SQL Server 2005 ODBC Connection Discrepancy

Question

Alrighty, so here's the issue (Question is Below):

We're having trouble trying to establish an ODBC Connection to our SQL server using our internet IP with a dedicated port. The server is running on SQL Server 2005 and has been updated with the latest package. We know the server is working because we can connect to it locally within the network using it's local IP (192.xxx.x.x) as well as being able to connect to it remotely from outside the network (173.xx.xx.xx) through port 1434 (yes, this port is open, we're not using 1433). The problem occurs when trying to make an ODBC connection from within our network using the internet IP (173.xx.xx.xx) and port. We want to establish this connection so our website can read from a database that is updated in-house on our office-network. We are using Windows 7 Ultimate with Service Pack 1.

We've turned off all firewalls for the server to help troubleshoot, confirmed TCP/IP is enabled on the server, confirmed TCP/IP is using port 1434, as well as for the alias, and still no luck. We get the following error when trying to connect using the internet IP:

Connection failed:
SQLSTate: '01000'
SQL Server Error: 10061
[Microsoft][ODBC SQL Server Driver][TCP/IP Sockets]
ConnectionOpen (Connect()).

Connection failed:
SQLState: '08001'
SQL Server Error: 17
[Microsoft][ODBC SQL Server Driver][TCP/IP Sockets]
SQL Server does not exist or access denied.

Here's the Question:

Is it possible to make a successful ODBC connection from a computer to that same computer using an external IP? This is as opposed to making a connection from a computer to that same computer using it's local IP. 

Answer 1

Yes. That should work fine. If 173.xx.xx.xx,1434 works from another computer, it should work from the same computer.

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Rick Byham, Microsoft, SQL Server Books Online, Implies no warranty