VPN connected but cannot see folders on server

I have just connected my MBP to a remote VPN server (config using Preferences / Network / VPN interface / etc ... all in Leopard). Green light shows and connected tick in VPN status panel.

But I cannot find the VPN server anywhere in Finder. So I am unable to access any of the folders/files on the VPN server. Alas this is the first time that I have accessed a VPN server so answer may likely be simple.

Any guidance on how to view folders/files on VPN server most welcomed.

Macbook Pro 2.4, Mac OS X (10.5.1), AEBS

Posted on Dec 4, 2007 2:05 AM

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9 replies

Dec 4, 2007 10:41 AM in response to RossM

OK, I think I've worked out how to do this.

1. Open your VPN connection

2. Go to the Finder and hit apple-K (Connect to Server)

3. In the Server Address box enter the IP address of the computer you want to log into with this prefix afp://

4. Click on the Connect button

The share should now appear in the Finder window sidebar. Hope this works for you and good luck.

Jan 10, 2008 6:23 AM in response to Philip Gibson

Philip, thanks for advice. I may now know reason why your 'Connect to Server' using afp://[ip address] suggestion did not work. The server to which I am trying (without success) to connect is running Linux (on Sutus server).

Apple Support advise me that afp only works with apple servers. And also (shockingly) that Apple Leopard provides zero functionality to connect a mac computer to a server running linux. Tiger did this effortlessly ...

Any further guidance welcomed.

Dec 4, 2007 11:10 AM in response to Philip Gibson

I am having a similar issue. I setup a VPN connection to a corporate Windows Domain. I can see the machines when I connect but the appear and disappear in sharing intermitantly. When I try and connect to a share nothing happens. I am also wondering if I can setup a script to map the drives automatically so when the VPN is estabilished they just connect. This is an all Windows Domain with Macbook Pros and PC's as clients. This is the first step in converting to an all Mac environment. Any help or recommendations are appreciated.

Dec 13, 2007 4:02 AM in response to Philip Gibson

I also have a similar issue. There is some clarification of the problem that I'd like to add. When I first connect to a server over the VPN, very slowly, a finder window opens where the server is seen in columnar view, in the first column. (Not the far left grey column). The server is not listed in "Devices" or in "shared". Only the local machines and disks appear here. As long as I don't close that finder window, or click anywhere in the grey column on the far left, I can see and use the files on computers in the VPN. If however, I close that view in any way, shape or form, I can't seem to find a way to see the server again short of disconnecting and reconnecting. Suggestions for this one?

Thanks, Adam

Jan 21, 2008 3:39 AM in response to RossM

Ross, Apple TS didn't ask the right questions. My MB, 10.5.1, connects to my home Linux server just fine. It's running Samba which is configured to emulate a windows server. Also, my NAS hard drive appears as a windows server on the network and time machine has no issues with this.
Is your Linux server using NFS or Samba?
Steve

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VPN connected but cannot see folders on server

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