Member Avatar for djnzak

Hi

I am new here and am not sure where to post this but anywayz i hope one of you can help me with this.

I have made a site on my own server and since my ISP has blocked port 80 i had to forward the port but now the problem is that my ip address show up. Eg:-

i did mask url but then if some one clicks on another link the address bar still shows www.mydomain.com and more over in google i cant verify it as the url is masked and so i would like to know if there is any possible way to just prevent my ip from showing but at the same time make the file name appear Eg:- www.mydomain.com/filename.html

If anyone knows the way pls do reply back and thanks a lot in advance.

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Summary of the issue and why it happens (brief): is serving HTTP on port 81 because the ISP blocks port 80, so links end up showing an IP:81 address. Framed URL “masking” (the approach you said you dislike) only hides the origin by loading your site in a frame — it breaks proper URLs, search-engine verification and link visibility. As noted, the browser will show whatever host:port it actually connected to; and as suggested, simple router port-forwarding only helps if the ISP actually allows incoming port 80.

Practical, reliable options (tradeoffs):

  • Get port 80 working on your connection (ask ISP / upgrade to a business/static-IP plan). This is the cleanest fix because browsers default to port 80.
  • If ISP blocks 80 or you're behind CGNAT, run a small VPS (or hosted reverse proxy) and point the domain A record to the VPS IP. Have the VPS proxy requests to your home server (or accept an SSH reverse tunnel from your server). This preserves real URLs (no frames) and lets Google fetch verification files.
  • If ISP allows incoming 80 to your modem, forward external 80 → internal 81 in the router. That preserves the domain without requiring :81.

Example reverse-proxy workflow (VPS fronting your home server)

  • On the VPS, use Nginx to accept requests for www.mydomain.com and proxy to your home IP:81:
    server {
  listen 80;
  server_name www.mydomain.com;
  location / {
      proxy_pass http://HOME.PUBLIC.IP:81;
      proxy_set_header Host $host;
      proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-For $proxy_add_x_forwarded_for;
  }
}
  • Or, from the home server create an SSH reverse tunnel to the VPS and have the VPS proxy to localhost: the tunnel avoids opening ports on the ISP side:
    ssh -N -R 127.0.0.1:8080:localhost:81 user@vps.example
# VPS proxies www.mydomain.com -> 127.0.0.1:8080

Notes, verification and security: framed masking prevents Google from verifying ownership reliably; a reverse-proxy or proper DNS A record lets you place the verification file or meta tag and pass checks. Browsers generally do not honor SRV records for HTTP, so DNS cannot specify a port for normal web browsers. Exposing an IP is normal, but keep the server patched, use a firewall, close unused ports and consider logs/privacy implications of using a VPS reverse proxy.

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Member Avatar for John A

I have made a site on my own server and since my ISP has blocked port 80 i had to forward the port but now the problem is that my ip address show up. Eg:-

i did mask url but then if some one clicks on another link the address bar still shows www.mydomain.com and more over in google i cant verify it as the url is masked and so i would like to know if there is any possible way to just prevent my ip from showing but at the same time make the file name appear Eg:- www.mydomain.com/filename.html

I think there's only 2 ways to do it:

  • Cloak the URL like you're doing now, so that you can't see what file you're accessing. This is usually accomplished by creating a page that has a frame, whose source is the URL you're trying to cloak.
  • Point the domain name to your IP address, and then access your page like this: . Otherwise, how is the browser supposed to know that it's got to connect over port 81?

Hope this helps

Member Avatar for djnzak

so is there any way to make my domain service show my domain like when sum1 types in www.mydomain.com because as i mentioned now when someone types www.mydomain.com it shows my ip (as i dont like the cloaking idea) and is it dangerous that my ip is showing in any way can it affect me?

and thx a lot for da reply

Member Avatar for John A

so is there any way to make my domain service show my domain like when sum1 types in www.mydomain.com

I think it's possible, but I think it might be difficult, and I don't know how to do it, sorry.

because as i mentioned now when someone types www.mydomain.com it shows my ip (as i dont like the cloaking idea) and is it dangerous that my ip is showing in any way can it affect me?

It's no more dangerous than simply having a normal domain name. And server's domain name can (in fact, it has to be) looked up using the DNS (Domain Name Service). For example, I can see that Microsoft gateway's IP address is 207.46.130.108. If you input that IP address into your web browser, you'll get Microsoft's homepage.

Member Avatar for djnzak

Thx a lot for all your help.

and if anyone in daniweb.com does come to know how to redirect the domain name directly () please do tell me.

Member Avatar for Spriggan

I think this is totally up to your DNS. check with your DNS host and see if you can set a port to forward to as well as the IP (which you have already done.)

you could also setup port forwarding in your router to make any WAN IP connection coming in on port 80 to your server's IP address recdirect to port 81.

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