How about running a small jsp app on some server , and when ever the target machien start up send our ipadd to it.. we can query that server to get our current ip add & establish a conection. but even if i get the proper ip add can we get thru the ip masquerading techniques of the isp ?? does anyone know about a server that offers mysql & jsp support for free ? with subdomain name for our website.. ? like
www.myName.domain.org or something ??

Hi @ all.

I once had a FTP-server running and did not have an account @ some DNS-provider. I had some webspace providing PHP and MySQL for free and then I stored the server's IP into the db everytime it reconnected. It's like I've written some DNS-service myself Other clients opened a site showing the ftp-link that was generated by the data of the db...
However, I definetely recommend the DNS-method. The server updates its IP-Address on the DNS-server so that your registered domain now points to the server's IP address. Whenever you now start you client from whereever, you connect to your domain and do not even think of handling some IP stuff. You just connect to the server on that IP and that's all. That's easier, faster and safer than spreading your IP all over the web.

So far, Gary

The use of IGMP + the dynamic DNS service is a possible way to go...if it is just for you and a select few others.

If it was to be a public service of some sort, I would look into an archetecture where the client connects to internet, sends it's current IP to the server, the act itself of transmitting the ip could serve multiple purposes, such as being added to IGMP, i.e. a "wake-up" of sorts. IGMP will get you around the multicast issue though.

Hope there was some help in that,

Verbal

I'm sort of interested in doing a similar thing.
May I ask you how do that?
By serial / parallel / USB ?
TIA

well this is totally up to you how you want to do it. Any of the interfaces can be used to achieve this.