Broadband router configuration for BiblioWeb and BiblioRemote

Most Web users in the US access the Internet through broadband connections (DSL or cable). In such cases, your Internet service provider (ISP) usually assigns a static IP based on the hardware ID of your DSL or cable modem. With a broadband connection, it is possible to run a BiblioWeb or BiblioRemote server on your home PC, but there are extra steps to be taken to make it possible.

You most likely have a router connected to the DSL or cable modem. All your computers and other internet devices are connected to the router. To the outside world, all they see is the router. It controls the traffic between the Internet and your local area network (LAN). When you connect a PC to the router, the router will assign an IP address to that PC based on its hardware ID. If you run a BiblioWeb or BiblioRemote server on that PC, you need to tell the router to direct all the traffic on the port used to the relevant PC. You may have routers of different brands, but the setup is similar. Most  support setup by using a Web browser. Open your browser and enter http://192.168.0.1 (or whatever the LAN IP address is used for the router). You need to know the admin login name and password. This information can be found in your router's manual. Once you are logged in, there should be a hyperlink assigning incoming traffic from the Internet for different ports to the computers of your choice. You have to give a name, choose the port number, and select the computer to which the traffic will be directed on that port. For BiblioWeb, enter port 80 and select the computer where BiblioWeb will be running. For BiblioRemote, assign both port 12005 and 12006 to the computer where BiblioRemote will be running because port 12005 is used for database activities and 12006 is used for admin traffic.

Once you have configured the router to direct traffic on the above ports to the right computer, people on the Web can use your BiblioWeb or BiblioRemote server. If you are running Windows Vista, make sure the ports needed are not blocked by Windows Firewall. See also: Open a port in Windows firewall.