Should FaceTime work without a defined Proxy Server on restricted networks

facetimePROXYwifi

We are having some problems with FaceTime video calling on our network where some traffic is restricted and firewalled from going out to the internet.

In order for the iPads on the wireless network to connect to the Internet, a Proxy Server needs to be configured on the iPad.

Upon making that change, the user can then browse to google.com etc within mobile Safari. Without the Proxy Server set the user can no longer access external webpages within mobile Safari.

However FaceTime works regardless of whether the Proxy Server is set. A faceTime call is initiated from 2 seperate wireless connections.

The network configuration here allows users to ping google.com for example regardless of whether a Proxy Server is defined.

So…. should FaceTime work without a Proxy and if it does, how does it work?

Best Answer

This depends on the limitations you have in your network. If you're only limiting HTTP traffic and forcing the clients to go through a web proxy, then you're probably not cutting off FaceTime's custom TCP and UDP connections.

The exact protocol for FaceTime hasn't been released to public by Apple, but they do publish a guideline regarding network configuration (open ports) needed for FaceTime and iMessage: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4245

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IPhone – What port does iPhone native Facebook app use

First, this is a really good question. Wow. I've been trying for days to figure out how to attack this one.

I set up "Charles Web Debugging Proxy" on my Mac and set up my iPhone to hit it.

First, it hits http://api.facebook.com/restserver.php, which spits this back:

<chat_connect_response xmlns="http://api.facebook.com/1.0/" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:schemaLocation="http://api.facebook.com/1.0/ http://api.facebook.com/1.0/facebook.xsd"> 
<host>9.channel</host> 
<port>80</port> 
<channel>p_123456789</channel> 
<seq>0</seq>

Meanwhile, it also connects to iphone.facebook.com which gives some XML. Then it connects to 0.9_channel.facebook.com:80 and sends some requests which return JSON.

It looks like everything is done over port 80. Are you sure theres no other problem on your end?

Most programs don’t use proxy

Answer is right here:

To get internet in my school I have to use the schools http proxy server

If the proxy supports only HTTP, it does only support HTTP.

I don't think you forgot anything. Contact your school's IT if they have different addresses/logins for other protocols. If they don't — file a feature request.

Best Answer

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IPhone – What port does iPhone native Facebook app use

Most programs don’t use proxy

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