Is there a solution for Airprint over VPN connection?

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Is there a solution for Airprint over VPN connection?

I use a new HP airprint enabled printer in a WIFI network at home. It all works fine that far, the printer is recognized by Airprint feature on both iPhone and iPad..

Furthermore, I have established a VPN connection on my Fritzbox router and setup VPN connection on iPhone and iPad. The VPN connection (IPSec) works without any problem.

Only problem: If I try to print using the VPN connection, no printer is found. I understand it has something to do with Bonjour not working properly over VPN.

But is there any workaround or tweak to make it work somehow?

(Note: I know there is the eprint-feature on the HP printer as well, but I don´t want to use it)

Thanks

ipad, iOS 4

Posted on Jan 20, 2011 8:32 AM

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Answer 1

Jan 20, 2011 9:44 AM in response to cobra007

So this is a very complex question to answer because it depends on the VPN setup and whether or not the VPN supports split network routing. Basically, when you setup the VPN connection, your devices are no longer on the local network, they are on the VPN. Most VPN's (or at least most administrators of VPNs) forbid routing local traffic as well when connected to the VPN since that opens up a security hole into the VPN from the users remote location. If you can configure the VPN to allow this split routing, then you are OK. If you can add the the Printer to the VPN (don't know the capabilities of your Fritzbox), then you are OK. Otherwise you won't be able to get things working the way you want.

Just trying to help.

Andrew

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Answer 2

Oct 24, 2012 6:11 AM in response to HP Mac Architect

I am having the same problem. When on my local network, I have 2 AirPrint printers I can print to just fine from iPhone, iPad and iPod. However, while connected to the VPN, it doesn't see any printers.

The VPN is OS X Lion 10.7.5 VPN. It is serving addresses in the same domain and subnet as the main network. However, there is no option for routing control, so I assume routing across the network is somehow limited. Incidentally, one printer is shared from an iMac, the other is a WiFi printer.

When I connect to the VPN with my Macbook Pro, the printers don't show up as online either. However, I can ping other machines on my network, including the Lion Server (I also have a Linux server that is serving DNS and DHCP - I can log into that machine with VNC or SSH no problem).

The only ports I have open on the firewalls are the L2TP and PPTP ports, and the VNC port. But anything with printing should be within the tunnel, and not filtered by the firewall once a virtual circuit is established, right? Is there a way I can have finer control over the VPN settings, like editing a config file or something?

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