Accessing computer with router question

[WarrenW]

I've got a program I write in VB 6 that is basically like a web server so someone else can access it directly if they know the IP/port number to it. I'm not very familiar with routers and stuff but know with one you can't just connect directly anymore with it. How can someone get around it? Is there a special setting with the router and does the IP/Port they use become different then?

Any help would greatly be appreciated!

[Kasracer]

Whatever port your program needs, forward the port to the correct computer running the server. This way people can sitll access it the sameway.

[WarrenW]

Thanks for your reply! I had read somewhere about port forwarding. What about the IP address? What I do is call an asp page from my VB program to verify its serial in a database. And along in the response, I return the IP address from the server variables. And that is the IP address I use for the machine. If one is behind a router, does that IP stay the same?

Thanks!

[Kasracer]

When you're behind a router, your computer's IP changes from an external to a local address. A local address can only be accessed inside your network. If you need to get to that computer from the internet, use your external IP address (it'll be in some sort of status page on your router's configuration)

[dglienna]

you still access the machine by its public address. when it gets to the router, if you have ports forwarded, and info is sent to the public address on THAT port, then the router sends it to the corresponding machines private address, so that it receives it just like it wasn't behind the router.