Freak_Out

I've got what i think to be a very basic question, anyway...

i'm trying to communicate via my MaxMSP 5 to another computer via internet, using MaxMSP 5 as well. I've used a whole number of objects like mxj (with the net.tcp. class) the netsend/netreceive combination and even jit.net.send and so on. Both me and the other guy at the computer on the other side have opened relevant ports and i've got his ip address. which brings me to the question: should i use his EXTERNAL or LOCAL ip ? could this be the cause of the problem?(i've tried both, anyway...) 'cause it's not working and it's driving me sortof crazy...a big thank you to anyone who could solve the issue.

I've got what i think to be a very basic question, anyway...
i'm trying to communicate via my MaxMSP 5 to another computer via internet, using MaxMSP 5 as well. I've used a whole number of objects like mxj (with the net.tcp. class) the netsend/netreceive combination and even jit.net.send and so on. Both me and the other guy at the computer on the other side have opened relevant ports and i've got his ip address. which brings me to the question: should i use his EXTERNAL or LOCAL ip ? could this be the cause of the problem?(i've tried both, anyway...) 'cause it's not working and it's driving me sortof crazy...a big thank you to anyone who could solve the issue.


max-msp-via-internet

https://cycling74.com/story/2006/10/23/104657/91

Maybe the section "How do I find out my IP address" could be useful.

Maybe the section "How do I find out my IP address" could be useful.
J-F.


i created an mxj object named myPublicIp which helps to give you your public IP address necessary for communication over the net. The objects gets the content of a particular website that displays your external IP address.

public class myPublicIp extends MaxObject {

    private class publicIpGetter extends Thread implements Executable {

         Socket s = new Socket(u.getHost(), port);

         OutputStream theOutput = s.getOutputStream();

         PrintWriter pw = new PrintWriter(theOutput, true);

//         System.out.println(u.getFile());

         pw.println("GET " + u.getFile() + " HTTP/1.1");

         pw.println("Host: myip.dk");

         pw.println("Connection: Close");

         BufferedReader in = new BufferedReader( 

                 new InputStreamReader( s.getInputStream() ));

//         StringBuffer sb = new StringBuffer(8096);

         while ((theLine = in.readLine()) != null) {

              theLine =in.readLine();

                  outlet(0,theLine);

//                  System.out.println("cr");

//         Thread.currentThread().sleep(50);

//         display the response to the out console

//         outlet(0, sb.toString());

        MaxQelem q = new MaxQelem(this);

        catch (MalformedURLException e) {

    private static final String[] INLET_ASSIST = new String[]{

    private static final String[] OUTLET_ASSIST = new String[]{

        declareInlets(new int[]{DataTypes.ALL});

        declareOutlets(new int[]{DataTypes.ALL});

        setInletAssist(INLET_ASSIST);

        setOutletAssist(OUTLET_ASSIST);

        publicIpGetter pig = new publicIpGetter();

Compile the code and use the object inside the following abstraction which does post-processing of the html code. The output will be your external IP address:

import com.cycling74.max.*;
import java.io.*;
import java.net.*;

	private class publicIpGetter extends Thread implements Executable {
	      String theLine = "test";

	  	try {
		  URL u = new URL("http://myip.dk/");
		  int port = 80;
		  Socket s = new Socket(u.getHost(), port);
		  OutputStream theOutput = s.getOutputStream();
		  PrintWriter pw = new PrintWriter(theOutput, true);
//		  System.out.println(u.getFile());
		  pw.println("GET " + u.getFile() + " HTTP/1.1");
		  pw.println("Host: myip.dk");
		  pw.println("Connection: Close");
		  pw.println();
//		 read the response
		  BufferedReader in = new BufferedReader( 
				  new InputStreamReader( s.getInputStream() ));
		  boolean loop    = true;
//		  StringBuffer sb = new StringBuffer(8096);

		  while (loop) {
		      if ( in.ready() ) {
//		          int i=0;

		          while ((theLine = in.readLine()) != null) {
		        	  theLine =in.readLine();
		        		     outlet(0,theLine);
//		        		     System.out.println("cr");
		          }
		          loop = false;
		      }
//		      Thread.currentThread().sleep(50);
		  }

//		   display the response to the out console
//		  outlet(0, sb.toString());
		  s.close();
		MaxQelem q = new MaxQelem(this);
		q.set();
		}
		catch (MalformedURLException e) {
		  post("http://www.myip.dk" + " is not a valid URL");
		}
		catch (IOException e) {
//		  post(e);
		}
    }

	public void execute() {
//	outlet(0, theLine);
//	outlet(0, "test");

	private static final String[] INLET_ASSIST = new String[]{
		"inlet 1 help"
	};
	private static final String[] OUTLET_ASSIST = new String[]{
		"outlet 1 help"
	};

	public myPublicIp(Atom[] args)
	{
		declareInlets(new int[]{DataTypes.ALL});
		declareOutlets(new int[]{DataTypes.ALL});

		setInletAssist(INLET_ASSIST);
		setOutletAssist(OUTLET_ASSIST);

	public void bang()
	{
		publicIpGetter pig = new publicIpGetter();
		pig.start();
	}

OK, just reread the post. It seems you don't have a problem determining your friend's IP address. You need to use his public IP address, otherwise the communication won't work. Opening ports on the router isn't everything. You also need to make sure that the incoming messages are forwarded to the right computer within the local network (this is called network address translation [NAT] or port forwarding). This is more tricky than you'd think. Sometimes routers just won't work and need a firmware upgrade. Sometimes I had to put the computer into the DMZ. In any case, the router should be restarted even if the manual says otherwise. I can pride myself for eventually overcoming problems with all router, although this can be a lengthy and frustrating process.

Yep, fact is, as u observed, i'm using both mine and my friend's public ip addresses(btw, thanks for the previous reply). Just to clarify, my friend isn't part of a local network, but in another place altogether(so we don't have the same router etc.). I have confirmation that the ports we're using are open and the addresses correct. can't understand what could be wrong. i tried doing a small test again, using the netsend/netreceive combination (netsend on my computer, netreceive on his) but to no avail. Hope to fix the thing as soon as possible. Thanks again anyway.

Why don't you download my networked multimedia performance environment Quintet.net and see whether you can get it to work. There is also a Wiki that explains how to get started with all of this.

http://www.quintet-net.org/dl-frames.html

http://www.georghajdu.de/quintet.net/wiki/doku.php

http://www.quintet-net.org/dl-frames.htmlhttp://www.georghajdu.de/quintet.net/wiki/doku.php

I just downloaded quintet.net to test with an installation I am working on involving two moving locations(shipping container/art galleries) that will have wifi hotspots. We just want to send control information from one installation to the other and are trying to gauge if this is possible? I see this is an old feed but any advice would be much appreciated.

this might be an easier solution: I created a mxj class (jm.pubNub)that integrates the a so-called push service (PubNub.com). The bottom line is that you can send messages between Max patches (and any other device with internet connection) over the internet without having to deal with IP-adresses, opening ports in local networks, firewalls and other stuff. Also changing IP-adresses are no problem. Both patches have to "inscribe" to the same "channel" and can communicate with each other independently from their location.

The downside is that PubNub.com is not a free free service. But they have a Sandbox option which is free and allows to connect up to 20 different devices (in your case Max patches) per day.

If you want to use it and you run into problems, fell free to contact me.

the tool is here: https://cycling74.com/tools/jm-pubnub/

The downside is that PubNub.com is not a free free service. But they have a Sandbox option which is free and allows to connect up to 20 different devices (in your case Max patches) per day. 

Awesome! Thank you. I just spent the weekend learning about port forwarding! This looks like a much better option. Thank you!

Just for curiosity, how did you finally solve/approach your installation?

Max MSP via internet