I have a gaming script that sniff the user's IP and put it into my database if they visit a specific page, I've been using the $_SERVER['REMOTE_ADDR'] function to do this.

But a few days ago when I check the database, all the user's IP in the IP column are the same, they all had my server IP.
The same thing also happen to my phpBB, when I check the online users, they all had the same IP.

How did this happen and how do I fix it?

try using getenv("REMOTE_ADDR");

nothing changed, still getting the same IP

What does REMOTE_HOST return?

it returns blank...

It maybe that your hosting provider has overwritten the environment variable with a fixed value in that case.

create a new page called "test.php" and put one line in it: <?php php_info(); ?>

Then open that page and search for your ip address (go to www.whatsmyip.org to find it).

Also, review the server variables section and see what's going on there...

As chris says, your server config may be such that you can't capture remote IPs. If so, get a new host.

Well, I could find my IP in the phpinfo page
but it's written in the same row as HTTP_X_FORWARDED_FOR and HTTP_X_REAL_IP

the value of REMOTE_ADDR variable is exactly the server IP address

is it okay to use HTTP_X_FORWARDED_FOR or HTTP_X_REAL_IP instead of REMOTE_ADDR?

It sounds like your host is proxying requests. Check that with inspecting the "$HTTP_PROXY_CONNECTION"

There is absolutely no reason why you shouldn't use the "hidden" variables

Rooting around Google results turned up this code

PHP Code:

function real_ip(){
    if(isset($_SERVER['HTTP_X_FORWARDED_FOR'])){
        $_SERVER['REMOTE_ADDR']=$_SERVER['HTTP_X_FORWARDED_FOR'];
    }elseif(isset($_SERVER['HTTP_X_REAL_IP']){
        $_SERVER['REMOTE_ADDR']=$_SERVER['HTTP_X_REAL_IP'];
    }
return $_SERVER['REMOTE_ADDR'];
} 


Originally Posted by chrishirst

It sounds like your host is proxying requests. Check that with inspecting the "$HTTP_PROXY_CONNECTION"

There is absolutely no reason why you shouldn't use the "hidden" variables

I tried to contact them about that, but haven't receive any response, perhaps I should just move to another host...
But, I tried HTTP_PROXY_CONNECTION and I got nothing...

Originally Posted by chrishirst

Rooting around Google results turned up this code

PHP Code:

function real_ip(){
    if(isset($_SERVER['HTTP_X_FORWARDED_FOR'])){
        $_SERVER['REMOTE_ADDR']=$_SERVER['HTTP_X_FORWARDED_FOR'];
    }elseif(isset($_SERVER['HTTP_X_REAL_IP']){
        $_SERVER['REMOTE_ADDR']=$_SERVER['HTTP_X_REAL_IP'];
    }
return $_SERVER['REMOTE_ADDR'];
} 


a ")" is missing from line 5 of the code you gave me but anyways, I tried the script on a testing page and just like HTTP_PROXY_CONNECTION it returns blank
I guess I'll just stick to HTTP_X_FORWADED_FOR for now...

Thanks for all your help

Is this one of the "well known" hosting companies by some chance?

no, actually. I'm using a small company hosting, they have great hosting features,low price and pretty good uptime but I guess that doesn't make them to have a good support