Capture IP address

[S Molly T]

Is it possible for Filemaker to capture and display the IP address of the host machine?

There is a remote database I need access to that is on a machine with only dialup. I would like the users of the remote database to start (open) the database, have the file report the IP address, and then the user can call me with the IP address so I can access the file. Wishful thinking on my part?

The remote file is on a windoze machine (running 98se) and while I know it is possible to get the IP from the command line, the users of the machine do not know much about computers and even less about windoze than I do. So is there an easy way for the users to determine the IP address on a windoze 98se machine?

[QuinTech]

Networking is not my #1, so i don't know the best way to get an IP address for a remote volume from a command line. But i know i can get it through pinging, so here's my suggestion:

echo whatever you're using to get that IP address into a file somewhere on the user's computer. Import that file into a global field in FM, then massage the data in there to spit out the IP address. If i were echoing the ping command to C:ip.txt, then i would import C:ip.txt into some sort of global field (probably in a separate file, since there are newlines in the output file and that would create multiple records). My calc to return the IP address would then be something like

Middle ( Globalfield , 30 , 14 )

Might this work?

Jerry

[Will]

They are still using Win 98se? Scary. Almost as scary as using OS9. -)

Here's one way to get the IP.

On Win 98se click Start - Run - and type in winipcfg and hit enter.

Under Ethernet Adapter Address is the "IP Address" Field.

If it is all zeros they will need to click the drop down area and choose the modem.

I'll try and attach a screen shot

[S Molly T]

Jerry: I guess that would work, I do not know much about windoze and not really sure what I would use to dump the IP to a text file to import into filemaker as you suggest. Thanks for the reply.

Will: Yes they are still using 98se, but I find 98se much easier to work in than XP (eXtra Problems). That is one way to get the IP yes, but a little too complicated for the user(s). Thanks for the reply.

What I will probably do is just build a simple web page that is just a form and have it as a favorite on the remote machines desktop. The user can then dialup, startup the database, and then click the icon the form page loads, they can click the send button, the formail app captures the ip address and sends it to me. One additional click, no typing and no looking at obscure numbers the user(s) probably do not understand anyway.

Maybe not a very elegant solution, but it will work with minimal effort from the user(s).

Sometimes I just need a sounding board to come up with these things.

Thanks.

[QuinTech]

Molly, i think i misunderstood your original post. Reading Will's comment set me straight.

If you want to save the remote user's IP address, then a batch file that consists of the steps:

***

ipconfig>c:ip.txt

cls

***

Will create the file C:ip.txt that has the text

***

Windows 98 IP Configuration

0 Ethernet adapter

IP Address. . . . . . . . . 192.168.2.103

Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0

Default Gateway . . . . . . : 192.168.2.1

***

You could then import that file into FM. All this could be scripted, including calling the batch file.

J

[S Molly T]

Ok. That looks like it should work, thanks.

Problem now is that I cannot get into the windoze machine over dialup connection. Is there something extra that has to be turned on or off in windoze to allow access? There is no firewall software (that I know of) on the computer and I do not believe that the ISP has a firewall (never heard of dialup providers using client side firewalls). I can ping the computer, so I know there has to be a way to get in, I just do not see the list of available files when I try to connect to the remote host.

?

[Will]

If you can ping the PC then more than likely there is no firewall on their PC or the isp. And a Win98 PC should'nt require any tweaks for you to access it with FileMaker. The FM files are shared on the PC using filemaker network sharing, right? And you are entering the correct IP into FileMaker specify hosts?

Will

[S Molly T]

I can ping the windoze machine, sometimes.

I can also access the database if I connect the windoze machine to our LAN (currently the remote machine is in my office for db updates).

I also just took one of the Macs off the LAN and used that Mac to dial in to the ISP that the remote machine will be using, I successfully connected to that Mac over the same dial up that I was trying with the windoze box.

This has lead me to believe that the connection problem has something todo with the Windows OS and/or how FM is configured on that Windows box.

Current Windows setup:

Windows 98se

Unknown v90 modem

Filemaker 6.0v1

Local Data Access Companion (enabled)

Remote Data Access Companion (enabled)

Network Protocol (TCP/IP)

Two things to try tomorrow

1) Install new v92 modem

2) Update FM to 6.0v4

Any more suggestions? (other than outfit the remote office with a Mac )

[Will]

Maybe you tried this but what happens if you try to dial into the PC now that it is in your office using dialup from within your office? If it works that would eliminate the current modem and maybe point to trouble somewhere in the connection/phone lines when the PC is at it's home office. If you still have problems connecting then maybe your replacement modem will do the trick - make sure you have the latest drivers for it. Too bad you don't know the current modem type because you could look for an updated driver for it.

When the PC is at the home office are you using a Mac to connect? If so do you have a PC so that you can try connecting PC to PC over the modem line?

Does the user ever report unreliable Internet connection on their end when they are dialed into their ISP? If not then maybe the FileMaker updater will fix the problem.

Also, you could use a remote control program such as pcAnywhere to work on the PC from your office instead of connecting via FileMaker networking but it might be too tedious over dialup.

Outfitting the client with OSX would be a huge improvement over Win 98, IMHO. Just make sure the client realizes they will be paying $129 every year or so for the "enhancements" to OSX such as Jaguar and Panther hehehe

Will

[S Molly T]

The PC has never had internet service from its home office. The idea of remotely administering the DB came from months of lugging the PC 100 miles every month or so and having their PC out of use for a week. So I hooked the PC up with a cheap dialup account, downloaded the software, configured the computer, configured the Filemaker database and I thought it would be off to the races. Guess I was wrong.

I can connect (over dialup) to a mac from a mac, a pc to a mac, but not a mac to pc or even a pc to pc.

I have tried connecting to a Windows 98se box and also tried my Windows XP laptop, to no avail.

When Filemaker is running netstat reports (on the windoze machine(s)) a different IP than the actual IP.

The 64.63.xxx.xxx number is what ipconfig reports as the IP number but it appears that Filemaker is listening on the 169.254.xxx.xxx number? See the attached files. Maybe I could be interpreting it the wrong way? When I try to connect to the remote host, do I have to specify a port number? Do not have to when connecting to a Mac, but maybe windows is silly like that?

Upgraded to the 6.0v4 version on all machines, still not connecting. Have not tried a new modem, cause the XP laptop has the same problem.

Frustrating

May try to trade them an old StarMax for that pos Compaq.

[S Molly T]

Here is the netstat report with filemake running

[S Molly T]

here is the netstat report without filemaker running

[Will]

Maybe 64.63.x.x is the IP assigned by the ISP and

169.254.x.x is assigned to the network card.

Run winipcfg to verify by using the drop down box.

If the above is true then FM is listening on the network instead of the dial up and I'm not exactly sure how to remedy that easily - maybe unplugging the network cable and rebooting might allow FM to listen on the isp connection.

[Steve T.]

Howdy, folks! I didn't digest the whole thread (quite a bit there), but if Molly just wants an easy way for remote users to tell her their IP addresses, I'd suggest just having them visit a website like

http://www.whatismyipaddress.net/

so they can tell her. Or Molly can set up her own FileMaker support website that can capture their IP addresses using the CDML tag [FMP-ClientIP] but that's probably more trouble than it's worth if she doesn't need to have a website for any other purpose.

--ST

[S Molly T]

Thanks to all that have tried to help me with this issue.

I have finally fixed the problem (replaced the modem) and I can now connect to the remote database over the dialup.

But...

...wouldn't you know that what I was wanting and needing to do is not available unless you are the host.

I need to add users (create groups, passwords, and access) to the database but when I just tried, the only option I get when I login as a guest (with full admin controls) is the Change Password option and not the Define Access Privledges. I have looked around and it looks like there is not a way to create new users unless you are on the host machine?

Am I (hopefully) wrong about this?

Is there a way to access the Define Access Privledges remotely?

[David Stark]

Check out the website, www.no-ip.com, there you can find software you can install on the machine you need the ip address of that will monitor the dynamic ip address the ISP provides for the WAN. They probably can monitor the local IP as well.

I use it to use a software program called TightVNC (www.tightvnc.com). I use this to remotely access the client computer. All is freeware, though the "no-ip" software you need to specifically monitor the local IP may cost something. It is probably very reasonable.

I hope this helps

[S Molly T]

Thanks.

I am a virtual windoze dummy, I did not even know such a thing (VPC) was possible.

I will give it a try and see what happens, seems like it should work. I do not know how fast it will be, sending an entire GUI over dialup, but it will probably be faster than bringing the computer over here ever month or so to add new users.

As for the IP address, I simply created a webpage that is just a form (the page just has a submit button on it) and all the user has todo is goto the page, click the submit button and I am emailed their IP.

Thanks for the tip on VPC.