Access to Elluminate from a BT Voyager 2110

[oustudent]

Elluminate is the Open University hosted web conferencing virtual classroom tool and I need access for my language course. According to their web site they connect on one of two ports 2187 or 80 for unencrypted sessions and 443 for encrypted.
I set up a static IP on my PC and the port forwarding manually on my BT Voyager 2110 (latest firmware installed) but got an error message. I then tried the PC on DMZ and still got the same message. DMZ and no XP firewall still the same error message.
I then found the programme simpleportforwarding and what a great programme that is. I reset my PCs and ran the programme. What had taken me hours manually took minutes. However although it ran very sweetly and set everything up I still got the same error message. I tried on both a wireless connection PC and a hard wired ethernet connected PC. Here's the message which I'm sick of seeing. Any ideas anybody before I throw the Voyager away?
Connection failed,
Direct call to Direct elive-server2. open. ac. uk:80 failed. java. io. IOException: Server is not a JINX server. HTTP/ 1.0 400 Bad Request .
Direct call to Direct elive-server2. open. ac. uk- 80 failed. java.io.IOException: Server is not a JINX server. HTTP/1. 0 400 Bad Request
Proxy call to http elive-server2. open. ac.uk:So failed.
java. io. IOException: Connection failed - invalid response from server. HTTP/1.0 505

Proxy call to http elive-server2. open. ac. uk:80 failed. java.io.IOException: Connection failed - invalid response from server, HTTP/1.O 505


 

[Shane]

You shouldn't need port forwarding for this (I may be wrong though)
The only time you need port forwarding is if a outside connection is try to connect to you. When you connect to them the connection is them made. So you don't need port forwarding. (They tell you the ports so you can make sure to let your firewall open them)

The java errors you posted shows a problem on their end.
http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.4.2/docs/api/java/io/IOException.html

Or it could be a outdated or corrupt java on your system. The first thing to try is which browser are you using? Try resetting the security back to defaults for the browser.

Then uninstall java from your add/remove programs then reboot. Then download the latest here http://www.java.com/en/download/index.jsp

Reboot again. Then see if that helps you any 

Oh and of course double check anything that might block or get in the way of java, such as antivrius or java script blockers for your browser.

Shane

[Evan]

After updating your Java be sure you remove all the left overs from previous installs.  The easiest way to do this is to use a nice little tool called JavaRa which you can download from http://raproducts.org/

Good luck!

-Evan

[oustudent]

Many thanks for such a prompt reply.
I’ve found out quite a bit about Elluminate since the posting (every coffee break at work I’m reading the net on Elluminate) and I agree that I don’t need the port forwarding.
However the simple port forwarding program was useful for setting up the Windows XP firewall port exceptions.
I tried setting the security back to the defaults on Internet Explorer 8 which I am using but I still got the same error message.
I then uninstalled three Java applications I found in the program list via the windows control panel.
I then installed the latest Java from the site you suggested. I then installed something called Java Web Server that is also required.
Then tried to connect to Elluminate but I still got the same error message.
By this time the second post had appeared and I then uninstalled all things Java and ran the Java cleanup program as suggested. It found loads of Java junk and I deleted the lot.
Re-installed Java and then tried to connect to Elluminate and you’ve guessed it still got the same error message.
I then uninstalled my AVG antivrius product and checked IE 8 to make sure that there were no java script blocking options set. Tried again – same error message. I then removed the firewall completely still no joy.
Keep calm I said to myself, don’t get desperate..
I then went onto the Elluminate product web site and found out after much digging that they have a test room. I tried to log on and hey presto it worked. I noticed that during the log on process Elluminate version 9.xx ran. I put the firewall back, reinstalled AVG and it still worked.
Back to the Open University web site and another try at logging on. However I still got the same error message but I then noticed the the Elluminate version that ran called “the academic edition” was version 8.
Maybe its not me I thought.
I emailed the Open University and sent them a copy of the error message. I made your point that one of the java errors shows a problem on their end. I queried the version 9 and version 8 discrepancy.
I got an interim automated reply and I’m still waiting.
I posted the OU forum and a few other students said that they could log on to OU Elluminate fine. No details of what kit or browser they are using though.
I phoned my ISP and they checked and none of the six Open University IP addresses that host the Elluminate service were blocked.
Final thoughts.
I’ve bought a simple ADSL USB modem so that I can take the Wireless Router out of the equation. However I can’t install it yet as my daughter made it quite clear that internet access is a matter of life and death to her so I need a time when she’s not at home.
I’ve downloaded Firefox and I will get rid of IE and try that in conjunction with another Java cleanse and reload job.
Any other ideas would be most welcome. Hope this post isn’t too boring.

[Evan]

I think you've done a very good job with being thorough, both in what you've done and how well you've kept up with it.  You've elimated quite a lot and found some discrepencies (such as the version 8 vs. version 9).  At this point you should definately try using Firefox and/or another computer to help narrow things down more.  Firefox and Chrome (from Google) all have much much better Java engines so that should definately help.  It will also help a lot to use a clean/fresh web browser.

At this point I'm just waiting to hear how your next steps go.

As far as your daughter and internet being "life or death"...whatever happened to TV and Video Games?    I guess this is the generation after "whatever happened to playing outside with your friends" 

Good luck!

-Evan

[Shane]

Also see if you can try it from another computer as well to help determine if the problem is on your computer.
The site may be working for others, but as you said You logged into v9 server fine, the v8 is not working. And the errors your getting show this as they are server errors.

I am curious to what their tech support has to say. Hopefully someone who knows it will answer and not someone reading answers from a book 

There has to be a reason v8 is trying to load when the test room is v9 and works.

Shane

[rr38]

hi oustudent

i am also an OU student just started this year actually, i am also facing the same prob trying to connect using the elluminate program and the same error mssg keeps showing up its really frustrating some how i feel better that i am not the only one going through this as i had thought it was the way i had installed it or some setting i had to change, i have sent a copy of the error to my moderator and so far no response. have u gotten any where so far in fixing the prob? i really have to thank u for not making me wast more time than i have already spent on this i am still trying though spending every spare time i have on the internet getting any info on elluminate and by way i tried the ver9, went through fine ,sorry for not bieng of any help i just thought it better to lett u know u r not the only 1  going throuhg this.

any response from my moderator i will surly give feedback

good luck


 

[gkb573]

Hi oustudent and rr38 & anyone else listening

I too have the same problem with Elluminate at the OU (java.io.IOException Server is not a JINX server etc) and have pretty much followed the same steps as oustudent, to no avail. My ISP is Virgin, I'm using a Sony Vaio and Vista Business. I have tried connecting via another ISP and have gained access successfully via my office pc (and the LAN). I'm a bit desparate as the OU help desk have not come up with anything that has worked. Any further advice or feedback from any of you on a resolution is greatly appreciated

[Shane]

Able to connect from another ISP? I wonder if it is simply a DNS problem?

Would any of you mind giving something a try? Instead of using your ISP's DNS use opendns or Google.

www.opendns.com
208.67.222.222
208.67.220.220

http://code.google.com/speed/public-dns/
8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4

DNS is what resolves a web address name to its correct IP.
also on your system open a command window and type in
ipconfig /flushdns

I guess my aim here is to make sure the systems simply are not pointing to an old server of theirs. Its a long shot but worth a try.

Shane

[rr38]

hi shane

u said system is  pointing to an old server of theirs who's? OU or the ISP? any way thanx for the effort u r putting but i did change from my ISP's DNS and used opendns i also typed ipconfig /flushdns in cmd tried connecting, same annoying error besides dont u think its from some proxy server not a DNS
anyway

thanx 

[Shane]

I just wanted to make sure. When it worked from one ISP but not on another that was the first thing to pop into my head.

I forgot to ask though, was it the same computer from home to the office? Or was it different computers?

My goal is to try and find what is the common factor in all this and fix it

Shane

[gkb573]

Hi Shane

sorry if I caused a confusion, I wasn't specific enough.

I tried connecting with my laptop via another ISP (to try and rule out that it was my ISP) and didn't succeed either.

I was able to connect with my office PC via our office LAN - I mentioned this as it might rule out "operator error".

This is the error message I'm getting (very similar to OU student, not quite the same). At that point the laptop has downloaded the elluminate software opened JAVA and clearly talked to the the OU server in some way, but then the connection fails at the final hurdle.

<<Connection failed.
Direct call to Direct elive-server2.open.ac.uk:80 failed.
java.io.IOException: Server is not a JINX server.
Software caused connection abort: recv failed
Direct call to Direct elive-server2.open.ac.uk:80 failed.
java.io.IOException: Server is not a JINX server.
Software caused connection abort: recv failed
Proxy call to http elive-server2.open.ac.uk:80 failed.
java.io.IOException: Connection refused
Proxy call to http elive-server2.open.ac.uk:80 failed.
java.net.SocketException:Software caused connection abort: recv failed
Try again?  >>

Under the direction of the OU help desk, I have uninstalled & reinstalled JAVA and done a number of other things but no joy. Like the others posting here, I was also able to connect to the test configuration at the Elluminate site.

many thanks for any further ideas

[Shane]

Actually this is a perfect chance to find out whats going on.

If you don't mind helping out of course

Why it is perfect is you have 1 machine that won't connect and one that will. So now we need to find what is different on the machines to help pinpoint the problem.

Can you get some info for me?

On both computers:
What version of Windows & Service pack?
What version Internet Explorer?
What antivirus?
What version of Java?
What are the Internet Explorer settings set to? (this one might be hard as there are a lot of settings)
Has the HOSTS file been modified? (C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts open in notepad)

The goal I am aiming for is to find out what the differences are between the 2 computers. This will help in knowing in what areas to look. 

Shane

[rr38]

hi all

well i have gotten elluminate successfully connecting, what i did was i changed my ISP 's i got this idea from  gkb573 so thanx   

[Shane]

So it may just be an ISP issue after all.
gkb573 let me know your input

Shane