How to make Virola Server publicly accessible on Windows

Port forwarding is a traditional method for hosting a server from your home or office. It tells your router to send external traffic to your specific Windows machine. Since Virola is a self-hosted corporate messenger, its server needs a permanent address so your client apps (on your phone or laptop) always know exactly where to connect.

Here is the complete roadmap to getting your home server locked in and ready for Virola.

Step 1: Set a static IP

Most Internet Service Providers (ISPs) assign dynamic IP addresses that can change without notice. However, for your users to connect reliably to your Virola server, you need a permanent address. We recommend purchasing a static public IP from your ISP to ensure your Host Name remains consistent. You can check your current public IP anytime using a "What is my IP" search.

Step 2: Find MAC address of the machine where you are going to install Virola Server

Before you touch your router, you need the physical MAC address of the computer that will run the Virola server:

  1. Open the Start menu, type cmd, and hit Enter.
  2. Type ipconfig /all and press Enter.
  3. Look for your active network connection (Wireless LAN adapter Wi-Fi). The MAC address is listed next to Physical Address (it looks like 1A-2B-3C-4D-5E-6F).

Step 3: Create the DHCP reservation

Now that you have the MAC address, head over to your router.

  1. Type your router's IP address (usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1) into a web browser and log in with your router admin credentials.
  2. Look for DHCP Server, Address Reservation, Static Leases, or LAN Setup.
  3. Enter the MAC address you got in Step 2.
  4. Pick an IP address you want to permanently assign to the Virola server (e.g., 192.168.1.50). Make sure it is outside your router's standard DHCP pool if possible, or simply pick an easy-to-remember number.
  5. Save your changes and restart your server computer to ensure it picks up the new, permanent IP.

Step 4: Configure Virola Server

When you run the Virola Server installer, it will ask you for an IP address and a Port to listen on.

Listen Host / IP: Enter the reserved IP address you just created (e.g., 192.168.1.50).

Port: Leave it as the default 7777 unless you have a specific reason to change it.

While using the Virola Client app on your personal computer or phone at home, you will log in using the reserved IP address and port 7777 (with the default credentials: admin / admin). If you are going to log into Virola Client outside your home network, you will need to configure port forwarding in your router. In this case, the IP address defined in Step 1 will be used as the server host.

Step 5: Open the Windows Firewall

Windows is naturally suspicious of incoming traffic. Thus, you need to do the following:

  1. Search for "Windows Defender Firewall with Advanced Security".
  2. Click Inbound Rules / New Rule.
  3. Select Port and enter the port Virola Sever listens on (e.g., 7777).
  4. Allow the connection and give it a name.

Step 6: Configure port forwarding on your router

  1. Log into your router's admin panel
  2. Look for Port Forwarding or Virtual Server
  3. Map an external port (what the world uses) to your internal IP and port.

Below is a collection of official support guidelines for the most popular router models:

To log in Virola Client from outside your home network, you need to enter your router's Public IP that you got in Step 1, and port 7777 on the Virola Client login form.