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    Unable to see computers on LAN over OpenVPN

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Firewalling
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    • GertjanG
      Gertjan
      last edited by Gertjan

      If your VPN connections works, and you made LAN accessible for the OpenVPN , the a simple
      \\a.b.c.d
      where a.b.c.d is something like 192.168.10.10 then you can access to that PC "192.168.10.10" on the remote LAN.

      You could even use the network name of the PC if you know it.

      @dmd1234498 said in Unable to see computers on LAN over OpenVPN:

      What is the difference between tun and tap?

      Google knows everything about that question.
      As you might have figured out, the answer is indeed rather complex.
      As stated above, "tap" is useful because "Windows Explorer" will list all remote devices as present in the network neighbourhood overview - because the device you use that uses the OpenVPN client becomes a device in the remote LAN. Thus every device in that LAN becomes 'local'. So Explorer can "see" it.
      But tap has issues that need to be mastered.
      By most, people use "tun", as it is easier to implement. And we all have the habit of using names these days, as \MYPC or \MyNBPrinter etc. We doesn't care Explorer (only) lists 'local' network resources. The multi network age is here now.

      No "help me" PM's please. Use the forum, the community will thank you.
      Edit : and where are the logs ??

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • JKnottJ
        JKnott @dmd1234498
        last edited by

        @dmd1234498 said in Unable to see computers on LAN over OpenVPN:

        What is the difference between tun and tap?

        Effectively, it's the difference between a switch and router. A switch creates a flat network, where everything is in the same subnet. A router creates separate networks, with different subnets. A TAP tunnel bridges and a TUN routes.

        PfSense running on Qotom mini PC
        i5 CPU, 4 GB memory, 32 GB SSD & 4 Intel Gb Ethernet ports.
        UniFi AC-Lite access point

        I haven't lost my mind. It's around here...somewhere...

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        • D
          dmd1234498
          last edited by dmd1234498

          Okay that makes sense. So then I am using it in tun mode instead of tap. I switch it to tap and the VPN refuses to connect, even after re-exporting the configuration from PFSense. Any insight on how to get this running in tap mode?

          JKnottJ 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • D
            dmd1234498
            last edited by

            If tun is better, how can I access drive shares over tun?

            JKnottJ GertjanG 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • JKnottJ
              JKnott @dmd1234498
              last edited by

              @dmd1234498 said in Unable to see computers on LAN over OpenVPN:

              I switch it to tap and the VPN refuses to connect

              Did you export the client for the new configuration?

              PfSense running on Qotom mini PC
              i5 CPU, 4 GB memory, 32 GB SSD & 4 Intel Gb Ethernet ports.
              UniFi AC-Lite access point

              I haven't lost my mind. It's around here...somewhere...

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • JKnottJ
                JKnott @dmd1234498
                last edited by

                @dmd1234498 said in Unable to see computers on LAN over OpenVPN:

                If tun is better, how can I access drive shares over tun?

                Manually connect the shares. The only thing that doesn't work is being able to see the shares when you're not directly on the network.

                PfSense running on Qotom mini PC
                i5 CPU, 4 GB memory, 32 GB SSD & 4 Intel Gb Ethernet ports.
                UniFi AC-Lite access point

                I haven't lost my mind. It's around here...somewhere...

                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • D
                  dmd1234498
                  last edited by

                  Yes I re-exported it but it still refused to connect. I just want to be able to map a shared drive from a computer at home (192.168.50.7) to my laptop at work over OpenVPN. My laptop is given an somewhere on 192.168.51.x. I can RDP into these computers no problem but lan resources aren't showing up. I also cannot connect directly through explorer.

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                  • S
                    serbus
                    last edited by

                    @dmd1234498 said in Unable to see computers on LAN over OpenVPN:

                    I can RDP into these computers no problem but lan resources aren't showing up. I also cannot connect directly through explorer.

                    Maybe not relevant, but if your client is Win10 1709 or later :

                    https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/storage/file-server/troubleshoot/smbv1-not-installed-by-default-in-windows

                    Specifically :

                    "Because the Computer Browser service relies on SMBv1, the service is uninstalled if the SMBv1 client or server is uninstalled. This means that Explorer Network can no longer display Windows computers through the legacy NetBIOS datagram browsing method."

                    John

                    Lex parsimoniae

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                    • GertjanG
                      Gertjan @dmd1234498
                      last edited by

                      @dmd1234498 said in Unable to see computers on LAN over OpenVPN:

                      how can I access drive shares

                      As said :

                      @JKnott said in Unable to see computers on LAN over OpenVPN:

                      Did you export the client for the new configuration?

                      and you should be connected of course (VPN should work).

                      Then ;

                      @Gertjan said in Unable to see computers on LAN over OpenVPN:

                      \a.b.c.d
                      where a.b.c.d is something like 192.168.10.10 then you can access to that PC "192.168.10.10" on the remote LAN.
                      You could even use the network name of the PC if you know it.

                      => back slash back slash and the IPv4 or IPv6 or name of the PC if you know it.
                      in the address bar of the Explorer.

                      No "help me" PM's please. Use the forum, the community will thank you.
                      Edit : and where are the logs ??

                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • B
                        bjk002
                        last edited by

                        Go back to tun mode.

                        Then, under OpenVPN, Client Export Utility, Advanced, Additional Configuration Options, add a line as such:

                        push "route 192.168.10.0 255.255.255.0"

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