I've been running an Ubuntu server for about 6 months now with no problems. I'm able to access it remotely using SSH, VNC, and FTP. The server sits behind a Netgear Wireless router (WGT624).

I moved to a new place about a month ago and switched my ISP from Roadrunner high speed cable to Earthlink high speed cable.

I can login to the Ubuntu server from any machine connected to my network (wireless or wired) through SSH, FTP, VNC. It works if I type in my domain name, my IP address, and 192.168.0.100 (server address). I can also do this from the server itself using localhost.

When I try the same from a machine outside of my network, I can still connect using FTP, SSH, VNC, but I don't get far. For example, I'll login fine using SSH. I enter my U/P. I get my prompt. When I type 'ls' the screen display one line of text, hang for a while then disconnects. When using FTP, the machine logs in fine, but locks when trying to display a directory. When using VNC, it logs in fine, but locks when trying to load the page display.

The Netgear router seems to be working fine, since you can still access it locally. But when trying to get into my network remotely, things really get messed up.

Has anyone else ever experienced anything like this?

Thanks in advance.

UPDATE: I just noticed that I can't ping my server from outside the network. I also noticed that I can access the homepage of my web server, but no page beyond that. It just locks. I can, however, login to SSH remotely, run the ping command (ping 192.168.0.1) <-- the netgear, and things work great! No lockups. Only broken when I do a directory listing.

I also tried running the 'mail' command. It locks up after listing the first line. It seems to lock everytime I try to display lots of informatin to the screen. Of course, if I run 'nano' things work just fine.

Sounds like your ISP is blocking connections that don't originate from inside your network. Maybe you should call their techincal support and ask.

That is a strange one. I'm running an Ubuntu box that I SSH/VNC into all the time. It's been up for at least 6 months (Warty Warthog days).

I also have Earthlink over Cable (TimeWarner). I have no issues like this.

I think the issue resides in the netgear router. When on your local network you are only dealing with the switch end of the device, you not going across the NAT.

I bet something like excessive ARP traffic on the outside of the router is causing it to choke. But that's just my guess.

Any way to throw in another firewall to test? Perhaps some bootable Linux firewall solution or Smoothwall on a spare box. What about publishing the Ubunto system directly to the internet? Any strange listings in the logs?

Best of luck!

MrKnisely