Distributed Objects over the internet

Question

I'm hoping that someone can help me out here. I'm trying to get distributed objects to work on a game I'm developing. I can make it work if I run both the 'server' and the 'client' on the same machine, but when I try to set it up for use over a network, it crashes when trying to get the rootProxy.
Here's the code for vending the object:
id theServer;
NSAutoreleasePool * pool = [[NSAutoreleasePool alloc] init];
MYMessageServer * server = [[MYMessageServer alloc] init];
NSSocketPort * receivePort;
NSConnection * theConnection;
receivePort = nil;
theConnection = nil;
receivePort = [[NSSocketPort alloc] initWithTCPPort:1234];
theConnection = [NSConnection connectionWithReceivePort:receivePort sendPort:nil];
[theConnection setRootObject:server];
[theConnection registerName:@"server"];
theServer = [[theConnection rootProxy] retain];
[[NSRunLoop currentRunLoop] configureAsServer];
[[NSRunLoop currentRunLoop] run];
[server release];
[pool release];
return 0;
This runs fine and seems to vend the object without a problem.
Here's the code for trying to access the vended object:
NSSocketPort * sendPort;
NSConnection * theConnection;
sendPort = nil;
theConnection = nil;
sendPort = [[NSSocketPort alloc] initRemoteWithTCPPort:8081 host:@"192.168.0.5"];
theConnection = [NSConnection connectionWithReceivePort:sendPort sendPort:nil];
server = [[theConnection rootProxy] retain];
if (nil == server) {
NSLog(@"Error: Failed to connect to server.");
} else {
[server setProtocolForProxy:@protocol(MYMessageServerProtocol)];
[server addMessageClient:self];
[server broadcastMessageString:[NSString stringWithFormat:@"Connected: %@ %d\n", [[NSProcessInfo processInfo] processName], [[NSProcessInfo processInfo] processIdentifier]]];
When I use the defaultConnection for the vending of the object and localhost for accessing it on the same machine, everything runs just fine. However, when i try to use the TCP and setup the connection through the network, it crashes on server = [[theConnection rootProxy] retain];
If anyone can make suggestions or offer examples of how to set up this, I would be extremely grateful.
Thanks.
PS 'server' variable is declared in the object.h file.
Mac Pro 4 GB Ram   Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Answer 1

I've only tested this method locally, haven't had time to connect to another remote network to do further testing...
*BETA SOFTWARE - Hamachi and the HamachiX GUI are BETA! Still undergoing testing, bugfixing, etc.*
Look into Hamachi/HamachiX (Hamachi is a hosted VPN app - beta, and HamachiX is a GUI for it - also beta) If this is mission critical work, you may want to wait until it is out of beta..
www.hamachi.cc
http://forums.hamachi.cc/viewforum.php?f=16&sid=8e6c84f54d65b9d8974ca8e1da860932 (Hamachi MacOS X forum)
( - As with all BETA software... YMMV, use at your own risk, you break it you bought it, no blaming Jeff for loosing your data, stop use immediately if rash, shortness of breath, or annal leakage is observed.. talk to your Dr. about other supplements and medication you may already be taking. - )
(I'd really like to see Apple license Hamachi - once it's out of beta of corse -and integrate it into the next version of ARD... seems slick.)
I have 3 Macs right now on a Hamachi network, named **, and a password **. Once all 3 Macs are connected to the Hamachi network, I enter the 2 ARD client Macs Hamachi IPs 5..*. into ARD.
So far, so good.
Leo Laporte and Steve Gibson have discussed Hamachi and it's use on the Security Now! podcast.
http://www.grc.com/securitynow.htm
ep #18 (Titled "Hamachi" Rocks!) and #19 (Titled VPNs Three: Hamachi, iPig, and OpenVPN) specifically ....
One thing not made clear at the Hamachi or HamachiX web sites is that HamachiX (GUI) also installs Hamachi (get to avoid the command line if you wish) if it isn't already installed.
Good luck.
Jeff
PowerBook G4 550 512MB ram, 40GB HD, SuperDrive, PowerMac G5 2x2.3GHz - 2.5GB   Mac OS X (10.4.2)   250GB HD, Mac mini - 1GB Ram, Apple 20" LCD connected to mini+PM G5 via DVI Swit