LAN plugin: New beta version available

[ghisler(Author)]

A new beta version of the LAN plugin is available now:
https://plugins.ghisler.com/beta/tcandroidlan207b7.apk
(edit: changed to beta 7)

Some people had problems connecting by NAME to servers in the LAN. This beta plugin now contains the following improvements:
1. The plugin now does its own name server and NETBIOS lookups (and shows that in the progress dialog)
2. The various lookups are done in separate threads, all at the same time: DNS lookup, Wins server lookup (if configured), and one NETBIOS lookup per detected network connection (e.g. WLAN, LAN etc.).
3. NETBIOS may return multiple IP addresses. The plugin now uses the first IP address which is in the same subnet as one of the network interfaces of your device
4. Logging of what is going on for better analysis

It would be great if some people could try the plugin (even if LAN connections work with the current version), and post the results here.

In case of problems, you can enable logging as follows
1. Go to the home screen
2. Click on the first "SD-Card" link
3. Create subdir named ".TotalCommander" without the double quotes, but the uppercase "T" and "C"
4. Inside ".TotalCommander", long tap on ".."
5. Choose "New text file"
6. Enter name: log.txt and click OK

[Riccardo]

A new beta version of the LAN plugin is available now:
https://plugins.ghisler.com/beta/tcandroidlan207b2.apk

Ich habe die Beta installiert, obwohl die Normalversion des LAN-Plugins gut funktioniert.

Die Beta funktioniert mit den "alten" Einstellungen jedenfalls nicht.
Meldung:
Verbindungsfehler!
Gemeldeter Fehler:
Failed to Connect:
0.0.0.0<00>/192.168.1.200

In case of problems, you can enable logging as follows
1. Go to the home screen
2. Click on the first "SD-Card" link
3. Create subdir named ".TotalCommander" without the double quotes, but the uppercase "T" and "C"
4. Inside ".TotalCommander", long tap on ".."
5. Choose "New text file"
6. Enter name: log.txt and click OK

Ich habe das so eingerichtet. Die Datei log.txt bleibt jedoch immer leer.

Danach habe ich die Beta deinstalliert und die Version 2.06 wieder installiert.

Leider funktionieren die LAN-Zugriffe jetzt ebenfalls NICHT.
Das ist ziemlich ärgerlich! Was kann ich tun?

Die alten Einstellungen funktionieren mit der 2.o6 offensichtlich leider nicht mehr.


Problem gelöst!
==========

Ursache war, dass das SmartPhone über den Gastzugang ins WLAN eingelogged war. -SORRY-

Jetzt funktioniert auch die neue Beta offensichtlich bestens.


Gruß Richard

[ghisler(Author)]

Interessant, also konnte das Plugin zwar die Adresse über den Gastzugang ermitteln, aber nicht verbinden...

[jerestahl]

The update did not change anything. I believe I had downloaded it previously but I tried again.

[77kdv77]

in 2.06 it was possible to scan entire network using / as server name with empty username or Guest. in 2.07b2 this possibility is broken. plugin scans network, but but now it is necessery to use // as server name and it can't open computers found

2.06
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIWdytLqRKo

2.07b2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGeMcZAF2FQ

[ghisler(Author)]

Thanks for the info, I wasn't aware of this feature. I will try to support it again.

[ghisler(Author)]

in 2.06 it was possible to scan entire network using / as server name with empty username or Guest. in 2.07b2 this possibility is broken.

Please try beta 3, it should work again:
https://plugins.ghisler.com/beta/tcandroidlan207b3.apk

[77kdv77]

thanks! it works

[JeffCommander]

Please try beta 3, it should work again:

I am having a problem, and I don't know if this is the appropriate place to post.

Up until today I was using the TC LAN plugin on Android to access the fileshares on my home network with no problem for about eight months. Then today when I clicked on one of my saved connections, after a long delay I would get a popup with the following error:

LAN
___________
Error Connecting to server!
Reported error:
Failed to connect: server/198.105.251.210

Where 'server' is the server name on my network that I assigned the connection for.

I just installed the latest apk here and now I get a slightly different message:


LAN
___________
Error Connecting to server!
Reported error:
Failed to connect: 0.0.0.0<00>/198.105.251.210

I don't know what "198.105.251.210" is, and it is not on my LAN.
A whois query for that address shows something for "Search Guide Inc".

I've torn apart my LAN and rebuilt it, and no other machines on my network are having any problem. Verified router settings.

If I make a connection from TC on Android to a server on my LAN using it's IP address, everything works fine.

TC with the LAN plugin on my Windows Mobile Pocket PC has no problem connecting to a named server on my LAN.

Help?

[ghisler(Author)]

Apparently the server name you used for your server resolves to 198.105.251.210. Maybe you used a name which has been registered on the public Internet in the meantime?

[JeffCommander]

Apparently the server name you used for your server resolves to 198.105.251.210. Maybe you used a name which has been registered on the public Internet in the meantime?

I don't think so.

It happens if I try to connect to any of the 4 PCs on my home network. And I've renamed one to a name that is not registered anywhere "zzzztest", and I get the same behavior.

And it the problem does not occur when I connect using the LAN plugin in Total Commander in the Windows Mobile version on my Pocket PC.

Other possibilities?

[ghisler(Author)]

The latest beta of the plugin now sends a SMB name resolution AND a DNS name resolution request at the same time, and uses what is returned first. I can only guess that your DNS server (in the router) returns this address - it is not hard coded into the plugin...

[JeffCommander]

The latest beta of the plugin now sends a SMB name resolution AND a DNS name resolution request at the same time, and uses what is returned first. I can only guess that your DNS server (in the router) returns this address - it is not hard coded into the plugin...

Yes, I think I am seeing the problem now. There seems to be some sort of a race condition between SMB and DNS. I am now seeing random success about 20% of the time when trying to access my networked PCs using their server names. Random. This is still only happening from the TC LAN Plugin on my Android device. All of my other devices can reach each other inside my LAN with no errors, to include the TC LAN Plugin on my Windows Mobile device.

I just did an experiment at my router. I overrode my ISP name server addresses with those from OpenDNS. And sure enough, when the failure mode now happens, the IP address in the error message changes!

LAN
___________
Error Connecting to server!
Reported error:
Failed to connect: 0.0.0.0<00>/67.215.65.132

That IP is registered to OpenDNS.

Suggestion: Would it be possible to add a setting in the TC LAN Plugin to disable DNS name lookup? Or not do a DNS name request for a server name that is not local (servername versus servername.com)? Most users probably are only interested in accessing servers on their local network. Maybe separate checkboxes for enabling SMB and DNS.

Thanks for your help and assistance.

Jeff

[ghisler(Author)]

Hmm, I could delay the call to the DNS, but then it would be again slow for people using DNS. Any suggestions? Normal users have no clue how to configure that...

[JeffCommander]

Hmm, I could delay the call to the DNS, but then it would be again slow for people using DNS. Any suggestions? Normal users have no clue how to configure that...

I would just recommend check box enable options in the plugin settings for DNS and SMB. Have them both enabled by default.