The default if left unspecified, I think, it to block everything. Just to double check, add this to /etc/hosts.allow

Then restart the sshd daemon.

Also, I notice you were logging in as root. You said you were able to do that from your mac? Some distros also disable root login via ssh by default.

true, I did not see that in your earlier post using root.... You were able to login to your server through ssh on your LAN, just not through the net. right? or am I misunderstanding all that?

Ive added sshd: ALL to that file, and restarted the server.

Yes, I was able to log in as root (thats the only user I can use to perform all the actions I need without typing sudo before every command.)

And I cannot access it from outside the LAN, correct

OK, so what we know is

Your server will allow connections ( You were able to login via your LAN )
Your Router is configured correctly
You can not access your server via the net.

I'm runnin out of ideas here

The only other thing I can think of is your ISP is blocking the ports you are trying to use. Have you read their user agreement to see if they allow servers to run on their network? I know some ISP's block a few ports, but I wouldn't think they would have blocked all the ports, but you never know.

Hopefully someone can else will be able to help

I have solved the problem with your help guys!

I redid the router's port forwarding for single rules, and remove the DMZ host. I also added the rule that you suggested in the hosts.allow file. Another issue I had unrelated to my setup, was that my work's network did not allow those ports!

So I was trying to fix something that I had no control over at work, and that messed up my server settings.

Thank you guys so much, I really appreciate the help and willingness to help =)

glad it's worked out