Frequently Asked Questions

A: Yes, but you will have to configure the router so it lets you receive connections from the outside. To configure your router please refer your router documentation, because there is no general method.
Anyway, it is likely that you will have to choose a fixed port for HFS. To have a fixed port, just manually input the port in the port box and save options. HFS will always re-use the selected port.
Once you succeed, maybe you could meet another problem: if your router IP address is dynamic, you should change the URL manually each time. You can avoid this just by using a service that links a domain name to your IP address. For more info about this procedure, please refer the apposite faq.

A: Sure, but you will have to configure the firewall to let HFS get connections.
Many software firewall can be configured by executable file: they will let pass all that is coming from/to that application.
Other firewalls will require you to configure a specific port, so you will have to choose a fixed port for HFS. Just switch the server off, edit the port box and save the options. HFS will always re-use the selected port.

A: There is no general method. I will list here methods for some firewalls, as they gets documented

• Windows XP firewall (written by 326)
  
  First, go to Network Connections in whatever ways you want to (one is opening it in Control Panel)
  Then see which connection is Firewalled --> a little Padlock icon on the top right
  After you have found it, right click it go to Properties
  Go to Advanced
  Then at the lower right Settings...
  If you using Port 80 which is the Web Server (HTTP), just check the tick box of it (be warn that some ISP is blocking port 80, so it might not work on port 80)
  If you are not using port 80 you have to Add... it yourself
  Description of service: HFS
  Name or IP address: "You computer name using by windows"
  External/Internal Port number for this server: "Any Port you set your HFS to"
  Click OK then it is done
  
  You might have to reboot or restart the connection to take effect of the setting

A: Sometimes you can buy a static address from your ISP. If you are not interested or unable to get this option, you can try using a service that links a domain name to your IP address.
There are several free services. I used CJB for a long time, and it was free and very handy, because you can update the link just bookmarking a webpage. If you know other free service you would like to see listed here, just leave me a line.
Once you get your fixed address, if HFS does not let you select it from the list, just do Menu -> IP address -> Custom.

A: Just switch the server off, now you can edit the port box.
Note: to switch the server off, you have to click on the button with label ON.

A: there are several possibilities

1. a firewall is blocking your friend. winXP has one, which by default blocks a software like HFS (a server).
2. your internet connection is not working properly
3. you are working behind a proxy/router system, then the address you are giving out is not reachable by your friend