Can't see other computers on VPN

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Level 1

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Can't see other computers on VPN

I am using Mac OS X Lion Server on my iMac that always stays on at home. I also have 4 Macbooks that I have connected to the VPN.

When all of these computers are under the same Airport Extreme at home, I can see all of them on any computer and can screen share and connect to any one of them through any computer.

However, I want to be able to see these computers even if I am connected through another network. For example, if I am at my office I want to be able to see my iMac or other Macbooks on my sidebar in Finder.

I have seen other people do this, I am just wondering what is it that I need to do.

I can connect to my VPN from any one of my Macbooks outside of the network perfectly and even through my iPhone.

I have opened ports.

1723

3389

443

Can anyone help?

Lion Server-OTHER, Mac OS X (10.7.3)

Posted on Apr 27, 2012 4:02 PM

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Answer 1

j_money06 Author

Level 1

0 points

Apr 27, 2012 8:20 PM in response to Siddhartha T.

Siddhartha T.

Thanks for the reply, unfortunately I am very new to VPN and Lion Server, I understand the concept behind Split Tunneling, however, I am not sure how to do this on Lion Server or on my mac for that matter.

Is there anyone that could explain to me how I can set this up on my mac.

Again, I have an late 2011 model iMac w/ lion server installed. 2010 Airport Extreme, and 2 (2009) Macbooks, 1 2010 Macbook Pro. I am not sure if any of this is relevant for someone to tell me how to Split Tunnel, but I figured I might as well.

Thanks in advance

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Answer 2

Apr 27, 2012 7:57 PM in response to j_money06

You will need to implement split tunnel networking in order to access computers on two networks at the same time. You can read more, including the security implications, here - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Split_tunneling.

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Answer 3

Camelot

Level 9

58,275 points

Apr 28, 2012 2:46 PM in response to j_money06

You don't need to 'implement split tunneling'.. that's used by default, and therefore isn't the answer to your question.

Instead, your issue lies in the way the the VPN and the Finder's sidebar work.

The Finder uses Bonjour to locate services on the local network. So when you look in the Finder, it's periodically sending out broadcast probes looking for other servers to add to the sidebar.

The VPN network is not local, so the Finder doesn't reach out and detect devices on the other side of the VPN connection.

That doesn't stop you getting to them, it just stops them from auto-appearing in the sidebar. To get to them you need to know their hostname or IP address.

What you're striving for - auto-discovery of devices over the VPN link - can be done, but you need to implement wide-area bonjour. It's not hard, per se., but it's far from trivial (it's not just a checkbox). A quick google should point you in the right direction.

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