Superhub VPN and the Superhub

honest_john · 08-03-2012, 23:23

Hi folks,

Apologies if this has already been discussed, but I couldn't find the answer anywhere...

I don't know that much about networking, but I want to connect remotely to my work servers via a VPN. I'm using a Mac running Lion.

I've configured the VPN on my Mac and it always seems to connect/authenticate.

If my connection is using my phone's 3G connection, via the super hub in modem only mode, or via a non-superhub wireless network, it all works fine.

But if I try to connect wirelessly through the super hub, the VPN still says it's connected and authenticated (usually), but I can't actually access any of the work servers - I just get a "can't access server" type message.

I've read some stuff about how maybe port forwarding might help, but I didn't really understand it. I assume it must be a router problem - has anyone here got any ideas about what I could try? In a worst case scenario I suppose could probably buy a wireless router and plug that in to the super hub, but I'd rather leave that as a last resort.

Thanks.

General Maximus · 09-03-2012, 08:10

I am a bit confused dude. If you are using your phones 3G connection then your phone is the modem and you aren't using the shub at all. If you are using the shub in modem mode and it works then that is cool. The problem you have got is using the shub in routing mode. I havent setup a VPN before but I am sure you need to disable the firewall (if you havent done so already) and you need enable VPN pass through or Layer 2 Tunnelling Protocol.

There are other forum members who use VPNs all the time so hopefully one of them will chip in and give you the ins and outs. I am sure the shub can do it, it just doesnt do it all that well

honest_john · 09-03-2012, 09:01

Hi GM,

Thanks for your input. What I meant was that I can connect to the VPN and the the company servers through either:
a) my phone 3G network (not using the shub at all)
b) using the shub in modem only mode

It's just using the router function of the shub that seems to cause a problem.

I have tried turning off all the settings on the shub, including the firewall, other than IPSec (unsure of spelling) and PPTP pass through (it's a PPTP VPN), but that doesn't seem to help.

Andrewcrawford23 · 09-03-2012, 09:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by honest_john

Hi GM,

Thanks for your input. What I meant was that I can connect to the VPN and the the company servers through either:
a) my phone 3G network (not using the shub at all)
b) using the shub in modem only mode

It's just using the router function of the shub that causes a problem.

I have tried turning off all the settings on the shub, including the firewall, other than IPSec (unsure of spelling) and PPTP pass through (it's a PPTP VPN), but that doesn't seem to help.

the vpn funciton of shub is pretty crap just liek most of the rest of it, your best putting it into modem mode and get your own rotuer, most rotuers have decent vpn but you might want to look at a better performance one if it crucial to you

General Maximus · 09-03-2012, 10:25

I have gone away for 4 days atm so there isnt much i can do to help. When i get back i'll do somr googling and see how you set it up. Andrew is right though, the shub is bad at the best of times and if you are going to use vpns a lot you would be doing yourself a huge favour buying yourself a proper router for ~Â£30

qasdfdsaq · 09-03-2012, 11:54

What happens when you try the Superhub in router mode but use a cable?

AndyCalling · 09-03-2012, 12:06

I can confirm that the Shub definitely works with VPNs as I actually run one from home and can connect to it fine and fast. If the firewall is off and ports are forwarded, there should be no issue. Try a full pinhole reset and if it's still broken looks like a faulty unit that needs replacing to me.

honest_john · 10-03-2012, 02:02

Thanks people for your comments.

@General Maximus: thanks - I have tried googling but I couldn't turn up anything, at least nothing I could understand. If you fare any better, that would be great.

@qasdfdsaq: when I put the super hub in router mode and use a cable it works fine. There's only a problem when I try and use the super hub in normal mode so I can connect wirelessly.

@AndyCalling: that's great that you know the super hub can support VPNs properly. The firewall is definitely off, but although I have activated PPTP pass through and Ipsec pass through I haven't forwarded any specific ports. I'm also not sure how to do it, so if you could suggest which ports I needed to forward that would be great.

Cheers.

---------- Post added at 03:02 ---------- Previous post was at 03:00 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrewcrawford23

the vpn funciton of shub is pretty crap just liek most of the rest of it, your best putting it into modem mode and get your own rotuer, most rotuers have decent vpn but you might want to look at a better performance one if it crucial to you

Thanks - if I follow the advice of people on here and it doesn't work then that's exactly what I'll do...

AndyCalling · 10-03-2012, 16:34

I'm afraid you'll have to talk to your works to find out which ports they use. There's no other easy way of knowing.

You can test to see if this is the problem by putting your PC's IP in the DMZ in the Shub settings. If it works like that, you know it's a port forwarding issue. This is for test purposes only mind, don't run your PC in the DMZ routinely, you just need to find out which ports you need to forward from your VPN operator (ie. your works).

honest_john · 10-03-2012, 18:52

Thanks AndyCalling.

I tried putting the IP (of my computer) in the DMZ in the S/hub settings, but its didn't seem to help.

It's bizarre - because I can connect to the VPN and pick up email and access work servers fine with any of the following:

1. S/hub in modem-only mode.
2. Through my phone's 3G
3. Through my parent's Airport Extreme wireless hub running into an old Virgin modem.

But if I use the S/hub as normal (e.g. connecting to it wirelessly) the VPN seems to connect fine, it authenticates properly, but I can't actually log in to any of the work servers - I just get an error message saying they don't exist/aren't present...

I've just tired using the S/hub in modem-only mode, running into an old wireless router (D-Link DIR-615). Connecting to the D-Link either wirelessly or through Ethernet, I still get the same old problem...

Infuriating!

Andrewcrawford23 · 10-03-2012, 19:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by honest_john

Thanks AndyCalling.

I tried putting the IP (of my computer) in the DMZ in the S/hub settings, but its didn't seem to help.

It's bizarre - because I can connect to the VPN and pick up email and access work servers fine with any of the following:

1. S/hub in modem-only mode.
2. Through my phone's 3G
3. Through my parent's Airport Extreme wireless hub running into an old Virgin modem.

But if I use the S/hub as normal (e.g. connecting to it wirelessly) the VPN seems to connect fine, it authenticates properly, but I can't actually log in to any of the work servers - I just get an error message saying they don't exist/aren't present...

I've just tired using the S/hub in modem-only mode, running into an old wireless router (D-Link DIR-615). Connecting to the D-Link either wirelessly or through Ethernet, I still get the same old problem...

Infuriating!

i think andy si right that sounds liek port forwarding issue then, as when in wireless it probally need the proper port forwarded but when wired it isnt

qasdfdsaq · 10-03-2012, 19:39

I wonder if it's an IP addressing conflict. What subnet does your work VPN use?

Andrewcrawford23 · 10-03-2012, 20:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by qasdfdsaq

I wonder if it's an IP addressing conflict. What subnet does your work VPN use?

tahta a good point

but doesnt entirely explain hwy it works in wired but nto wireless as if it was ip conflict i would have thought it would say in windows as i say stragne if it is that it works wired but not wireless

qasdfdsaq · 10-03-2012, 21:01

He's not been totally clear. He says it works with the Superhub wired in "router" mode but not wireless in "normal" mode. Then he goes on about the Superhub in "modem" mode and "normal" mode without any mention of "router" mode, so I haven't a clue what he's on about.

In any case both the Superhub in "normal" mode and DIR-615 use the 192.168.0.x range by default. Most other routers use 192.168.1.x, 3G connections typically use 10.x.x.x, and modem only mode will give you a public IPv4 address.

Andrewcrawford23 · 10-03-2012, 21:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by qasdfdsaq

He's not been totally clear. He says it works with the Superhub wired in "router" mode but not wireless in "normal" mode. Then he goes on about the Superhub in "modem" mode and "normal" mode without any mention of "router" mode, so I haven't a clue what he's on about.

In any case both the Superhub in "normal" mode and DIR-615 use the 192.168.0.x range by default. Most other routers use 192.168.1.x, 3G connections typically use 10.x.x.x, and modem only mode will give you a public IPv4 address.

yeah but the i[p range of the vpn might be where the problem is and i thought tha tis what you where meaning, rereading waht the op has said i see your poitn about the confussing i had nto really notice myself