You can use a java applet as long as the server you're testing against 
is the same as the service that feeds the applet to the client, 
otherwise the security hassles probably make it more trouble than it is 
worth.

What about running a web server that listens to the all od the ports you 
want to test and then load a html page that populates a <TABLE> with a 
image from each port, say a big green + sign. Throw in a javascript 
error handler to load a big red - image from a known good port (say port 
80) when the port isn't available and it might even look good to the 
client. Even without the javascript you'd end up with a + sign where the 
port was available and a broken image icon when it wasn't - plus 
everything is straight static html.

--rick


Duncan Shannon wrote:

>hey gang-
>
>im looking to write a little script/tool (php perhaps?) that would test if
>a certain person is behind a firewall and is blocking a specific test.
>
>Problem: Potential client downloads an app, tries to log in for sales
>demo, gets warning about not being able to connect to port 5xxx and that
>it might just be a firewall.
>
>Goal: Have sales person visit a webpage that would test if they can
>connect (at some level) to these ports (5xxx), to avoid the
>downloading/installing client and then finding out that they cant connect.
>
>Any ideas on how this would be done?
>
>thanks
>duncan
>
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