BIM server - remote Teamwork access - Static I.P.

[rob2218]

well, I come to find out that we need a "static I.P." address to use the BIM server in a remote capacity.

I've been told that you can "fool" or mimic a static I.P. address by using a Dynamic DNS service.

What is this for all you tech guru's?

Once I have a static IP address in our office, then what's the process for making the BIM server work?

What works better, a V.P.N. into the server or using the BIM Server software to load up on a laptop?

[Anonymous]

We have a static IP address for our server, but are using DNS to access the server, both inside and outside the office. Everyone access server.domain.com and there is no issues. Works for those on Windows and Mac. This is what the Dynamic DNS will get you.

[rob2218]

thanks sir.
I was told the Dynamic DNS setup could potentially have "glitches" since it's not a 'static i.p.' connection and you are going thru a 3rd party to 'pretend' there is a static i.p. to which the BIM server connects to.

[Anonymous]

We have a static IP address, but do not access the server by IP address. It is accessed via a DNS address. We tried to access by IP originally, but or network setup wont let internal traffic reach our BIM Server by the external IP address. It is all sent to the internal address (a 192.168.xxx.xxx number). So we set up a subdomain for our BIM Server which is pointed at the static IP of the actual computer (there is some tricky firewall stuff going on as well) But in essence the same thing that Dynamic DNS is doing. I have used them to access computers before that were on Dynamic IPs. There is a small application that runs on your computer that tells DYNDNS what your current IP address is and DYNDNS updates the records to point server.domain.com to your current IP address. NOTE: I have not tried this with the bimserver, but have used is with network rendering software effectively.

[Karl Ottenstein]

Strangely, Graphisoft has been cautioning against using a dynamic DNS service recently, even though throughout 13 they recommended it.

My guess is that they found that some people were not properly updating their DNS assignment, causing things to break and wasting tech support time.

This is the key: you MUST make sure that if you have a dynamic IP and using a dynamic DNS service such as the free dyndns.org - that you do at least one of these things (1) install and run their helper application which will report to their servers any time your external IP address changes, and/or (2) if your cable modem or router supports it, have it report any updated IP address back to the dynamic DNS server.

The installation of the helper app is described on the provider web site.

Dynamic update via your modem or router depends on which of the 100's of models you have. Attached is a screenshot for my Netgear router's page which "knows" about dyndns.org and will update things automatically even if no computers are on. The hostname is the free hostname that you request from dyndns.org. The username/password are your credentials for logging onto you dyndns.org account.

Cheers,
Karl

[Dennis Lee]

We are using DYNDNS.com's service, I upgraded to a paid service. It's about $15/year and I have no problem accessing the BIM server from anywhere. There is an application that you install on the server that can update the IP address whenever it changes.

[vfrontiers]

Sidebar:

Is it possible to assign a LOCAL STATIC IP for a windows laptop using a WIRELESS connection... I can't seem to get it to work...

Ran thru the same drill as WIRED CONNECTION (which worked fine)...

[Anonymous]

It depennds on the hardware, but you should be able to map the MAC address of the notebook to always get the same IP assinged to it. I had to do this at home for my printer that was on the wifi network. My son likes to push buttons, so it would be powered off frequently, and turned back on get a new IP address. I would have to reinstall the printer so my MacBook could print to it again.

[vfrontiers]

Yes, I did read that that was the way to go... Only I also went to NAME.COM and found that Duane actually means "Not an IT guy"!...

I have a current Netgear Wireless Router... I can get into the SETUP system... but I could not find the menu that allows me to map IP to MAC address...

About 30min of web surfing yielded nothing and that's all the time I had... I see others with the same SETUP screens as I have (for other issues) and wonder if anyone would be so kind as to point me in the right direction....

TIA...

[rob2218]

So...just's so's I'm clear as mud here......

A STATIC I.P. address is what GS is recommending...is it not?