Please help - trouble with network connection to a remote computer

[insurgent]

I tried to connect to another computer just today with its IP address. The owner of the other also tried to connect to mine. When using "Run" in the "Start" menu nothing happens for a while until a notification comes up saying that the computer couldn't be found.
When I use the "Search" function for searching for other computers, it can't find the other computer. I can easily connect to other computers and other computers can easily connect to my computer - but it has only been with other computers using the same ISP...
I live in Denmark but when I tried just recently to connect to a Norwegian computer to play a game, it wouldn't. When trying this latest connection with this other computer (which is in the US) - I can't. Both computers use Win XP and the IPs are correct.
Can anyone help me?

 

[GenghisK]

I just know that if you're using a ICS over a gateway running a firewall such as ZoneAlarm, most of games won't connect. Especially Microsoft games (Mechwarrior IV, CFS3 etc..) unless you lower the security level, just for the time you play. Otherwise I can't see what your trouble is.

Ah! btw at least try to ping your friend comp, if you can't, either he's stealthing himself, or there's a big sh** with his network.

 

[insurgent]

Ping?

I use a router and so does he.

 

[GenghisK]

under XP or any OS: windows menu>start menu>run
type command.com

type ping 123.123.123.123 (this is actually the ip of your recipient that you should enter)

 

[Plutonium239]

Or if you would like the box to stay open long enough for you to read it, you might want to open a dosbox.

On the run line type 'command' if in win9x or 'cmd' if NT/2k/XP, then use ping from the command line.

I think the key though was when insurgent said he can connect to other people using the same ISP but not with his friend on a different ISP. That sounds like the ISP may be using a proxy server for internet connections.

insurgent, you might want to call your ISP and ask them about it.

 

[GenghisK]

That's what I meant to say i.e. using ping on the commande line

 

[insurgent]

I think I sorted out what is wrong. It seems I have some kind of temporary IP and that my ISP is trying to implement permanent IPs due to complaints. But that doesn't quite explain it all...

Excatly what is a proxy server? I've often wondered about that.

Thanks...

 

[GenghisK]

A proxy server just put in caches the pages you often visit. And it also provides you a standart http access. Nevertheless it's not as good as a real router, since a router can give you a lot more services. Although nowadays people usually use both words to mean the same, they're still 2 very different technologies