Can't access my website externally and I cannot figure out why.

[norfolk_uk]

I have Apache running on a Raspberry Pi, hosting a website. On my LAN I can access the website no problem. Outside of my LAN it times out. I am happy that Apache is working correctly and that UFW (Uncomplicated Firewall) is letting the right stuff in and out (because I can access the website from the LAN no problem).

I have a static IP from Vodafone and the DNS is correct (if I use the IP:port number I still cannot access the site externally).

My ISP is Vodafone and I am using their router (THG3000). I have set the web server a static IP and I have port forwarded ports 80 and 443.

I should also say that with the same equipment I have successfully hosted a site from home before.

I assume that the traffic is not being port forwarded, despite port forwarding being set up. I have also put the web server in the DMZ to no avail and even turned the router's firewall off completely for a minute to test, also to no avail.

I have spoken to Vodafone who confirmed that they do not block port 80.

At this point I am at a loss to explain it. Does anyone have any ideas please?

[norfolk_uk]

Right a bit of an update:

As I dig deeper into this it gets worse and worse. I have spent about 8 hours over 3 days talking to Vodafone, repeatedly repeating myself. Neither 1st or 2nd line (there is no 3rd line when it comes to Vodafone broadband customers.) really have any clue about port forwarding or whether it should be working or not.

I found somebody online who had exactly the same issue with BT and their hub and bizarrely a 3rd party router. Surely if Vodafone are not blocking a particular port(s) then the only way they can block port forwarding would be on the router itself?

In the end they suggested transferring to Vodafone Business broadband. At this point I don't have much faith that port forwarding would work there either. Does anybody have any experience of Vodafone Business broadband?

[Jayach]

Thanks for updating us, I was wondering how you got on.

As I don't really have a need to port forward I thought I'd try a test.

As I said the only thing i thought needed port forwarding was my torrent client, but it opens it's own ports.

So I turned off UPnP, with the intention of seeing if I could its forward its ports manually.

But, the torrent client seems to work fine without any ports forwarded, so I'm leaving UPnP off to see if I notice any problems.

The only reason I was able to carry out the test on port 80, is that there is "something" listening on port 80 on my laptop, but I have no idea what it is.

[timdf911]

I have an Ultra hub pro II running and the port forwarding is working fine for ports 80 and 443.

Service was activated on 9th July 2023 - I'd be severely ##~##ed if they disabled port forwarding.

[CrimsonLiar]

As there can be legitimate reasons for householders to port forward or use DMZ features, disabling them ought to be putting Vodafone in hot water!  It kinda means that anyone with an issue could rightly claim that the equipment is "not fit for purpose"!

The only other thing I can say right now is WOW!

[norfolk_uk]

How can I dispense of the Vodafone router AND avoid a double NAT situation? I have fibre to the cabinet and don't think fibre to the premises is coming anytime soon so I don't/can't have an ONT?

[Ripshod]

The choice is either a router with a combined dsl modem, or more preferred a router and a seperate modem. I had great success with a £12 Huawei hg612 openreach modem from ebay. 

[Jayach]

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@Ripshod wrote:

Can you check port 80 and 443, I can see vodafone deliberately blocking them. 

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Was that query to me? When the pictures are moderated you will see that I was using port 80.