I get a 'Network error - cannot connect to server' error from behind my firewall - what ports need to be open?
Most firewalls will allow users inside the firewall to initiate connections outwards, so the following will not apply. For users with restrictive firewall policies that prevent outgoing connections or outgoing vnc connections, please read the following:
Currently, CrossBrowserTesting.com sends vnc traffic via port 6020-6100 from one of two up addresses: livetest.crossbrowsertesting.com or crossbrowsertesting.com. The connection is initiated from your pc via the built in java vnc client, so for most firewalls they will automatically allow the outgoing socket connection and response. If it does not, you will need to configure it to allow return traffic for connections through ports 6020-6100 for traffic going to crossbrowsertesting.com domain name. This is VNC traffic running over TCP protocol.
By default, traffic from live testing connects to livetest.crossbrowsertesting.com. Traffic on this livetest.crossbrowsertesting.com runs across a new higher speed networking technology which improves the speed of the live testing sessions. This dns address resolves to various ip addresses, however, based on an analysis of the fastest path. Because these ip addresses are consently changing, it is typically easier set firewall rules to enable the vnc traffic to pass through your firewall to crossbrowsertesting.com (ie 216.37.72.238). So, the two options to connect via the live testing portion of the service are:
Preferred method:
1) Click on the 'Run live test' button on the Test Center tab. At the top left of the live test console, there is a 'live test settings' button. Click it and turn off the 'use high-speed network'. Doing so will leave your connection running across the older traditional path which uses crossbrowsertesting.com as the host name. This always resolves to one static ip address.
2) Add a rule to your firewall allowing connections initiated from inside your firewall on ports 6020-6100 going to 216.37.72.238 (crossbrowsertesting.com) to be completed successfully.
Second method:
If you want to continue to use the high speed network, configure your firewall to allow connections initiated from inside your firewall on ports 6020-6100 to be completed successfully. Do not try to filter on destination ip, as it will continually change. Leave your live testing console set to use the high speed network.
Have questions or need help on this? Call us or write.

