hi,

i'd like to find out if and what ports are being blocked by my isp. how can i do this?

i found a port scan in Network Utility, typed in my ip address and nothing happened. not sure if it's intended for use with your own is address -- maybe it's for checking other things not yourself? i used one of those "what's my ip address" web pages to get me ip address.

if software is required preferably software for os x 10.2.8 (or failing that 10.3.9)



the rest of this message is chit chat really, above is the question.

just subscribed to tiscali 8Mb broadband service in the uk. was able to download using limewire and another file sharing app, carracho, last night ok -- first go with both of these apps with new connection. i was getting about 30kps in limewire and 50kps in carracho. i left the computer. in the morning it had stopped -- only an hour or so after i left it. wasn't connected to the net anymore. turning off and on both the ethernet modem and airport base station resulted in being connected to the net again. but now i'm unable to use either limewire or carracho. limewire can't connect nor download a single byte, nor can carracho connect to anything. but at the same time i am connected to the net: email works and webpages, hense my above finding out about blocked ports question.

edit: i now have a file downloading in lw -- very slowly though -- in fact it isn't actually moving. 0kps. and still can't connect to be able to do a search. but at least that confirms the port which lw communicates over is not blocked, not blocked outright at least. maybe this is an intermittent new set up issue (they did say in the first 10 days the connectoin will possibly be temporamental). i'd still like to know how to find out which ports, if any, are blocked though. i found this link on this form: http://www.tiscali.co.uk/forums/show...86#post1137386

thanks

Port scans need to be done from outside your net if you want to check if the ISP allows those packets through. See if there is something like http://www.dslreports.com/tools for your area.

I'd forgotten about carracho, and it looks like it hasn't been updated for a few years. Guess there are still a few users around though.

Port-blocking (or "packet-shaping") at the ISP level can be pretty fluid and change often, and often the help desk might not be informed what the internet admins are doing. Assuming you have a direct connection to your ISP, just ask them if you can connect to the gnutella network on port 6346.

If you are using a router, then google about opening that port on the router's homepage.

cheers

hello, thanks for the reply.

> Port scans need to be done from outside your net

right so i can't check to see which ports are blocked myself -- another machine with a different internet connection needs to do it.

> See if there is something like http://www.dslreports.com/tools for your area.

unfortuntely the port scan on that page isn't there at the moment. maybe it'll be back soon hopefully. what do you mean "for your area" though? don't understand the idea of area at all; do you mean where i am location wise? how does that make any difference? what area is http://www.dslreports.com/tools for?

> Assuming you have a direct connection to your ISP, just ask them if you can connect to the gnutella network on port 6346.

they've stated in an email to me that they do not traffic shape before i was a customer of theirs. this is clearly not the case as during certain times, about 4pm to about midnight (and most of the day during weekends i think), p2p applications (limewire, carracho, bit torrent) become unusable -- simply don't work full stop. i'm thinking of looking into making a claim in a small claims court against my isp as i have it in writing from them they don't. it seems clear to me they do do traffic shaping but i want some further info to make sure.

i found this port scanner: http://www.auditmypc.com/firewall-test.asp which told me no (zero) ports are open?! which i found rediculous so wrote that on their forum and have got a reply which i haven't read in full yet: http://www.websecurity.mobi/network-...ediculous.html

> If you are using a router, then google about opening that port on the router's homepage.

i'm using an airport extreme base station (round white one with built in dial up modem) which is a rooter, and an ethernet d-link adsl modem. i'm pretty sure the setting on the base station and modem are not blocking any ports. and if either were it wouldn't be intermittent -- only blocking certain times of the day -- it'd block always, which isn't the case.

thanks.

That's right, you are using Tiscali & they do use various means to block p2p programs depending on the country. For tips find Tiscali listed here ISP's known to BLOCK or Filter p2p or specifically Limewire (of course they will tell you they don't block p2p. They want your business. Also most people working at front desks would not know & techs might be reluctant to tell you anyway.) Tiscali in your area of UK may only block at certain times of the day such as peak hours.

BTW I think the newest versions (the beta or higher) of LW will struggle on OSX 10.2 You would be best sticking with the older version as long as it's no older than 4.8.1

stief,

from post number 2 here http://www.websecurity.mobi/network-...ediculous.html it would appear that it's the opposite of what you're saying there. apparently my port 80 (html, web pages) port, for example, is blocked -- from the outside that is. it only works when and if i make the initial request. then port 80 is open. so the only way to find out if port number 80 for example is open at all is for me to make the initial request, so it looks like a port scan to find out what ports are open is to use a tool on my machine which makes the initial outgoing request of some sort -- not sure if something at the other end to receive or not receive is required though. maybe Port Scan in Network Utility will be of use? not sure. am trying it now.

as i said, from the port scan here http://www.auditmypc.com/firewall-test.asp apparently all my ports are blocked. but that's incoming. still not sure if that's a 100% believable but it makes more sense knowing about the outgoing vs incoming issue.

thanks

Hi,

> For tips find Tiscali listed here ISP's known to BLOCK or Filter p2p or specifically Limewire

Yes I saw that, thanks. It'd be nice to get actual confirmation via some sort of port scan though just be absolutely sure. Some hard, believable info/data.

> of course they will tell you they don't block p2p. They want your business.

I find that a slightly odd thing to say! but anyway not to worry.

OK thanks.

still looking for some port scanning method of some sort that gives some readings of which ports are not blocked and which are blocked by my isp somehow, thanks.