[osborn4]

I recently installed an http://www.iphantom.com/residentialFilteringProducts.html to block certian web sites and access times for our home network.

The trouble is, when I block web proxies, it also blocks all direct IP addressing. So the TIVO can't "phone home" and get updates.

Now, I can put ip addresses, as well as URLs in the "allow" list. But TIVO seems to keep seeking a difference address. And I can't put all 255 possiblities of 204.176.49.* in the allowed list. And they don't allow wild cards.

Does anyone know if there is a way to force a TIVO to use just one of the IP addresses, rather than randomly picking one?

Or any other ideas how to deal with this?

Thanks.

 

[DrewTivo]

I recently installed an http://www.iphantom.com/residentialFilteringProducts.html to block certian web sites and access times for our home network.

The trouble is, when I block web proxies, it also blocks all direct IP addressing. So the TIVO can't "phone home" and get updates.

Now, I can put ip addresses, as well as URLs in the "allow" list. But TIVO seems to keep seeking a difference address. And I can't put all 255 possiblities of 204.176.49.* in the allowed list. And they don't allow wild cards.

Does anyone know if there is a way to force a TIVO to use just one of the IP addresses, rather than randomly picking one?

Or any other ideas how to deal with this?

Thanks.

Can you attach the tivo to the cablem modem before the iboss device? Can you except certain machines/MAC addresses from the iBoss?

 

[osborn4]

I thought about putting another router between the cable modem and the iBoss device, but it would have to be wireless and so I'd really have to lock it down so only the Tivo and Vonage could get to it.

I haven't dug into selective blocking by MAC address, but it has crossed my mind.

 

[DrewTivo]

I thought about putting another router between the cable modem and the iBoss device, but it would have to be wireless and so I'd really have to lock it down so only the Tivo and Vonage could get to it.

I haven't dug into selective blocking by MAC address, but it has crossed my mind.

You seem to be going through a lot of hoops for a home network . . . I'm kind of assuming you're creating a neighborhood hotspot that you don't want people to use for bad (file sharing, porn, etc.) purposes. Maybe just give up on the generosity?

 

[Dennis Wilkinson]

You probably want to force the TiVo to use a static IP address. Depending on your router, you might be able to make the router do this for you. Typically, there'd be a table where you could enter the TiVo's MAC address (which should be visible on Messages & Settings > Settings > Phone & Network) and enter an IP address to hand it. You'd need to look at your router's docs to know how to do that.

If the router can't do that, you can make the TiVo pick one by turning off your DHCP server and then reconfiguring the TiVo per TiVo's instructions, then turning the DHCP server back on.

You do want to be sure to pick a static IP that isn't an address the DHCP server might out.

 

[phantomtech]

Hello Osborn4. I am with Phantom Technologies. I will look into the domain that Tivo is going out to for updates. In the meantime, what you can do is block all traffic and in the reports page, you should see tivo being blocked when it goes out for its updates. If you copy that violation and put it into the allowed, you should be ok from there on. I will follow up though.
Thanks

 

[phantomtech]

Hello Osborn4. I am with Phantom Technologies. I will look into the domain that Tivo is going out to for updates. In the meantime, what you can do is block all traffic and in the reports page, you should see tivo being blocked when it goes out for its updates. If you copy that violation and put it into the allowed, you should be ok from there on. I will follow up though.
Thanks

 

[osborn4]

You seem to be going through a lot of hoops for a home network . . . I'm kind of assuming you're creating a neighborhood hotspot that you don't want people to use for bad (file sharing, porn, etc.) purposes. Maybe just give up on the generosity?

No. I've got teen boys.

 

[osborn4]

You probably want to force the TiVo to use a static IP address. Depending on your router, you might be able to make the router do this for you. Typically, there'd be a table where you could enter the TiVo's MAC address (which should be visible on Messages & Settings > Settings > Phone & Network) and enter an IP address to hand it. You'd need to look at your router's docs to know how to do that.

If the router can't do that, you can make the TiVo pick one by turning off your DHCP server and then reconfiguring the TiVo per TiVo's instructions, then turning the DHCP server back on.

You do want to be sure to pick a static IP that isn't an address the DHCP server might out.

The TIVO's IP is not the problem. It's the "phone home" IP, 204.176.49.*. If I could get it to use a consistent IP to connect to, I could allow that.

 

[osborn4]

Hello Osborn4. I am with Phantom Technologies. I will look into the domain that Tivo is going out to for updates. In the meantime, what you can do is block all traffic and in the reports page, you should see tivo being blocked when it goes out for its updates. If you copy that violation and put it into the allowed, you should be ok from there on. I will follow up though.
Thanks

That would be great. The trouble it, they are not using a URL, they are using a direct IP, so it is being blocked as a web proxy. I have allowed about all of the addresses from 204.176.49.10 to 204.176.49.36 and it seems to be doing OK.

But I have seen reported addresses outside of this range, and I don't want to add all 255 addresses.

I don't even like adding all of these, every time the box gets reset (which is another problem I'm trying to work with PhantomTech on).

I have worked with PhantomTech support by email and their best work around is to put another router before the iBoss for the TIVO. Not really an option.

 

[DrewTivo]

No. I've got teen boys.

I might propose the same solution . . .

 

[Dennis Wilkinson]

The TIVO's IP is not the problem. It's the "phone home" IP, 204.176.49.*. If I could get it to use a consistent IP to connect to, I could allow that.

There's no way to set the rule up such that the TiVo's IP address is allowed somewhat broader access to the outside world? (i.e. you'd still be opening up those 255 addresses, but only to the specific IP assigned to the TiVo.)

 

[bthomson23]

All you have to do is identify the tivo through the Identify computers link on the home page. Then set it to have "No Filtering Rules". It does it by MAC address, and this should bypass tell the iBoss to bypass all filtering completely. I do this with my Tivo.

 

[osborn4]

There's no way to set the rule up such that the TiVo's IP address is allowed somewhat broader access to the outside world? (i.e. you'd still be opening up those 255 addresses, but only to the specific IP assigned to the TiVo.)

I wouldn't mind opening all 255 addresses to everyone. I don't want to type in all 255. And I believe I'm limited to 255 exceptions, total and there are other sites I need to override in addition to the TIVO proxies.

 

[osborn4]

All you have to do is identify the tivo through the Identify computers link on the home page. Then set it to have "No Filtering Rules". It does it by MAC address, and this should bypass tell the iBoss to bypass all filtering completely. I do this with my Tivo.

I'll have to dig in further to see if I can find this. I haven't found the ability to filter or not by MAC address yet.

I'll have to poke around and see if I can find that.

 

[rocko]

I'll have to dig in further to see if I can find this. I haven't found the ability to filter or not by MAC address yet.

I'll have to poke around and see if I can find that.

The iBoss doc talks about different profiles for different computers. As far as the iBoss is concerened your TiVo is just another computer so you should be able to deal with it that way.

You didn't say which model iBoss you had. Maybe we can help you read the documentation.

Edit: I just followed the URL you posted. Doh! I'll have a look.

 

[rocko]

I'll have to dig in further to see if I can find this. I haven't found the ability to filter or not by MAC address yet.

I'll have to poke around and see if I can find that.

Looks like you need to use "Bypass filtering rules" for the TiVo.

Page 42

iBoss™ Home Identify Computers
To identify a computer, you may enter a Computer Nickname for the computer. When clicking on the
button "Identify/Edit This Computer", the ID/MAC address is automatically entered for you. When
clicking on "Advanced Add" you my enter in the ID/MAC address for the computer you are identifying.
You may either set the Apply Filtering to "Yes, Use Profile 1* Rules" with on of the 5 filtering
profiles or "No, Bypass Filtering Rules" for the computer you are identifying. When finished click
the "Save" button. If you want to cancel your changes click the "Cancel" button.
*The "Yes, Use Profile 1 Rules" will show the assigned name of the profile.
Note: Computers with filtering rules applied will be filtered by the iBoss™ Home. Computers with
filtering rules bypassed will bypass the iBoss™ Home.
42

 

[osborn4]

Looks like you need to use "Bypass filtering rules" for the TiVo.

Thanks. I looked through the manual, but I can't figure out how to get TO the identify computer page in the iBoss control panel.

Once I get there, this should be exactly what I am looking for. :up:

 

[rocko]

Thanks. I looked through the manual, but I can't figure out how to get TO the identify computer page in the iBoss control panel.

Once I get there, this should be exactly what I am looking for. :up:

Looks like "My Preferences" - "Identify Computers".

 

[osborn4]

Thanks. I figured out my problem. You can't "Identify Computers" if you have IP address sharing on.

I turned the IP address sharing off (not sure why I had it on) and the Identify Computers option showed up.

Thanks much. This should help a lot!