Remote desktop into VPN connected machine on local network?

russ9898 · 7 Oct 2012 at 20:29

Hi guys,

I was wondering if anyone is able to help.

I have recently subscribed to a VPN service for an added layer of privacy. I have a file server on my home network, a headless computer which i use remote desktop to control. However when i connect the file server onto the VPN service i can no longer view/control the system using remote desktop, I guess due to the connection being tunnelled. Is there a way around this so i can still remote desktop into the file server?

Cheers,

Russ

KIA · 7 Oct 2012 at 22:21

You can't connect to it locally? Which VPN software is it running?

russ9898 · 7 Oct 2012 at 22:23

It's running slickVPNs own software, SlickVPN

I cant connect using it's ip or windows name eg FileServer-PC. I cant remote desktop, login to sabnzbd etc. Very strange...is this the norm for a VPN connected PC?

GhostlyPea · 7 Oct 2012 at 23:01

It depends on the VPN and how it's set up. It sounds like the VPN is a tunnel-all (it hasn't had a set of network pushed out to it that it can connect to) so using a 0.0.0.0/0 range to tunnel to. Have a look in the options (if there are any) and try and find something that allows you to set a local lan access or IP range to be excluded from the VPN

- GP

russ9898 · 13 Oct 2012 at 15:45

After a real pain in the ass with this I've finally got it working just so.

Initially used Slick VPN's own client - Useless. Constantly crashed etc.

Then tried Open VPN which I believe is generally regarded as one of the best free clients going. Whilst it operated well, it unfortunately still restricted my local network access. I was unable to access other computers through Windows file sharing, IP address etc.

Finally, I tried Viscosity. After a couple of small niggles getting a VPN connection, i have now managed to achieve a solid connection to their servers which routes all internet traffic through whilst still allowing unrestricted LAN access including access to my LAN printer and remote desktop access to my server which I was concerned about.

I'm afraid this isn't an overly helpful post as I have no idea what changed on the configuration side of things, I just like to put a conclusion to these posts where possible.