Issue connecting to Vista peer from OS X, XP and Windows 7

Question

Hi, I've got the following problem.
Got a bunch of OS X, XP, Vista and Windows 7 machines sitting on standard NetGear LAN. The router has a static IP and is running NAT for the clients. There is a firewall to Internet (Firebrick).
There are no problems connecting between the OS X, XP, Windows 7 machines. However, you cannot connect to the Vista peers, except in some special cases.
To simplify I'm using the standard file sharing example. Calling the following method:
private function connectReceiveStreamToPeer(e:Event):void
recieveStream = new NetStream(netConnection,txtFarID.text);
recieveStream.client = this;
recieveStream.addEventListener(NetStatusEvent.NET_STATUS, receiveStreamHandler);
recieveStream.play("file");
where txtFarID.text represents a Vista peer, never results in the receive stream becoming connected to the Vista peer's sendStream...
However, there is a connection. If the Vista peer first connects its receiveStream to the sendStream of the OS X, XP or Windows 7 peer, then the OS X, XP or Windows 7 peer is thereafter able to connect its receiveStream to the sendStream of the Vista peer.
I've tested this on a couple of Vista laptops. Both are completely standard and don't have any special security software installed.
Any ideas?
Best, Dominic

Answer 1

this is most likely a local firewall issue on the the Vista computer combined with your NAT not doing hairpinning.  please see Matthew Kaufman's detailed treatment of the NAT/firewall issue at
   http://forums.adobe.com/message/1064983#1064983