Testing 'from outside'

I have a simple home network with win2000 machines. and one apache2 server B
at home. I can test the apache2 server from any local machine. I have one
VDSL connection to my ISP.

To access my apache2 server ' from the internet' I need to contact a friend,
who with his/her browser can check, whether my server is accessible and how
the browsing speed is, browser compatibility with actual line connection
(instead of ethernet) etc, I could also do the test in an internet cafee,
public library or similar location once or twice, but that is an awkward
solution to use very often.

Instead of bothering a friend I would like to do the tests myself easily
without needing to invest to another separate internet connection (with a
dial up line e.g.).

This idea failed:
If I have auxiliary homepages A somewhere outside my lan (at a free homepage
space provider, e.g. yahoo), and link from there to my apache2 server
pages B, then my browser at home near B obviously finds the shortest
route(=lan) to the apache server B, not needing to use the VDSL-connection
to fetch the the pages B. Of course. :)

Is there software or other low cost / free means to do this testing? Or any
ideas?

"optimistx" <optimistxPoista@poistahotmail.com> kirjoitti viestissä
news:438ed499$0$9440$f4da826c@news.24online.fi...
> Is there software or other low cost / free means to do this testing? Or
any
> ideas?
Proxy server is obviously one answer. After using google I found some free
proxy servers around the globe and could force my browser to fetch the pages
through some of them, the access log proved the results.
Software called Proxyway made the job easy. (no, this is not an
advertisement :) )

On Thu, 1 Dec 2005 16:51:43 +0200, "optimistx"
<optimistxPoista@poistahotmail.com> wrote:

>"optimistx" <optimistxPoista@poistahotmail.com> kirjoitti viestissä
>news:438ed499$0$9440$f4da826c@news.24online.fi. ..
>>
>> Is there software or other low cost / free means to do this testing?
>> Or any ideas?
>
>Proxy server is obviously one answer. After using google I found some free
>proxy servers around the globe and could force my browser to fetch the pages
>through some of them, the access log proved the results.
>Software called Proxyway made the job easy. (no, this is not an
>advertisement :) )

Like you said, a proxy would be the answer, but it doesn't have
to be some strange proxy somewhere. Fastest is to use your
providers' proxy, if there is one available.
Another possibility: Some routers allow 'NAT loopback' on top of
the NAT one obviously would need with a router. I must admit
they aren't all very good at it though. In a ZyXEL Prestige 650
for example it does work, but it is much slower than a proxy.

I hope this helps...
--
( Kees
)
c[_] The problem with defending the purity of the English language is
that English is about as pure as a cribhouse whore. We don't
just borrow words; on occasion, English has pursued other
languages down alleyways to beat them unconscious and rifle
their pockets for new vocabulary. (James Nicoll) (#182)