Topic: Can't get ADSL Connection working with SME Server

[Brett Knuchel]

We have a Netcomm 1300 ADSL Modem (Ethernet connection with Router).
The ADSL Modem has been assigned an IP address of 192.168.0.2 and SME Server has been assigned 192.168.0.1.  SME Server is doing the DHCP service and this is turned off on the ADSL Modem/Router.  We can get a connection to the Internet for web browsing by manually assigning an IP address to an individual computer and putting the gateway setting at 192.168.0.2 (hence bypassing SME Server).  The problem is the email side of things (would also like web traffic to go through SME Server for caching purposes - but that is not the main priority at the moment).  Email is not going out or coming in. (Local email still works, we just can't communicate with the rest of the world).
Our ISP uses PPPoA as its connection method.  I am not sure what address I am supposed to put in for configuring the external ethernet adapter.  I assume that I am to select Static IP address as the connection method, then I am not sure whether it is the static IP address assigned by our ISP or the IP address of the modem/router (ie. 192.168.0.2) that I put in here.  Also in the SME Server setup there is a question about an IP address to go through a firewall, am I to leave it as the default blank or to specify 192.168.0.2 or somthing else?

[Byte]

could it be that your ISP blocks activity on port 25? if so search on here as been answered many times

Byte

[Kelvin]

Brett,

Since your are using the 192.168.0.x addresses, you are using the modem in router mode (which you probably need to since SME does not have a PPPoA client built in).

Does your SME have 2 NICs and is configured in Server & Gateway mode ?

If so, then the external NIC of SME will need a 192.168.0.x address as the static address. When asked about a firewall, point SME to the IP address of the Netcomm (192.168.0.2 from your example). You may even set the Netcomm as the master DNS (only if you are having issues resolving names).

If your SME only has 1 NIC configured as Server only mode, just set the gateway address to the Netcomm.

Most modem - routers require you to portforward in router mode if you wish to run servers behind them.  Go into the config screen od the Netcomm and make sure you either port forward the ports for the services you want to the SME server's IP address or set the SME's IP address as the DMZ.

Give more info if you need more help.

Cheers,

Kelvin

[Brett Knuchel]

Basically we have only one NIC in our SME Server and it is a BNC connection.
Our cabling throughout our building is mainly BNC with a few loops of Ethernet (accomplished with a hub that has a BNC connector on it)
The modem/router is connected to a hub with  a BNC connector and the SME Server is connected to the same hub via the BNC connector.  I will check the port forwarding of the modem/router.

Kelvin wrote:

> Brett,
>
> Since your are using the 192.168.0.x addresses, you are using
> the modem in router mode (which you probably need to since SME
> does not have a PPPoA client built in).
>
> Does your SME have 2 NICs and is configured in Server &
> Gateway mode ?
>
> If so, then the external NIC of SME will need a 192.168.0.x
> address as the static address. When asked about a firewall,
> point SME to the IP address of the Netcomm (192.168.0.2 from
> your example). You may even set the Netcomm as the master DNS
> (only if you are having issues resolving names).
>
> If your SME only has 1 NIC configured as Server only mode,
> just set the gateway address to the Netcomm.
>
> Most modem - routers require you to portforward in router
> mode if you wish to run servers behind them.  Go into the
> config screen od the Netcomm and make sure you either port
> forward the ports for the services you want to the SME server's
> IP address or set the SME's IP address as the DMZ.
>
> Give more info if you need more help.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Kelvin

[Brett Knuchel]

The three settings I need to know which way to enter are as follows:

1. IP address which should be used for the external interace on this server. Please note this is not your external gateway.

I have put in the Static IP address provided by our ISP.

2. Gateway IP address for your Internet Connection.

I have put in 192.168.0.2 (The IP address of our modem/router)

3. You may need to specify an IP address here if there is a firewall between this server and the Internet, or if another DNS server resolves local addresses on your LAN. In most cases you can leave this field blank.

I have put in 192.168.0.2.


Kelvin wrote:

> Brett,
>
> Since your are using the 192.168.0.x addresses, you are using
> the modem in router mode (which you probably need to since SME
> does not have a PPPoA client built in).
>
> Does your SME have 2 NICs and is configured in Server &
> Gateway mode ?
>
> If so, then the external NIC of SME will need a 192.168.0.x
> address as the static address. When asked about a firewall,
> point SME to the IP address of the Netcomm (192.168.0.2 from
> your example). You may even set the Netcomm as the master DNS
> (only if you are having issues resolving names).
>
> If your SME only has 1 NIC configured as Server only mode,
> just set the gateway address to the Netcomm.
>
> Most modem - routers require you to portforward in router
> mode if you wish to run servers behind them.  Go into the
> config screen od the Netcomm and make sure you either port
> forward the ports for the services you want to the SME server's
> IP address or set the SME's IP address as the DMZ.
>
> Give more info if you need more help.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Kelvin

[Paul]

Brett Wrote:

The ADSL Modem has been assigned an IP address of 192.168.0.2

** Is the modem/router being "assigned" an internal IP address?  This internal address should be a private static ip (set up inside the router) along with the DNS settings provided by your ISP.

The three settings I need to know which way to enter are as follows:

1. IP address which should be used for the external interace on this server. Please note this is not your external gateway.

I have put in the Static IP address provided by our ISP.

** Brett, you can not use the static ip issued by your ISP on the server's NIC if it behind a router.  If the router is set at 192.168.0.2 then I would set the server's ip to 192.168.0.3 and set the router OR the server (but not both) for DHCP with a range of something like 192.168.0.100 to 192.168.0.250 if you need that many.  If you use the router for DHCP then it will configure all dynamic clients with the right gateway and DNS for you.

2. Gateway IP address for your Internet Connection.

I have put in 192.168.0.2 (The IP address of our modem/router)

** this should work

3. You may need to specify an IP address here if there is a firewall between this server and the Internet, or if another DNS server resolves local addresses on your LAN. In most cases you can leave this field blank.

I have put in 192.168.0.2.

**this should also work.

Also, you should have the server set up as "server only".  It will not work as "server-gateway" unless you have 2 nics installed.  If you want the SME box to be used as a gateway, then you will need to install another nic, change how everything is wired, open the DMZ (or foreward ports) inside the router to point to the server and your configuration will be completly different.

Good Luck,

Paul

[Brett Knuchel]

Thank you very much for your help.  I have now got it running.
As I am now using Server only mode (only got a single NIC in the SME Server), does that mean that i no longer have web proxying in place?  (Basically the main reason for this is for Windows Updates and Ant-Virus Updates)

[Paul]

Glad to be of assistance.

I don't know what happens to proxying in server only mode, you'll have to wait until one of the more experienced members can answer that question.

Good luck,

Paul

[Kelvin]

Brett,

Transparent proxying only works if the SME is acting as the gateway for your internet connection or as the proxy for your Web browsers. If you are running in Server only mode, then you will find that the gateway address assigned to the workstations is the IP address of the Netcomm modem - router. This bypasses SME. If you manually set your workstations' Internet Explorer to use your SME as a proxy, then you will get the benefit of web caching on the SME.

Kelvin

[marco]

Proxying will not happen without the data going through the server in gateway mode.  Squid cannot accept the data on the external device and hand it out the external device (at least not by my experience).  Squid needs some type of firewall ruling to be in place before it will work.  If there is a router in place, there is no need for this server unless it handles an intranet, local mail, or acts like a file server.  The port needed for it to be a web server is probably not being forwarded by the router and unless you have configuration rights to the router, it will stay this way.

 just my two cents

HTH