Big Bad Mean tunneling problem

For any of you on the figgyleaf flashcom mailing list this isn't much new news to you but I've been working my a$$ off trying to get tunneling to work properly on a windows server. I work in an environment where the network is tighter than a .... well.. you fill in the blank there ;) , and nothing gets in or out that the network meanies don't look at first. Heck... we aren't even allowed to use outside mailing systems like msn or yahoo.

Anyways, the servers that I can connect up to are... Linux. Yes it's true. If you have a Linux flashcom server I am 99% sure I can connect up to it on the first try. But a windows server I can't. SO.. I have been doing some research on the subject because I would really like to get the darn thing working (though I've been having a tough time getting MM to help out a bit on the subject :( ) They are busy folks maybe. But! Thanks to The God of Flashcom Srinivas Manapragada I now have a super script in my hands (compliments to Peldi for putting it up).

With this magical script, I can connect to my windows server 1 out 5 tries or so. The funny thing is that it'll connect on a different port everytime. Timing out and failing are all sporadic and there is no real pattern. I have noticed though that normal RTMP on default (no port number after the server name) connected up the most. About 3 times out 12 or 13 tries. The next best was 1935 and then 443 on RTMPT. The default of RTMPT never hooked up and neither did setting the port on normal RTMP. Lastly, setting the RTMPT port to 80 hooked up about once I think.

Out of this experience I have found it is best NOT to set the port for RTMP as it seems to be special or something and checks out all kinds of ports for you, whereas it's a good idea to set the port for RTMPT. But in these cases... why would one fail and the other not? Why is it not the least bit constant? Still a mystery but I'm still on it. Just need a linux server to test with and MT won't get back to me on my inquiry on a new account....(I'm pretty sure they run off of Linux) Talk about poor customer service, it's been over a day since I sent out my last email and no reply whatsoever. :(

My advice so far though (even though MM says there is no dif) is to DEFINITELY go Linux. Don't do the windows thing... there's something fishy going on with that server... not only that the setInterval() doesn't work properly... ;)

Posted by Graeme at December 18, 2003 01:57 PM