More issues connecting over phone app.

[JayBart]

Been using BI for ages -- haven't really had any issues with accessing using my phone.
I've changed nothing on my server , and for whatever reason, I just can't connect to the server... a few points:

1) I'm using a vpn to access BI. The VPN is working properly, I can remote into the server through the VPN with no problem (and then also access BI with no problem, but doing it that was is a pain)
2) network on the BI server is set to private
3) Since I'm accessing using vpn, my lan and wan is set to local address : port
4) the ports match in the server/ phone
5) I cannot access over my phone even when I'm on a local network, on the same subnet.

This is driving me nuts.. any ideas?

 

[TonyR]

2) network on the BI server is set to private

Have you tried setting your NIC's network properties to "public"?
Then if still no joy, back to "private" ?

 

[Mike A.]

5) I cannot access over my phone even when I'm on a local network, on the same subnet.

If you can't do that then you know nothing with the VPN, DDNS, etc. on the remote side. By "access" do you mean using the app or from the phone at all (i.e., phone browser)?

If the app, do you still get alerts? Do you get any errors on the phone when you try to get to it? Any errors showing in the BI log file? Does the phone appear under Settings > Mobile devices? Same account used? If different, look to see if it's locked out. Assuming that you can get to it from another local client since you're focused on the app.

 

[JayBart]

Have you tried setting your NIC's network properties to "public"?
Then if still no joy, back to "private" ?

yeah, that was the first thing I hit.

 

[JayBart]

If you can't do that then you know nothing with the VPN, DDNS, etc. on the remote side. By "access" do you mean using the app or from the phone at all (i.e., phone browser)?

If the app, do you still get alerts? Do you get any errors on the phone when you try to get to it? Any errors showing in the BI log file? Does the phone appear under Settings > Mobile devices? Same account used? If different, look to see if it's locked out. Assuming that you can get to it from another local client since you're focused on the app.

• I'm talking about accessing using the app. when I try to connect, I get "unable to connect reason: unable to reach server"
• the phone is listed in settings-> mobile devices
• I can't even connect when I'm on the same network segment, on a computer, and use a web browser, with [bi server ip address]: port as the http
• no errors in the log file

Again, I don't think this is a network issue-- I can access the computer through microsoft remote desktop, either when on the local network or when I'm connected to the vpn.

again, all this was working flawlessly for months.. years... no idea what could have happened.

 

[Mike A.]

• I can't even connect when I'm on the same network segment, on a computer, and use a web browser, with [bi server ip address]: port as the http

OK, that's key then. So you can't get to the web interface of BI at all via computer or phone? Or connect via the app either?

Look under BI Status > Connections. Do you see connection attempts listed when you try to log in? If not, then you're not getting to the server. (I think the default is to log connection attempts vs logins but might check that's set under BI Settings > Web server > Advanced)

Look at BI settings > Web server tab. Check that under Local, internal (LAN) address the Adaptor selected is correct. If there are multiple under the pull-down, select the correct one and check the box for Bind exclusively. Make sure the port is right (obviously).

Under the Advanced button, check that there's nothing odd under the Limit access by IP address box.

Also, might try taking the Windows firewall on the BI server down completely as a quick first check. If that fixes it, then you can work back to fixing/creating a more specific rule.

 

[JayBart]

OK, that's key then. So you can't get to the web interface of BI at all via computer or phone? Or connect via the app either?

Look under BI Status > Connections. Do you see connection attempts listed when you try to log in? If not, then you're not getting to the server. (I think the default is to log connection attempts vs logins but might check that's set under BI Settings > Web server > Advanced)

Look at BI settings > Web server tab. Check that under Local, internal (LAN) address the Adaptor selected is correct. If there are multiple under the pull-down, select the correct one and check the box for Bind exclusively. Make sure the port is right (obviously).

Under the Advanced button, check that there's nothing odd under the Limit access by IP address box.

Also, might try taking the Windows firewall on the BI server down completely as a quick first check. If that fixes it, then you can work back to fixing/creating a more specific rule.

• under bi->status-> connections, no connection attempts.
• under the webserver tab, the ip address matches the host computer's ip address. Port is correct.
• nothing weird under advanced -- I think all stock settings; auth required from all connections, use secure session keys, auto-ban after 5 attempts and release after 60 minutes all checked. "use deflate compression" and "http keep-alives" checked.
• blue iris is checked as an app to allow to communicate through the firewall.

Edit -- taking down the firewall completely did the trick.. Didn't even think to do this, since BI was an "allowed" app.. So strange.
Now I need to figure out what the heck is going on. I've added an incoming and outgoing rule in windows firewall for BI, allowing all access, attached to all network profiles, but for some reason still not working. Only works when the private network profile is turned off.

Edit 2 -- for whatever reason, and after working for years, windows defender is blocking BI. I added a rule to open up the port in windows defender ... and everything works. From a security standpoint, I can't see this as an issue -- all ports are closed on the router, and I use a VPN to access BI, any issues with adding a rule in defender opening up BI's port?

 

[Mike A.]

Edit 2 -- for whatever reason, and after working for years, windows defender is blocking BI. I added a rule to open up the port in windows defender ... and everything works. From a security standpoint, I can't see this as an issue -- all ports are closed on the router, and I use a VPN to access BI, any issues with adding a rule in defender opening up BI's port?

Glad that you got it figured out. Maybe an update to Windows/Defender that changed something. Not an issue letting it through on your internal network. Needs to be open if you want to access it.