Webmaster forum - Re: Brush-off answer from host or real?

Author

Re: Brush-off answer from host or real?

T Wake

2005-10-27, 10:18 pm

"ME Hill" <mthill@buckeye-exNO_SPAMpress.com> wrote in message
news:CuGdnd7zLvZip_zeRVn-og@buckeye-express.com...
>
> <reply> Its basically a network problem which doesn't allow you to be
> connected. As you are always traveling you are unable to be in network
> properly, so don't think so there is any solution unless you are in
> network.</reply>
>

I am no expert either but this reply seems nonsense to me. I would think
that is a brush off answer.

William Tasso

2005-10-27, 10:19 pm

Writing in news:alt.www.webmaster
From the safety of the cafeteria
ME Hill <mthill@buckeye-exNO_SPAMpress.com> said:

> I have a web customer who travels on business and is sometimes out of the
> country. He isn't able to access his webmail when logging onto his
> website
> to view it and he wondered why, since it's web based.
>
> Apparently, he cannot connect on his computer unless he disconnects the
> VPN
> that's linked to a Germany company he's working with (which defeats the
> purpose of being logged in with them).

When he's connected to the VPN he has probably set his software to use the
remote network for all traffic. If the remote VPN refuses to allow him to
use that network for web mail then he should either ...

o take it up with the network admin in Germany.
o set his software to work how he wants it.

Assuming a recent version of MS-Windows ....

open the properties for the VPN connection
select the 'networking' tab
select 'properties' for 'Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)
select 'advanced'
ensure 'use default gateway on remote network' is not [ticked|checked]

> I asked my host why he couldn't access his website and e-mail from
> *anywhere*

they wouldn't know

> and this was the reply:
>
> <reply> Its basically a network problem which doesn't allow you to be
> connected.

so far, so good.

> As you are always traveling you are unable to be in network
> properly, so don't think so there is any solution unless you are in
> network.</reply>

fantasy

> I'm not extremely knowledgeable about networks and traveling, as I'm sure
> you can tell ;) So can anyone tell me if this is a valid answer and if
> it
> is, then it's true we can't do anything to get my customer's mail to him
> when he's out of the country?

Well I guess he could get a blackberry.

--
William Tasso

virtue is its own punishment

Tina - AxisHOST, Inc.

2005-10-27, 10:19 pm

"T Wake" <taswakeAt@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:R5adnQ6uc83tyPzeRVnyiA@pipex.net...
>
> "ME Hill" <mthill@buckeye-exNO_SPAMpress.com> wrote in message
> news:CuGdnd7zLvZip_zeRVn-og@buckeye-express.com...
>
> I am no expert either but this reply seems nonsense to me. I would think
> that is a brush off answer.

I really don't understand what the host said, it doesn't make sense the way
he worded it. However, I suspect your webmail issue may actually be a
firewall issue. Some corporate networks firewall odd ports, which could
prevent you from accessing the port that webmail is on. Ask your host if
they can setup a proxy for you - its not that difficult. We have done that
for customers who couldn't access cPanel/WHM/webmail from behind corporate
firewalls.

--Tina
--
http://www.AxisHOST.com - Serving the web since 1997
Very Generous Cpanel Hosting & Fully Managed Servers
Newsgroup 20% Discount Code: newsgroup

Jim

2005-10-28, 3:22 am

"ME Hill" <mthill@buckeye-exNO_SPAMpress.com> wrote in message
news:CuGdnd7zLvZip_zeRVn-og@buckeye-express.com...
>I have a web customer who travels on business and is sometimes out of the
>country. He isn't able to access his webmail when logging onto his website
>to view it and he wondered why, since it's web based.
>
> Apparently, he cannot connect on his computer unless he disconnects the
> VPN that's linked to a Germany company he's working with (which defeats
> the purpose of being logged in with them).
>
> I asked my host why he couldn't access his website and e-mail from
> *anywhere* and this was the reply:
>
> <reply> Its basically a network problem which doesn't allow you to be
> connected. As you are always traveling you are unable to be in network
> properly, so don't think so there is any solution unless you are in
> network.</reply>
>
> I'm not extremely knowledgeable about networks and traveling, as I'm sure
> you can tell ;) So can anyone tell me if this is a valid answer and if it
> is, then it's true we can't do anything to get my customer's mail to him
> when he's out of the country?

Sounds like a port blocking problem to me. His website should be accesible
from anywhere. Not too many ISP's block port 80. But a lot of servers run
webmail on a different port than 80, and the ISP he's connecting through
probably has that port blocked in their firewall. The path of least
resistance is probably for him to get a Hotmail or Gmail account and forward
a copy of his incoming mail to that. Asking the hotel (or whoever) to
unblock the port he needs would most likely result in a blank stare from the
desk clerk. Setting up a proxy script like this http://cpanelproxy.net/
would also work, assuming it is a cpanel server.

--
Jim Snape of Page-Zone Web Hosting
AKA The thread ender.
http://www.page-zone.com

Tina - AxisHOST, Inc.

2005-10-28, 6:40 pm

"Jim" <mail@RM.THISpage-zone.com> wrote in message
news:PTi8f.2690$Rl1.1745@newsread1.news.pas.earthlink.net...
>
> "ME Hill" <mthill@buckeye-exNO_SPAMpress.com> wrote in message
> news:CuGdnd7zLvZip_zeRVn-og@buckeye-express.com...
>
> Sounds like a port blocking problem to me. His website should be accesible
> from anywhere. Not too many ISP's block port 80. But a lot of servers run
> webmail on a different port than 80, and the ISP he's connecting through
> probably has that port blocked in their firewall. The path of least
> resistance is probably for him to get a Hotmail or Gmail account and
> forward a copy of his incoming mail to that. Asking the hotel (or whoever)
> to unblock the port he needs would most likely result in a blank stare
> from the desk clerk. Setting up a proxy script like this
> http://cpanelproxy.net/ would also work, assuming it is a cpanel server.

Yes, exactly my thoughts too.

--Tina

Norman L. DeForest

2005-10-28, 6:40 pm

On Fri, 28 Oct 2005, Jim wrote:

> "ME Hill" <mthill@buckeye-exNO_SPAMpress.com> wrote in message
> news:CuGdnd7zLvZip_zeRVn-og@buckeye-express.com...
>
> Sounds like a port blocking problem to me. His website should be accesible
> from anywhere. Not too many ISP's block port 80. But a lot of servers run
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> webmail on a different port than 80, and the ISP he's connecting through
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

I should hope so for the sake of their customers' privacy. They should be
using port 443 (https and *not* http) for webmail.

> probably has that port blocked in their firewall. The path of least
> resistance is probably for him to get a Hotmail or Gmail account and forward
> a copy of his incoming mail to that. Asking the hotel (or whoever) to
> unblock the port he needs would most likely result in a blank stare from the
> desk clerk. Setting up a proxy script like this http://cpanelproxy.net/
> would also work, assuming it is a cpanel server.

Can he access other secure (https) sites?
----*

--
Norman De Forest http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/~af380/Profile.html
"> Is there anything Spamazon DOESN'T sell?
Clues. The market's too small to justify the effort."
-- Stuart Lamble in the scary devil monastery, Fri, 13 May 2005

William Tasso

2005-10-28, 6:40 pm

Writing in news:alt.www.webmaster
From the safety of the ISINet, Nova Scotia cafeteria
Norman L. DeForest <af380@chebucto.ns.ca> said:

>
> On Fri, 28 Oct 2005, Jim wrote:
>
>
> Can he access other secure (https) sites?
> ----*

Network Admins have quite a few tools in the box. Many block /all/ access
to well-known webmail hosts. Others block access to anything with webmail
in the string. etc.

It's a war of attrition. However, if access to private webmail is
prohibited by corporate policy then it doesn't really matter if you find a
way round the obstacle - it's still a prohibited use of resources.

The solution is within his gift. As a remote user he has control of his
client machine and can choose how to route his own traffic.
--
William Tasso

Virtue is its own punishment.

Tina - AxisHOST, Inc.

2005-10-28, 6:40 pm

"William Tasso" <SpamBlocked@tbdata.com> wrote in message
news:op.szcwncr4m9g4qz-wnt@tbdata.com...
> Writing in news:alt.www.webmaster
> From the safety of the ISINet, Nova Scotia cafeteria
> Norman L. DeForest <af380@chebucto.ns.ca> said:
>
>
> Network Admins have quite a few tools in the box. Many block /all/ access
> to well-known webmail hosts. Others block access to anything with webmail
> in the string. etc.
>
> It's a war of attrition. However, if access to private webmail is
> prohibited by corporate policy then it doesn't really matter if you find a
> way round the obstacle - it's still a prohibited use of resources.

Maybe not prohibited by policy - but just hoping that the mere port blocking
will be enough to disuade the average user.

--Tina