How to test if server is working?

[Anti]

I'm running HFS on my wifi laptop:

· Router port-forwarding is set-up.
· The self-test passes.
· http://localhost:8080/Files/ works

However, on the same laptop that HFS is running on, http://xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx:8080/Files/ (ie. using the external IP) doesn't work. I have received various messages in Firefox whilst trying to get it to work: 'connection interrupted', 'contains no data', 'page load error', etc. Once I got something like, 'this address contains a port number which is usually used for web servers; the connection was not allowed for your own security'.

· Is there a reason why the computer running HFS cannot connect to it using the external IP?
· Can I trust the self-test diagnosis?
· All the computers in my apartment connect through the wireless router; can I use any of them to check HFS is working properly? Or do I really need to go to a friends house in order to be sure that it's accessible and working as desired?

Thanks.

[Unknown8063]

Some routers do not support loop-back, meaning you cannot connect to a LAN device using an external IP.  Self-test should be a good indication that your server is reachable from outside your LAN.  You can also have a friend try connecting to your server.

[bacter]

you can trust the self test diagnosis: this test checks that your server is accessible from internet. Inside your lan , you should access your server from other computers with your local ip, something like http://192.168.x.y:8080 .

[rejetto]

all replies above confirmed.
use localhost on the same computer.
use LAN address with LAN computers.
use external address ONLY otherwise.