My latest adventure in the world of Apple products was to set up a VPN (Virtual Private Network) to my server at home. After many hours of frustration and brain-tormenting anger, I was unsuccessful.
I have Comcast internet and a dynamic IP address, but before you say, “that’s why,” I know that my IP is changed once a month, so I should have the ability to VPN for thirty days before I have to update the settings on my server. I have poked all the holes in my firewall and even turned it off, and have still been unsuccessful. Locally, I have no problem connecting via VPN with the correct settings, but when I’m not on my home network, it is impossible for me to connect for some reason.
Why would I want to VPN to my home network when “Back to My Mac” works almost just as well? Primarily, it’s for the experience and learning I get from managing my own personal server. I have successfully set it up for local file and media sharing, but so far, that’s all I have been able to get it to do successfully.
My setup at home is as follows: My modem connects to a Belkin router which splits off to my server and two Time Capsules I have configured for NAS drive access. Both of my Time Capsules are on the older side, and their routing function seems to be failing, unfortunately, so I’m relying on the Belkin to be my primary DHCP server.
I use a 13-inch MacBook Pro late 2011 as my server — not a Mac mini or Pro as I don’t have a need for a web server yet. I mainly want to learn. I don’t have the server set up for DHCP because it only has the one ethernet port and no firewall software, but the same computing power as the base Mac mini. I’m running OS X Server 3.1.1 on Mavericks 10.9.2, updated the firmware on every device, and I’ve still had no luck.
All the ports I have found that relate to VPN are TCP 1723, UDP 500, UDP 4500 and UDP 1701. All of these ports are open on my setup and my server is set to my public IP address. This should have the incoming VPN signal on any of the above-mentioned ports forwarded directly from the router as it’s the outward-facing networking device.
I know my hardware is capable of doing what I want it to, however, there has to be something I’m missing…possibly a different port that the VPN signal is actually coming in on? I’m trying to connect from my Late-2011, 15-inch MacBook Pro, running OS X 10.9.2, which is my everyday machine that goes everywhere with me.
Whenever I try to connect all I get is something to the effect of, “the server is not responding/doesn’t exist” (I’m paraphrasing), and it instructs me to try to connect again or contact my administrator. Well, this administrator is stumped.
If any of you out there may know something that I don’t, or have been in a similar situation, shoot me an email and let me know how you got past it! Many thanks in advance!