Access a PC from across a router-based VPN

Question

Access a PC from across a router-based VPN

Hi -

I have a home network and the router has a VPN connecting me to my office in another state. The main purpose has been to allow my phone system to connect with the one in the main office. However, we'd also like to be able to do some file sharing, ie have computers on each side of the VPN see each other for purposes of copying files at the very least.

I've been doing lots of Google searches and can't find anything that doesn't assume a software VPN provided by a 3rd-party company. My VPN is in the router, and uses ipsec. My network gateway is 192.168.6.1. The other networkis 192.168.5.1.

They have PCs. I have a MBPro running High Sierra.

I can't figure out even how to add a remote device as a computer that will show up in the finder.

ANy help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Dave

MacBook Pro TouchBar and Touch ID, macOS High Sierra (10.13.6)

Posted on Sep 24, 2018 10:23 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

John Lockwood

Level 6

13,697 points

Sep 26, 2018 5:34 AM in response to davidfromspencer

To have the remote PC show up in the Finder automatically it needs to be on the same subnet - which being remote it will not. However this is not necessary. Even if it does not show up automatically in the Finder in the sidebar on the left of a Finder window you can still connect to the remote PC.

You would do this by selecting 'Connect to Server' option in the 'Go' menu in the Finder and then type in the address of the remote computer like this -

smb://192.168.5.n

Where the number is the address of the remote PC. If the number changes because of DHCP you need to use the new number. Some routers let you reserve an address so DHCP clients always get the same number.

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Answer 2

Sep 24, 2018 2:42 PM in response to davidfromspencer

Five is binary 101

...Six is binary 110

you you would need to stop caring about the last three patterns in the third octet in the subnet mask.

What I was going to suggest is that if you back off and use 255.255.252.0, then 192.168.5.xxx and 192.168.6.xxx would be on the same subnet.

You then may be able to see the names of the computers/servers on the other side.

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Answer 3

Sep 24, 2018 12:04 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

The router's network setup params have 255.255.255.0 and so does network advanced settings on the Mac.

Ok, I realized after your question that I must need something less restrictive in the 3rd octet of the mask.

Or is that not the issue? I can use a special piece of software to access the phone system on the other side by knowing it's LAN IP and an agreed-upon port number. And the other side can access my system (which has a br0wser-based interface) just by pointing their browser to the address of my system.

Thanks

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Answer 4

Sep 24, 2018 11:30 AM in response to davidfromspencer

What are you using for a SubNet Mask on your computer now?

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Answer 5

Sep 24, 2018 2:43 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Thanks a lot - that makes sense.

- dave

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Answer 6

Sep 26, 2018 5:39 AM in response to John Lockwood

Thanks for this next part in the problem. I'll contact my office and have them share a folder on a computer there to do a test.

- dave

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Access a PC from across a router-based VPN

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