Connecting to a remote machine through client-server

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I have created a simple tcp client-server application in vb.net. Everything works fine when i set local host (127.0.0.1) as the ip address. I wish to make a connection to a remote machine (keeping client at my machine and server on the other - or vice versa).

How can i connect to the remote machine if i have its external ip address? I have tried searching on the internet but couldn't clarify this. Thanks a lot!

EDIT:

ok, the code of interest is as follows:

the server:

Dim server As TcpListener = New TcpListener(IPAddress.Any, port)

the client:

Dim theip As IPAddress = IPAddress.Parse(TextBox1.Text)
client = New TcpClient(theip.ToString, port)

Now, what should i enter in "TextBox1.Text" if i have my client on a remote machine (connected over internet) and server at a different computer (whose external IP address is known)?
Can i enter the external IP address of the machine running the server directly in the text box? Also, do i need to take care of things like "port forwarding" / "let firewall allow the connection" and all?

Posted 14-Jul-13 4:09am

mohit7

Updated 14-Jul-13 5:29am

v4

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[no name] 14-Jul-13 11:19am

I am not sure that I understand what it is that you are asking, "what should i enter in", you would enter the IP address of the computer that you are trying to connect to.....

mohit7 14-Jul-13 11:22am

that's what i need to know - can i enter the external IP directly there? And do i need to do any sort of "port forwarding" / firewall stuff? or will this work directly?

[no name] 14-Jul-13 12:05pm

And how would you expect someone that does not know anything about how your computers are setup to know that?

mohit7 14-Jul-13 12:18pm

buddy am just experimenting things - this is not a product for someone - am actually trying to learn about client / server interaction - i have always worked on localhost and am just trying to implement this on two separate remote machines, please help me out...

[no name] 14-Jul-13 12:40pm

Okay and... so? Help you with what exactly? Port forwarding? Sure go do that if you need to. Opening ports in your firewall? Sure go do that if you need to. The thing you apparently do not understand is the people here are probably half way around the world from you and we would have exactly no idea how your computers are setup, how your network is setup or anything else.

mohit7 14-Jul-13 12:52pm

see listen you don't get me actually - i can and have already forwarded the ports on my router - is this really needed? so many applications (like u torrent) do that automatically i guess - isn't there an alternative - is there no way i can create an application on vb which can interact when run on two diff machines without this hassle? Obviously there must be something - so many applications communicate this way - say teamviewer for example...

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**Joezer BH** · Answer 1 · 2013-07-14T04:22:00

Solution 1

See:

socket-bind-returns-the-requested-address-is-not-valid-in-its-context-on-wi[^]
tcpclient-exception-requested-address-not-valid-its-context-t[^]

[This error usually results from an attempt to bind a listening socket to an IP address that's not valid for the local machine.]

Of course you have to allow the connection via the firewall (in case it is set to block such a connection), other wise the firewall will be pretty much useless.

Cheers,
Edo

Posted 14-Jul-13 4:22am

Joezer BH

Updated 14-Jul-13 20:21pm

v3

Comments

mohit7 14-Jul-13 10:32am

thanks a lot for the help Edo, so what IP should i assign to the listener if i wish to listen from a remote machine? Also, what IP should be assigned to the TcpClient in this case?

Joezer BH 14-Jul-13 10:55am

Can you show relevant code (you can edit the question itself and add it there)
Basically what I suggested is that you make sure that the address you use be valid on the local machine.

mohit7 14-Jul-13 11:11am

I have edited the question buddy, and for the server i have set the address to "IPAddress.Any". What should i set the address for the client to?

Joezer BH 15-Jul-13 2:18am

In the following example the value in TextBox1.Text should be a valid address on the client machine.