PHP curl to http_request and port 12046

Okay, so I've been pulling my hair out trying to figure out why using curl on my web host would not get through to an object in world when pasting the link directly into the browser would.

I'm requesting a URL in world, reporting that to my php script which in turn stores this in an xml file. No dramas there, but when I recall this address and try to send some info through using curl or fopen or any other form of connection, nothing happens. The page seems to just time out.

Best I can tell is it's this port 12046. I've tested a number of different hosts now and none seem to allow me to make a connection to any ports other than 80.

I'm hoping someone here may know a work around, or a host that allows these connections?

Thanks heaps.

None of the big-name commercial hosting companies we've tried will allow outbound traffic to port 12046. Kelly Linden has acknowledged on the scripter's email list that this retardation exists but will say no more on the matter except that it's "unfortunate", which says to me and others I've spoken with that a real port or fix is not going to be forthcoming. Ever.

The only fix we've been able to come across is to use a personal or private server. I'm sure it would also be possible to send http-in traffic from a website host's server if you rented or had a dedicated server from them, but I can't afford that to test it out.

It is also possible to use http-in traffic from your desktop, and from a website on a host's shared server IF you send it from an html form action.

Wow, that's a pretty huge disappointment. I've finally gotten into php myself and was really making some progress until now.

My only work around I can figure is having a central server prim, that has to poll the webpage ever 5 seconds or so, and then send out the data to the other objects via http..

Disappointment is a pretty good description when speaking about most of the Lindens' "great new features". You get used to it. I use multiple methods to get around the tardport: One way is I have set up a private server which I use to 'bounce' requests off of between a webserver and SL. I also use it to communicate directly to some SL applications. Another method is html forms. PHP has the ability to put pretty much any information you want into an html form and then you can send it inworld from the form action. Get creative, while the whole mess is very disappointing there are still ways to use it.