File Manager applet in Webmin works only with LAN IP

[kayjaygee_13]

Alright, I don't understand why the File Manager applet behaves the way it does, but my problem is solved. Here's what I found.

When I'm browsing the Internet on my home network with my laptop, I can connect to https://192.168.0.100:10000 and everything in Webmin works flawlessly, including the File Manager and SSH2 Login applets. However, if I log in to Webmin using https://fred.homelinux.org:10000, the File Manager applet does not open, but everything else in Webmin works perfectly.

Today, I took my laptop to work and connected using https://fred.homelinux.org:10000 and EVERYTHING worked, even File Manager.

Apparently, when connected to the same network as the server, the server IP needs to be used to log in to Webmin. Using the host name somehow causes File Manager to malfunction. It doesn't make sense.

[kevinthecomputerguy]

Interesting, I don’t have that problem, but I have a local dns server.
Did you try editing the hosts file on the windows computers?
Something like
192.168.0.100 fred
Also, did you try leaving off the domain name, https://fred:10000
I tend to use the IP, or a bookmark, even though I know the name, so I agree with your solution.
-Kev

[kayjaygee_13]

Thanks for the help Kev. Adding "192.168.0.100 fred.homelinux.org" to the hosts files on my laptop fixed the problem. Now the File Manager applet works whether I use the IP, the entire host name (fred.homelinux.org) or just "fred".

The one step that I ignored in your guide is assigning a static IP to my server using the instructions on page 49. I used DHCP on my router coupled with the server's MAC address to assign a static IP. Could this be the reason for this issue?

[kevinthecomputerguy]

Awesome! this will be a realy good fix for a small network.
Yes, the DHCP reservation can totally be the culprit, it will over-ride some of your local dns settings the guide has you do.

But DNS issues are a pain, change the host files on the (2) windows computer and run away :- )
keep up the good work man! spread the Webmin love
-Kev

[kayjaygee_13]

One last question Kev. I just thought about this, but if I have the entry "192.168.0.100 fred.homelinux.org" in my laptop's hosts file, wouldn't I face a problem when trying to connect from external networks since that host name is now bound to an internal IP? This might a dumb question, but I'm not sure I understand the function of the hosts files completely.

[kevinthecomputerguy]

Use only the name fred in the hosts file, and leave off the domain name.
When at home, type https://fred:10000
When away type https://fred.homelinux.org:10000

You can also totally lie in the host file. You can put
192.168.0.100 hotchick

And when at home, use https://hotchick:10000
and when away, use the real name.

But thats just fun, the first suggestion should work.
-Kev

[kayjaygee_13]

Ah I see. Thank you very much for all the help. I really appreciate it.

[kevinthecomputerguy]

Anytime.
You know you want to name your server hotchick !
:- )
Take it easy
-Kev

[MrCrumbly]

Hi there

An interesting observation sometime after the event - but somebody might have an answer. A windows network 192.168.100... DHCP behind a router and firewall operates webmin perfectly if I put in the IP address of the external domain. (I was using Chrome browser)

A Samsung Chromebook (last year's model) will also run webmin but when it comes to Filemanager it complains there is no extension to run the app - maybe a permissions problem?

The page tries to load a java applet called filemanager and then complains that chromebook doesn't support java. I thought the webserver was supposed to do that? Surely chromebook wouldn't run Java client side? The idea is not to setup software on the client device if I understand it correctly.

I have no access to a hosts file on this computer. It is connected to a 3G modem 192.168.100.1

I have had no problem connecting with Shift-Edit to the new site, so I will probably be able to manage when I know where everything is.

The chromebook will run the bash shell with ssh so I have command line access to the server. Sorry the chromebook's not Ubuntu, but it is a Unix os under the hood. I am trying to set up my development environment totally cloud based without recourse to a conventional laptop or lan based desktop.

Thanks
Mr Crumbly