I''ve been writing a simple chatter (client-server) using sockets. The TCP/IP protocol is working just fine. I''m planning on implementing a network game, but first I have to get this simple chatter to work. I''m connected to the www via my provider (duh!). This is probably the firewall I can''t get through to make my server public to everybody. It works fine on the localhost, but does anyone know how I should do this? It probably isn''t enough to get an IP-address from my provider, and just let my computer run 24hours a day? Should I setup my own server? How do I do this?... ANY response respected...

You mean your app is using htpp for a chat program (since you say "www chatter")? When you connect to your isp, you don't connect to the www, you connect to the internet. WWW is a part of the internet.

- Muzzafarath

Mad House Software
The Field Marshals

Edited by - Muzzafarath on July 6, 2000 12:23:21 PM

Assuming you have a well-behaved ISP, simply connecting gives you an IP address that will work with custom applications. However, you may want to consider a faster connection if you want to have many users! .<br><br>Most ISPs will charge extra for a "static IP address" (ie. one thats predictable). If you have one, your computer will always be at the same IP address. However, you can get around this by using one of the "dynamic IP services" - personally, I use eyep.net. [bracket.eyep.net points to whatever IP address my server has at any given time]. Eyep.net don''t give tech support, but its easy enough to figure out if you know anything about TCP/IP networking (certainly enough to write a chatroom!).<br><br>If you are unlucky, your ISP will have a firewall setup that doesn''t permit inbound traffic. If thats the case, you either need to change ISP or be prepared to cough up hard cash for one of the application hosts out there. :-(

Muzzafarath: Sorry, I''m confusing myself here...I mean Internet chatter not www chatter

Thanks Bracket for your enlightening explaination I will look into this nameserver stuff (Is this the right name?)
How do I do this on socket level? Should I use the gethostbyname for the current IP address of my server?

Gfx programming is actually my game, and network stuff keeps confusing me - so don''t blame me if I sound a bit stupid here...