back to my mac iCloud server not responding

I have a Brand new 5th Gen TC 3T (802.ac) running 77200.7 version on DHCP and NAT connected to a CISCO MODEM on one end and an 4th Gen 2T (802.11n) running 76400.10 on the other end connected to a CISCO MODEM as well. Right now everytime i need to use BTMM I have to tgle on and off and it does connect for a while. It's really weird. So far I have not had time to contact Apple back. I feel there is something related with security and of course the routers. Maybe because of this new keychain thing.

I'm having the same problem, using Verizon FiOS, Actiontec router. Hoping Apple comes up with a fix for this soon, since I've had no luck with any of the solutions proposed here (or all over the web).

Just an update. The router wasn't the issue. Apple had me do a clean install on another disk and BMM worked (except for Screen Sharing). If you have the time and a way, please try a new clean install on a test drive and see if it works for you. Apple is still trying to find why the current install isn't working.

John

Thanks for the update John. Screen Sharing is pretty important for me, and I did perform an "erase and install" but it did not result in any change. I do not recall if I tested any other Sharing options.

I am using very common Motorola cable modems. All other equipment is Apple's, which Engineering has been happy about. The have asked for copious system logs and other information, so at this point I am willing to assume an eventual fix is forthcoming.

My problems are similar to Tom's - in order to use BTMM I have to toggle it off and on from the Sytem Preferences. It works for a while (15-45 minutes or so - never consistently dies with an identical interval), then I lose my SSH connection, which is primarily what I'm using it for. In order to bring it back up, I need to toggle BTMM, then it will work again for a while. I've tried a number of "keepalive" configurations with my SSH connection, to no avail. My setup is sort of similar - Motorola 6121 cable modem -> 5th Gen TC 3T (latest firmware) -> Mac Mini (10.9.0, wired Ethernet to TC), and I'm pretty stumped as to why my connection keeps dropping, or even how to properly troubleshoot it. My wrinkle is that I'm trying to do this from work, and I suspect that my work firewall/network may be getting in the way, but I have no recourse to modify the firewall or network config. Other people here, though, are able to sustain regular (i.e., non-BTMM) long-running SSH connections out of the work network, so I can only think the blame lies with the BTMM connection/tunnel. The Mac Mini is set to never sleep, so that's not the issue. I'm just crossing my fingers for a fix at this point.

I am having problems with Back to My Mac as well. It was working just fine under Mountain Lion 10.8. The upgrade to Mavericks has killed it. Was hoping that 10.9.1 would fix the problem, but no luck. No matter which of the various proposed solutions I have tried, I always get the iCloud server not responding error in the iCloud preference pane. I have tried toggling this on and off, deleting keychain items related to Back to My Mac and restarting, logging into and out of my iCloud account, deleting the iCloud helper cache, etc. Has anyone come up a solution to this?

Thanks for the help. I actually went through all your suggestions and received positive responses- screen, file sharing both respond with my mac mini listed. I also pinged my mini which was succesful. Still I can neither connect through BTMM or via SSH. do you have any other suggestions?

thanks

... Still I can neither connect through BTMM or via SSH. do you have any other suggestions?

Wait for Apple to fix it. BTMM over the Internet is still broken in OS X 10.9.1 here as well.

Use Connect to Server… under the Go menu in the Finder:

vnc://[WAN IP address of router]:[LAN IP address of computer]

This is a workaround, but it works for me every time. Is there anyone out there for whom this doesn't work?

I tried that before and it didn't work (go back a few pages on this thread) but thanks for the reminder - I'll try it again using this OS X update.

Are you sure that your router is not blocking one or more necessary ports?

James A. Weston wrote:

Are you sure that your router is not blocking one or more ports? "…VPN service may use up to four different ports: 500, 1701, 1723, and 4500."

I am using the latest Time Capsules and AirPort Extremes and the OS X firewalls are all off. I even bought a new Time Capsule to determine if the older one was the problem. The modem is a common Motorola SB5101 and to my knowledge it doesn't block any ports. Engineering took a keen interest in the problem some time ago and collected copious information, but I haven't heard anything and don't expect to.

I have performed an erase and install as part of troubleshooting this originally. That didn't help either, but I suppose I could try it again.

Reverting to Mountain Lion alleviates the problem, every time.

Something's not right somewhere. The Connect to Server… string works for me every time on various Mavericks computers. Has anyone else tried it?

The connect to server method works fine for me on multiple computers running Mavericks. It also works for my friend who lost the BTMM functionality. In fact he says he much prefers the connect to server method.

John

Thank you for helping to preserve my sanity!