Run a firewall test.

If the indicated ports fail to connect, you may need to open specific port(s) on your firewall.

Since firewalls provide security for your network system, it is recommended when possible, that you work with your Information Technology department or someone familar with firewalls and ports. Granting access to ports you need and blocking ports that are not needed is very important for network security.

The following is a description of how YackPack connects using specific ports and IP addresses:

YackPack uses MacroMedia Flash to connect your computer to the YackPack servers by opening the ports it needs. If a port the Macromedia Flash uses is blocked, your browser may fail to connect to YackPack.

Firewalls provide the first line of defense against Internet security threats. The job of a firewall is to block unwanted traffic to and from your network and at the same time, allow traffic you do want.   

The YackPack application utilizes the Macromedia Flash Media Server for streaming audio and data to and from your computer running the Macromedia Flash client software module available at http://www.macromedia.com .

By default, your YackPack session will initially connect to a web server at IP address: 216.93.161.166 on port 80.  When messages are sent and retrieved, your YackPack session will connect to the Macromedia Flash Media Server at IP address: 216.93.161.165 on port 1935 using the RTMP (Real Time Messaging Protocol).

For users with browsers that use the Macromedia Flash Player version 6, the YackPack application will only attempt to use Port: 1935 to connect to its RTMP host.

For users with browsers that use the Macromedia Flash Player version 7 or higher, the Yackpack application will first attempt to connect using port 1935.  If a connection is not made, the player will then attempt to connect through port 80 and port 443.  Since web servers generally use port 80 and 443.

If you have a Stateful Inspection firewall, traffic will be inspected, and non-HTTP traffic may get rejected.  This could prevent communication over RTMP even when the proper port is open.  Please consult the documentation for your particular firewall, to determine how to properly configure it to allow RTMP traffic. It is also possible that a computer is behind a firewall that does not allow outgoing TCP/IP connections on the default RTMP port (1935).

Attempts to connect to the YackPack Macromedia Flash Communication Server using RTMP through a proxy server may fail because most proxy servers only negotiate HTTP traffic.  This is being resolved by Macromedia.

For further reading please refer to these Macromedia articles:

http://www.macromedia.com/go/tn_16499

http://www.macromedia.com/go/tn_16631

*This page is for informational purposes only.  Network security involving firewalls should be done by qualified personnel. This information is subject to change.