Mac Server VPN Help

Sdannenberg3 · 10-25-2009, 06:53 PM

So here is the situation, I have a Server setup at my house running Server Snow Leopard. Built in is a VPN server that I am trying to configure. I can connect to it, but I can not see my computers at home

Here is my setup.
The server is set up behind a D-Link DIR-655 router. The router uses DHCP from 192.168.1.100 - 192.168.1.250. My Server is setup to have a static IP of 192.168.1.100, any device not given a static IP will use the range 192.168.1.201 - 192.168.1.250. And client connecting to VPN using L2TP is set up to use 192.168.1.151 - 192.168.1.175, and any client using PPTP uses 192.168.1.176 - 192.168.1.200, and all my devices that I have static (Server, print server, media station) uses an IP in the range of 192.168.1.100 - 192.168.1.150.
I am connecting to my VPN from my aunts house, I am behind a Linksys WRT54G router here. I also have it set up to send all network traffic over VPN just for testing purposes.

Where I get a problem.
I setup my built in VPN server, and I can connect to it, but I cant see any of my local computers on my home network. I go to whatsmyip.com and it shows up as my home network, so its working, but when I ScreenShare (apples version of remote desktop) to my server, I use that to logon to my routers webpage, and my laptop that I am connecting from doesnt show up in my routers DHCP list either, yet my laptop says it has an ip of 192.168.1.151, which is right in the range its supposed to be. Does anyone have any experience with Mac Server and its build in VPN service???

alkoller · 11-09-2009, 08:34 PM

I use a MAC and have recently installed a CISCO VPN client provided by my college. It installed perfectly and connected immediately -- and then I could do nothing more. After rummaging around on the net and reading lots of posts for how to install and activate VPN clients, I activated the Cisco client built in to OS X 6.1 - Snow Leopard. It works even better than the college VPN client -- connects and acts as if it is ready to go, but then, nothing...

I finally talked to some real people and found that in addition to the VPN client, you have to have a Remote Desktop Connection program. Since I wanted to connect to a college Windows machine to use my Outlook account, I went to a Microsoft site and downloaded a free remote desktop program called "Remote Desktop Connnection for Mac". Once I fired that up and put in the correct computer name and password, a window opened on my Mac and I was on my computer desktop from work. I can do everything from that client that I can do sitting in front of the machine. It is fast, reliable, and simple to use. The trick is knowing you have to have such a program to go along with the VPN client that makes the connection possible, and NONE OF THE WRITINGS I FOUND ON THE NET SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THAT.

Please pass this on. It is a very simple solution, and once you use it you will never have another problem using VPN. However, until you get that second piece of software, your VPN connection will be absolutely useless.

10-25-2009, 06:53 PM	#1 (permalink)
Sdannenberg3 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 1 OS: OSX 10.6.1	Mac Server VPN Help So here is the situation, I have a Server setup at my house running Server Snow Leopard. Built in is a VPN server that I am trying to configure. I can connect to it, but I can not see my computers at home Here is my setup. The server is set up behind a D-Link DIR-655 router. The router uses DHCP from 192.168.1.100 - 192.168.1.250. My Server is setup to have a static IP of 192.168.1.100, any device not given a static IP will use the range 192.168.1.201 - 192.168.1.250. And client connecting to VPN using L2TP is set up to use 192.168.1.151 - 192.168.1.175, and any client using PPTP uses 192.168.1.176 - 192.168.1.200, and all my devices that I have static (Server, print server, media station) uses an IP in the range of 192.168.1.100 - 192.168.1.150. I am connecting to my VPN from my aunts house, I am behind a Linksys WRT54G router here. I also have it set up to send all network traffic over VPN just for testing purposes. Where I get a problem. I setup my built in VPN server, and I can connect to it, but I cant see any of my local computers on my home network. I go to whatsmyip.com and it shows up as my home network, so its working, but when I ScreenShare (apples version of remote desktop) to my server, I use that to logon to my routers webpage, and my laptop that I am connecting from doesnt show up in my routers DHCP list either, yet my laptop says it has an ip of 192.168.1.151, which is right in the range its supposed to be. Does anyone have any experience with Mac Server and its build in VPN service???

11-09-2009, 08:34 PM	#2 (permalink)
alkoller Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Florida's Space Coast Posts: 1 OS: Mac OS X Snow Leopard	Re: Mac Server VPN Help I use a MAC and have recently installed a CISCO VPN client provided by my college. It installed perfectly and connected immediately -- and then I could do nothing more. After rummaging around on the net and reading lots of posts for how to install and activate VPN clients, I activated the Cisco client built in to OS X 6.1 - Snow Leopard. It works even better than the college VPN client -- connects and acts as if it is ready to go, but then, nothing... I finally talked to some real people and found that in addition to the VPN client, you have to have a Remote Desktop Connection program. Since I wanted to connect to a college Windows machine to use my Outlook account, I went to a Microsoft site and downloaded a free remote desktop program called "Remote Desktop Connnection for Mac". Once I fired that up and put in the correct computer name and password, a window opened on my Mac and I was on my computer desktop from work. I can do everything from that client that I can do sitting in front of the machine. It is fast, reliable, and simple to use. The trick is knowing you have to have such a program to go along with the VPN client that makes the connection possible, and NONE OF THE WRITINGS I FOUND ON THE NET SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THAT. Please pass this on. It is a very simple solution, and once you use it you will never have another problem using VPN. However, until you get that second piece of software, your VPN connection will be absolutely useless.