744 Forum

Apron => Hangar 7 => Topic started by: 74pilot on Wed, 20 Jan 2021 04:05

Title: Networking via internet, past firewalls and local IP allocations
Post by: 74pilot on Wed, 20 Jan 2021 04:05
I finally moved on from DOS to Windows and Mac, with the PSX (after all those years).

I have flown 747s since 2004, first -200/-300, from 2009 the -400 and a few years later, also -8F. Since a few years, I fly mainly -8F and -400ERF (with NGFMC).

Recently I used PSX before a proficiency check, but I spent too much time setting it up and getting used to the controls. I don't need/want yoke and rudder or other physical controls, I just want to use it for procedures and failures.

I successfully connected my MacBook Pro (2012 vintage, but it keeps up fine), a quite new Windows Desktop as well as an iPad for a separate CDU.

What I would really like to do is connecting as main/server, remotely over the internet. Not just because of movement restrictions during the pandemic, but simply that I can hook up with one of the colleagues who also has PSX - and we can practice procedures together (using a video or even just voice call, for procedures).

I can get the public IP from my broadband, but how do I tell the clients which local address to use in my network?

Thank you.
Title: Re: Networking via internet, past firewalls and local IP allocations
Post by: Hardy Heinlin on Wed, 20 Jan 2021 04:50
Example:

Your PSX is the main server, and your colleague's PSX is the main client.
(Ignore the boost server; you don't need it.)

On your Preferences > Basics page, look up your IP address (displayed in italic font at "This host address ...") and email that address to your colleague.

Your colleague needs to enter your IP address in his Preferences > Basics in the box after "This client connects to:" -- And he needs to select "On port: 10747".

You need to go to your Network > Main page and click "The main server", then "Start".

Your colleague needs to go to his Network > Main and click "A main client", then "Start".

Your two PSX instances are now synchronized.


|-|ardy
Title: Re: Networking via internet, past firewalls and local IP allocations
Post by: 74pilot on Wed, 20 Jan 2021 07:06
Thank you for the quick answer, Hardy.

The issue is that the computer shows the local network, 192.168..... If someone isn't on the same WiFi, then it obviously won't work. I have made it work between my MacBook, Windows desktop and iPad.

But I want it to work "over the internet"

I think I need to set something up in both ends.

Btw, on both computer, I am trying to make a shortcut to PSX. On the Mac, it starts Terminal. On Windows, I cannot drag a copy to the taskbar.

Do I have to make a shortcut to the folder, and then open the folder, then click the AerowinxStart?
Title: Re: Networking via internet, past firewalls and local IP allocations
Post by: Hardy Heinlin on Wed, 20 Jan 2021 08:13
You need the IP address that is connected to the Internet.

Re shortcuts:

What Mac OSX version are you using?

Did you try the methods described in the Aerowinx manual on page 13?
Title: Re: Networking via internet, past firewalls and local IP allocations
Post by: Dirk Schepmann on Wed, 20 Jan 2021 08:13
Hi,

In that case, you have to lookup the IP address of your computer provided by the Internet provider.
In Windows, you can open the command line window and enter the following command:

ipconfig /all

This will give you many information about your network setup, including the desired IP address. Alternatively, you can search for websites which report your IP (google for ,,What is my IP" or something like that).

Next, you'll most probably have to define a port exception in your router, since many of them block incoming port requests by default. This is router specific, but usually you have to open the port 10747 and forward the incoming requests to the local IP address (which is provided by PSX, e.g. 192.168.x.x). This way the router knows to which device the incoming request should be sent to.

It works fine, I have tried it with a fellow PSX user living in the same city. I can volunteer to try it out with you (in both ways).

Also make sure, that PSX is not blocked by the firewall on your computer.

Good luck and welcome aboard!
Dirk
Title: Re: Networking via internet, past firewalls and local IP allocations
Post by: Jeroen Hoppenbrouwers on Wed, 20 Jan 2021 12:39
To figure out what your external, public IP address is, there are simple services for that:

https://whatismyipaddress.com/

It is important to note that you probably have one more piece of equipment that you did not mention yet: your internet router, often supplied by your internet service provider. This is where you need to do most port-forwarding work.

The server side needs to do most of the work.
The client side just needs to type in the server's side public IP address (and port, if changed).


Hoppie
Title: Re: Networking via internet, past firewalls and local IP allocations
Post by: 74pilot on Wed, 20 Jan 2021 14:44
Thank you for all the replies!

Yes, I can find the local IP address of my computer.

Yes, I can find the public IP address of my router.

My Local wifi network has 20+ devices connected, though. How does PSX know which of all the local addresses to contact? Anyway, I can easily try it out myself, as I can just connect my Macbook to the internet hotspot of my phone.

Yes, it would be great if it worked. Ports, I should be able to find out either in ZoneAlarm (Windows Computer), Little Snitch (Macbook) or the router.

Maybe PSX is simply "smart enough" to listen across all the local WiFi IP addresses?
Title: Re: Networking via internet, past firewalls and local IP allocations
Post by: asboyd on Wed, 20 Jan 2021 19:30
IN your wifi router there should be a section on firewall and port fowarding.
In port forwarding you need to set a rule which is something like:

Incoming Port forward type TCP, port number 10747 destination IP address of your PSX server...
Once you do that then your friends client requests will be sent only to your PSX server. In networking under PSX confirm your local address and which port is selected to ensure you have the correct info.
Your friend will nedd to configure his PSX to be a client pointing to your Public IP and port 10747 (or whatever port you forwarded.

Cheers,
AlexB
Title: Re: Networking via internet, past firewalls and local IP allocations
Post by: 74pilot on Thu, 21 Jan 2021 00:37
Quote from: asboyd on Wed, 20 Jan 2021 19:30
IN your wifi router there should be a section on firewall and port fowarding.
In port forwarding you need to set a rule which is something like:

Incoming Port forward type TCP, port number 10747 destination IP address of your PSX server...
Once you do that then your friends client requests will be sent only to your PSX server. In networking under PSX confirm your local address and which port is selected to ensure you have the correct info.
Your friend will nedd to configure his PSX to be a client pointing to your Public IP and port 10747 (or whatever port you forwarded.

Cheers,
AlexB

Ah, great, that is just what I needed, than you, Alex.
Title: Re: Networking via internet, past firewalls and local IP allocations
Post by: 74pilot on Thu, 21 Jan 2021 12:26
I think we are almost there.

My colleague is the server, he did the port forwarding, and I am the client.

I get this message:

Version disagree: 10.128 NB Navblue (cycle 1903)

When I buy a new PSX (last week or so), doesn't it come with the latest NAV database? Should be 2003?

And the CDU IDENT page says APR/MAY/14. That seems to be just static, though, as I can't line select it.
Title: Re: Networking via internet, past firewalls and local IP allocations
Post by: 74pilot on Thu, 21 Jan 2021 12:45
Quote from: 74pilot on Thu, 21 Jan 2021 12:26
I think we are almost there.

My colleague is the server, he did the port forwarding, and I am the client.

I get this message:

Version disagree: 10.128 NB Navblue (cycle 1903)

When I buy a new PSX (last week or so), doesn't it come with the latest NAV database? Should be 2003?

And the CDU IDENT page says APR/MAY/14. That seems to be just static, though, as I can't line select it.

And now I saw there was an update. It says the same again, except it is now

Version disagree: 10.129 NB Navblue (cycle 1903)

Title: Re: Networking via internet, past firewalls and local IP allocations
Post by: Stefan Kauth on Thu, 21 Jan 2021 13:24
Quote from: 74pilot on Thu, 21 Jan 2021 12:26
When I buy a new PSX (last week or so), doesn't it come with the latest NAV database? Should be 2003?

No, if you buy a new PSX it comes always with cycle 1703 as stated in the Retailers Section of the Homepage at the Nav Database Area:

QuoteNav Database Updates for PSX are released annually in March, using ARINC cycle 03 (March) for the entire year. The latest update is cycle 20-03 for the year 2020. These updates are available by download (the PSX package includes cycle 17-03).
Title: Re: Networking via internet, past firewalls and local IP allocations
Post by: 74pilot on Thu, 21 Jan 2021 16:58
We did some fiddling and finally got it to work. Didn't have time but we will try this out some other time, doing a normal simulator session.

I don't use any hardware apart from the computer itself, keyboard, mouse, screen and such. No joystick, thrust levers, rudder pedals. It's just for procedure training I got it. And it's nice.
Title: Re: Networking via internet, past firewalls and local IP allocations
Post by: Hardy Heinlin on Thu, 21 Jan 2021 19:48
Ignore the nav data dates on the FMC IDENT page; those refer to the simulated time of the year which can be set on Instructor > Situation > Time. All situational settings are fictitious and adjustable for systems training.

The true nav database cycle date is shown on Instructor > About. (See Aerowinx manual, page 100.)

Re network:
All networked users must have the same nav database.
Also, if any user has the "NG FMC and More" upgrade installed, the other users must have that upgrade as well.
Otherwise the synchronization cannot work and the connection will be denied.

Error message: "Version disagree: 10.129 NG Navblue (cycle 1903)"

The letters NG after the version code indicate that the server has the NG FMC upgrade. If the client too has the NG upgrade, ignore the NG letters in the error message. In that case just the nav databases disagree.


Regards,

|-|ardy


Tip: If you use PSX just with the keyboard and you focus on systems training, you may appreciate the feature "Takeoff controlled by virtual pilot". It's described on page 47.