configure to settle this problem..or is there have any tutorial i can learn to settle my problem..tq