Connecting to the internet

[NewsArchive]

Hi Friedrich / All,

I'm currently building the next set of installers for our templates and have
implemented a couple of extra steps to ensure the user has an Active
Maintenance plan with us.

We are using the 'Connect to Internet' dialog to display a message to the
user and check connectivity, then we do a simple 'Post to HTTP Server' to
ensure that the PC can see our Web Server.
After this step has been passed, we do a further 'Post to HTTP Server'
sending various information regarding the current install.

The problem is that the initial 'Post to HTTP Server' is failing under
certain circumstances and these circumstances seem to be linked to proxy
setups (I think). If I try the URL in a simple web browser or test app that
performs a http post then all works fine, but it fails within SetupBuilder.

As a test, I tried one of our new installers on a home network setup with a
laptop connected wirelessly to a router (with a firewall), then the internet
and all worked as expected.
I then tried the very same installer in an office setup with the same laptop
connected to a network, which passes through a MS Small Business Server
(2008), then a Smoothwall Firewall with Web Proxy - it failed on this test,
even though the test apps and internet explorer worked correctly.

Do you have any ideas as to why I'm getting the error and what steps I can
do to try and correct it.


I'm using SB Developer Edition v7.3.3228.0

Regards,

Andy
www.noyantis.com

[NewsArchive]

Hi Andy,

Unfortunately, I fear that don't have an answer to your question. Are you
using the correct proxy server information before you POST?

The HTTP component makes use of the low-level Windows WinSock component and
simply sends the standard HTTP requests to the server.

BTW, the HTTP component did not change for years.

Friedrich

[NewsArchive]

Hi Friedrich,

That's the confusing point - no other programs (Test App, Internet Explorer,
Google Chrome etc) need any additional settings, they just work and return
the correct response. I'm not getting any response within SetupBuilder from
the "Post to HTTP Server" command?

Is there any examples I can take a look at - just to see if I've missed
anything?

Regards,

Andy
www.noyantis.com

[NewsArchive]

Hi Andy,

> That's the confusing point - no other programs (Test App, Internet
> Explorer, Google Chrome etc) need any additional settings, they just work
> and return the correct response. I'm not getting any response within
> SetupBuilder from the "Post to HTTP Server" command?
>
> Is there any examples I can take a look at - just to see if I've missed
> anything?

I assume you did not create the "Proxy Server Info File" in order to enable
proxy access from the SetupBuilder application. See "Read Proxy Server Info
File" in the manual.

Or use the "Connect to Internet" dialog so the users can enter the required
information.

The other Internet programs make use of the stored proxy information
(Windows registry). You can do the same. Just read the proxy information
from the registry and write it into the "Proxy Server Info File" so the SB
application can read it.

Friedrich

[NewsArchive]

Hi Friedrich,

I didn't manually create the Info File and do use the "Connect to Internet"
dialog to provide the user an opportunity to enter the details.

Our WebProxy is running in Transparent mode and is only used for 'Logging'
information - its not set to block anything.

Also, the test app that I created using NetTalk works and performs the HTTP
Post and it doesn't have any Proxy Settings, either manually or from the
Registry.

Regards,

Andy
www.noyantis.com

[NewsArchive]

Hi Andy,

> I didn't manually create the Info File and do use the "Connect to
> Internet" dialog to provide the user an opportunity to enter the details.
>
> Our WebProxy is running in Transparent mode and is only used for 'Logging'
> information - its not set to block anything.
>
> Also, the test app that I created using NetTalk works and performs the
> HTTP Post and it doesn't have any Proxy Settings, either manually or from
> the Registry.

WinSock needs this proxy information to set the proxy name, port and proxy
authorization.

Perhaps NetTalk retrieves this information automatically, I don't know.

Other than that, I fear I do not have any other idea, sorry :-(

But if your NetTalk test app works, why don't you compile it as DLL and then
call it directly from your installer?

Friedrich

[NewsArchive]

Hi Friedrich,

I've just done some more tests and it does appear that it is definitely
linked to the Proxy settings.

If I turn off the Web Proxy service on the Smoothwall server (Firewall /
WebProxy) then the installer works as expected.

I'll try some more tests and will let you know the outcome.

Thanks for all your help, both on here and on email as well.


Kind Regards,

Andy
www.noyantis.com

[NewsArchive]

Andy,

What does %_SB_ERRORCODE% return after your call to "Post to HTTP Server"?

Friedrich

[NewsArchive]

Andy,

Why bother to try and get it from your server when you can simply ask
the user to ENTER his MP from your email ?

Then you check it with SB function

Then if valid you STORE it in REGISTRY (for next time)

et voila ..... ;)

--
Merci
Cordialement - Best regards
__________________________________________________ _____

For those who do not understand ... : "Qui bene amat bene castigat."
__________________________________________________ _____

DMC - Data Management Center : a tool to let you Migrate Import Export
Transfer your Data
www.dmc-fr.com/database_migration.html Certified by Microsoft : "Works
with Vista" & "Works with Windows Server 2008"

[NewsArchive]

Hi JP,

We need it to contact our server so that it can check if the Maintenance
Plan and Serial Number is still valid and also so that we can keep stats on
the installations.

Regards,

Andy
www.noyantis.com

[NewsArchive]

Andy,

Only the last part as the rest (checking on validity) can be done in
the installer itself ....

--
Merci
Cordialement - Best regards
__________________________________________________ _____

For those who do not understand ... : "Qui bene amat bene castigat."
__________________________________________________ _____

DMC - Data Management Center : a tool to let you Migrate Import Export
Transfer your Data
www.dmc-fr.com/database_migration.html Certified by Microsoft : "Works
with Vista" & "Works with Windows Server 2008"

[NewsArchive]

> I then tried the very same installer in an office setup with the same
> laptop connected to a network, which passes through a MS Small Business
> Server (2008), then a Smoothwall Firewall with Web Proxy - it failed on
> this test, even though the test apps and internet explorer worked
> correctly.

On SBS you need to make sure the workstations have the Windows Firewall
Client installed.

Without it, you cant get through ISA server unless you supply the proxy
server authentication info it needs, ie proxy server name & port, username
and password to the app that needs net access or setup a specific rule in
ISA server but you dont want to be doing the latter.

On the workstation in question navigate to the server on the network and
look for shared folder called Clients, the FWC installer is usually found
there, alternatively go to program files, isa server, clients to find it.

I've had this issue with some HW companies looking after SBS servers, they
have connected the workstations to the domain but not installed the client
apps like FWC becuase they dont understand how to install SBS properly.

Richard Rose