This topic

Smarthub 2 and RDP connection

pfbini — Tue, 07 Mar 2023 10:35:53 GMT

Hi everybody,

I'm trying to connect to a remote desktop but it does not work.

I have created a port forwarding rule for port 3389, checked that webprotect is off and done a factory reset, but nothing changes.

Any suggestions?

Many thanks!

Pierfranco

Re: Smarthub 2 and RDP connection

Keith_Beddoe — Tue, 07 Mar 2023 12:15:21 GMT

@pfbini

Welcome to this user forum for BT Retail phone and broadband customers.

You do not need to do any port forwarding if you are originating the request, however the remote computer would need to allow incoming connections on port 3389.

If you are using Windows, then Windows Firewall normally enables port 3389 for outgoing and incoming connections when the RDP request is initiated.

Re: Smarthub 2 and RDP connection

Les-Gibson — Tue, 07 Mar 2023 13:04:57 GMT

Remote desktop connections cannot be made to devices running Windows Home editions (although it can initiate an RDP to a machine running a Windows Pro edition).

If your machine is running a Windows Home edition then download the free TeamViewer instead.

Re: Smarthub 2 and RDP connection

pfbini — Tue, 07 Mar 2023 13:24:54 GMT

Thank you for your answer.

The receiving server has been configured to allow my current IP and the 3389 port is open.

I had the same problem with another RDP server, but I was able to solve it by adding an IPV6 pinhole to the smarthub configuration, which in my opinion confirms that the smarthub 2 out of the box is not configured for this kind of traffic (and it also rules out any possible problems with the windows firewall)

The IT manager for the box I need to reach thinks that it's a NAT issue, I'm not sure and hope I won't have to change provider just for this.

Is there a tech support available for these issues? I tried the chat on BT but was told it's only for issues with the broadband service per se...

Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

Pierfranco

Re: Smarthub 2 and RDP connection

pfbini — Tue, 07 Mar 2023 13:27:42 GMT

Hello,

thanks for your reply. It is a windows professional box and I never had any issues with Virgin, I'm afraid.

I need to get to a windows server via RDP and TeamViewer is not an option (it would not be free when using it for work anyway)

Best,

Pierfranco

Re: Smarthub 2 and RDP connection

Les-Gibson — Tue, 07 Mar 2023 14:30:30 GMT

You may have just answered your own question.

As I understand it, and I could be wrong, business customers get a static IP address by default with Virgin but not with BT, have you tried using DDNS

Re: Smarthub 2 and RDP connection

Keith_Beddoe — Tue, 07 Mar 2023 14:45:44 GMT

@pfbini

As @Les-Gibson has said, your own public IP address will keep changing.

You said "The receiving server has been configured to allow my current IP"

Its quite likely your current IP has changed, so your connection is being rejected.

Re: Smarthub 2 and RDP connection

pfbini — Tue, 07 Mar 2023 15:20:31 GMT

Obviously the first thing I check is my public IP. I wouldn't bother anybody posting for something as simple as that....

The public IP changes normally if I reset the hub or if the lease expires, but I have checked my IP just before telling the IT manager and did try afterwards.

I'm sure my external IP is right because other IP base services I use are working well.

Thanks,

Pierfranco

Re: Smarthub 2 and RDP connection

licquorice — Tue, 07 Mar 2023 15:36:24 GMT

I fail to see if you are originating the request it has anything to do with the BT hub. The hub by default passes ALL outbound traffic.

Re: Smarthub 2 and RDP connection

Les-Gibson — Tue, 07 Mar 2023 15:41:09 GMT

It might have helped if you had given more information in your original post, I'm not a fan of guessing games

Re: Smarthub 2 and RDP connection

pfbini — Tue, 07 Mar 2023 15:51:16 GMT

Hi,

I need to setup a connection, so I need to be able to establish a two-way communication.

This is what I get

So, while I believe the outboud traffic works, the connection does not get established.

Thanks

Re: Smarthub 2 and RDP connection

pfbini — Tue, 07 Mar 2023 15:57:58 GMT

@Les-Gibson

Sorry. What information is missing?

Re: Smarthub 2 and RDP connection

Keith_Beddoe — Tue, 07 Mar 2023 16:07:03 GMT

@pfbini

Check that you have provided your public IP address and not your local network address.

The remote computer is not responding to a ping request. I assume you are using the ping command?

Try using PortQuery instead.

https://www.thewindowsclub.com/how-to-use-port-query-tool-portqry-exe-in-windows-10

Re: Smarthub 2 and RDP connection

licquorice — Tue, 07 Mar 2023 16:01:56 GMT

@pfbini wrote:

The IT manager for the box I need to reach thinks that it's a NAT issue, I'm not sure and hope I won't have to change provider just for this.

Then the IT manager is clueless if he thinks that NAT is causing a problem for an outbound connection. The problem is at his end.

As a silly question, what have you told him your IP address is? 192.168.1.82 or your public IP address?

Edit: typing as Keith posted

Re: Smarthub 2 and RDP connection

pfbini — Tue, 07 Mar 2023 16:03:25 GMT

@licquorice

I have given him my public IP address, as mentioned in another reply.

Re: Smarthub 2 and RDP connection

licquorice — Tue, 07 Mar 2023 16:10:25 GMT

I'm not familiar with RDP server configs and can't see how it could possibly check, but the only thing I can think is that it is somehow checking the incoming public and private IP address combination and as the hub private IP addressing range is different to Virgin, the server doesn't like it.

Re: Smarthub 2 and RDP connection

pfbini — Tue, 07 Mar 2023 16:12:48 GMT

@Keith_Beddoe

For example the Test-NetConnection on another IP protected server works as expected on port 1433 from two laptops both connected to the same Smarthub because the external IP has been enabled.

I guess the trace on PowerShell reads the IP inside, but the connection is made with the external IP

As you may see in another reply I'm not using ping. Will give PortQuery a try.

Thanks

Re: Smarthub 2 and RDP connection

Keith_Beddoe — Tue, 07 Mar 2023 16:17:01 GMT

The PortQuery utility was specifically intended for checking the status of remote ports.

There is a GUI front end for that utility which is useful if you need to check a lot of ports.

Another program is Zenmap which can test for a single port, or a range of ports.

https://nmap.org/zenmap/

A very useful program.

Re: Smarthub 2 and RDP connection

Keith_Beddoe — Tue, 07 Mar 2023 16:45:32 GMT

@pfbini

If you really want to prove which end it is, I have a tiny bench test Windows 10 PC which has RDP enabled. I can PM you my IP address and you can see if you can get as far as the login screen.

If you can, then that proves your outgoing request is being sent over the BT network.

Re: Smarthub 2 and RDP connection

pfbini — Tue, 07 Mar 2023 16:53:59 GMT

@Keith_Beddoe

Very kind of you and of course I'm happy to try.

Thanks!