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Zipatile fails to register behind a double-NAT
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I was just setting up my first Zipatile and connected it to my WiFi router which has it's own firewall/NAT and is behind my SP's router with a firewall/NAT. The Zipatile failed to register consistently with an error of "Failed to register, please try again later", which was not helpful at all. It should have more details along with possible troubleshooting steps.
After connecting the Zipatile to my phone's hotspot and retrying to register, it was successful. So, clearly there is some issue with a double-NAT/double firewall with registering.
The same problem 
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Yes, the issue is your double NAT/FW.......... *rolls eyes*
Yes, the issue is your double NAT/FW.......... *rolls eyes*
The problem is this is becoming more and more common. It used to be that ISPs would give you a modem that was a simple pass through, no firewall or NAT. Now they are trying to add more value in the home so they are providing a full fledged router as the modem. However, the typical router that they provide lacks the capabilities that many people want, such as parental controls, QoS, VLAN support and advanced VPNs. So, a second router frequently gets put behind the first that brings in those capabilities.
In more complex configurations, between the two routers, there would be a DMZ for those devices that need to be accessed from outside the home. This allows an even more secure network environment.
So, there are valid cases where these kinds of configurations will occur.
The problem is this is becoming more and more common. It used to be that ISPs would give you a modem that was a simple pass through, no firewall or NAT. Now they are trying to add more value in the home so they are providing a full fledged router as the modem. However, the typical router that they provide lacks the capabilities that many people want, such as parental controls, QoS, VLAN support and advanced VPNs. So, a second router frequently gets put behind the first that brings in those capabilities.
In more complex configurations, between the two routers, there would be a DMZ for those devices that need to be accessed from outside the home. This allows an even more secure network environment.
So, there are valid cases where these kinds of configurations will occur.
I take it that you are in the UK? As that's where I am and indeed most ISPs supply a combined modem/router and refuse to give the login details so you can't use your own modem/router. I left two providers who did this and am now with Virgin media as their modem/router can be set to modem mode and I use my own router.
Some modem/routers allow bridge mode, but if the supplied one doesn't, I advise to switch ISP :-)
I don't think they do this to add value in the home, they most likely do this so their Indian based crappy support team can work of scripts as they only need to know about their crappy modem/router and not other models people can connect. It would solve this issue if they would allow other routers, but then say no support can be given.
So yes this is an issue, but not one Zipato can fix.
I take it that you are in the UK? As that's where I am and indeed most ISPs supply a combined modem/router and refuse to give the login details so you can't use your own modem/router. I left two providers who did this and am now with Virgin media as their modem/router can be set to modem mode and I use my own router.
Some modem/routers allow bridge mode, but if the supplied one doesn't, I advise to switch ISP :-)
I don't think they do this to add value in the home, they most likely do this so their Indian based crappy support team can work of scripts as they only need to know about their crappy modem/router and not other models people can connect. It would solve this issue if they would allow other routers, but then say no support can be given.
So yes this is an issue, but not one Zipato can fix.
I'm actually in the US and currently using Comcast Xfinity. They do let you login to their router and set it up, however they push updates to it and also mandate that you have a "public" wifi available for any of their customers named "xfinity". So, I like to isolate their router from the rest of the network. For my own house, I'm likely to switch to AT&T fiber (gigabit to the house) in the coming month but don't know how they manage their routers yet.
As far as the registration issue goes, I received a second Zipatile and this one fails to register even on the phone hotspot...so I'm beginning to think the version that is installed and shipping from the distributor may just have a registration issue.
For double NAT, I was a software engineer specializing in network engineering so I know there are ways around it like STUN/TURN, etc. Though it is more effort to do that, so many companies choose not to, which is fine with me as long as it's documented what works and doesn't work. My main concern now is that the second one didn't work on my phone hotspot which is not double-NAT, so I'm concerned that there is something else going on.
I'm actually in the US and currently using Comcast Xfinity. They do let you login to their router and set it up, however they push updates to it and also mandate that you have a "public" wifi available for any of their customers named "xfinity". So, I like to isolate their router from the rest of the network. For my own house, I'm likely to switch to AT&T fiber (gigabit to the house) in the coming month but don't know how they manage their routers yet.
As far as the registration issue goes, I received a second Zipatile and this one fails to register even on the phone hotspot...so I'm beginning to think the version that is installed and shipping from the distributor may just have a registration issue.
For double NAT, I was a software engineer specializing in network engineering so I know there are ways around it like STUN/TURN, etc. Though it is more effort to do that, so many companies choose not to, which is fine with me as long as it's documented what works and doesn't work. My main concern now is that the second one didn't work on my phone hotspot which is not double-NAT, so I'm concerned that there is something else going on.
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