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how to use 'hello' on local LAN also connected to internet that uses NAT

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  • Last reply by davearn2

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I just started trying to use the Hello facility in firefox (on linux Mint 17, firefox version 34). I tried to connect to a second computer on my local LAN but it looks like it tried to connect back to my own computer. Is that because firefox got the same external IP address for both machines and my router routed the traffic back to me rather than the other system?

Should Hello work on a local LAN (192.168.1/24) which is connected to the internet via a router using NAT?

If so how should that be done?

Many thanks

I just started trying to use the Hello facility in firefox (on linux Mint 17, firefox version 34). I tried to connect to a second computer on my local LAN but it looks like it tried to connect back to my own computer. Is that because firefox got the same external IP address for both machines and my router routed the traffic back to me rather than the other system? Should Hello work on a local LAN (192.168.1/24) which is connected to the internet via a router using NAT? If so how should that be done? Many thanks

All Replies (3)

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Hi davearn2, Thank you for your question. I understand that you are trying to connect Hello with a computer on NAT and one connected to LAN.

Hello can connect in two different tabs on the same computer. However if you would like to investigate it is possible to turn on debugging with these instructions: https://wiki.mozilla.org/Loop/Debugging

If you have any questions, please do post back.

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This is what I have tried and the results:

1) Connection back to my own computer. Clicked on Hello -> generated url and copied it. Entered url in a new tab. Hello started and showed: Ready to start your conversation? Clicked on start. A small window (not anew tab) popped up in bottom right labelled Conversation Request with Accept and Cancel buttons. Clicked Accept. Can hear sound but video was briefly black then constant grey. (camera and sound were shared). There didn't seem to be a way of having the recipient window as a ordinary tab.

2) Connection between two computers (both Linux as above) on same LAN. Began on computer 1 as before. Sent url to 2nd computer. Entered url in second computer's firefox tab. Shared video and sound. On computer 2, requested conversation -> small window appeared on computer 1. However this window was empty of content - no Accept or Cancel buttons, so no way to start conversation.

I will try later between computers over the internet and report back.

Regards David

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I have now tried out connecting between my computer (as above) and someone on the internet using Microsoft Windows and Firefox. 1) He sent me a Hello url which I entered. 2) We accepted the connection with both video and sound. 3) A small window popped up (separate from the main firefox window with tabs) to handle the connection. 4) I could see him but he could not see me (my video image was grey and would toggle between the 'ball person icon' and the grey screen by turning video on and off. 5) He could hear me but I could not hear him. 6) Clicking on the sound icon on my computer to see if that toggled sound terminated the connection unexpectedly. 7) Part way through (maybe while resizing the little window to make it larger a second time) my desktop (cinnamon) was disrupted - leaving me without the control panel, menus etc but leaving the desktop icons and opened windows functioning.

I can confirm my webcam does work with other appications such as Cheese.

Regards,

David