Connecting via Remote Desktop to work via VPN

Download Remote Desktop Client for Mac from Microsoft. VNC will not connect to Remote Desktop on the pc.

http://www.microsoft.com/mac/downlo...ate_103.xml&secid=80&ssid=10&flgnosysreq=True

The only way I can connect to my windows desktop computer when away from my home network via my macbook is by dialing in my IP address. I use the Remote desktop client on the macbook. It won't connect using the "name" assigned to the windows computer.

You will need to enter the IP address not a machine ID

If you are working over a VPN make sure you use the computers local IP.

If you are connecting over the internet, make sure the port is forwarded properly.

gauchogolfer said:

Update:
So, I've downloaded both the RDC from Windows (along with the new beta version) as well as CoRD. So far none of them let me access my work machine. I can do it with no difficulty from my Windows box right next to my powerbook. The only difference between them is I'm on WiFi with the Mac.

Any ideas why I might be getting a 'this computer not found' on the Mac, and not the PC?

Thanks.

Click to expand...

gauchogolfer said:

But, shouldn't this also apply when connecting from my Windows box? I don't understand why once I'm inside the VPN, I can't just use my machine name as normal.

Click to expand...

Windows would be resolving it as a netbios name. OS X doesn't do that because netbios is a Windows thing. You will need to enter the ip address because of this.

gauchogolfer said:

OK, so my work PC gets its address assigned dynamically. Am I out of luck to connect from my home Mac?

I still don't understand why I can't just use my machine name, rather than an IP address. Since I'm connecting with Microsoft's own RDC client, shouldn't it behave the same whether or not I'm running it on a PC or Mac? Once I'm inside the VPN I would imagine everything works equally.

Help?

Click to expand...

This is almost always a DNS issue. All you need to do is add the DNS entry for your office DNS to the Mac under system preferences - network - airport. On mine this does not override any automatically assigned DNS for your local (home) network.

if you make a mistake you can make it so you can't even get on the internet from home.

Before attempting this you can verify how name resolution is being performed on your windows systems and your Mac.

Note: Make sure you are connected to work via VPN on both systems.

On the Windows system open up a command window by clicking on start and then run (provided you have run on the start menu) and type in cmd.

On the mac look in applications, utilities and open terminal.

On both systems type in nslookup

you get a > prompt

At this prompt type server and press enter

The response is the ip address (and sometimes name) of the DNS server that handles name resolution.

you will be back at the > prompt.

(if you get different responses on the Mac and PC, you may temporarily force a new DNS server on the mac by typing Server ipaddress (which is the ipaddress of the DNS server from the working PC)

Type in the name of the PC you are trying to control and press enter

The response should provide the dns server name and address and the fully qualified domain name and address of the target PC.

If I am correct you will not get a proper response on the Mac.

There are so many variables with regard to proper DNS configuration and Windows DNS vs. Unix based DNS

Windows DNS machines can pass information from AD and back and forward to each other so long as they are within the same domain.

Read up on this or PM me and I can talk you through it.

Of course you may wish to just get the ipaddress of your work system and forget all this complexity (just go to a command prompt on the office PC and type ipconfig - the response will be the ip address and name of your PC)

Cheers,

gauchogolfer said:

Thanks for the great walkthrough. I'll give it a try this evening and see how it goes.


Update: I was able to connect to my work machine finally, by looking up the IP address. I guess it will just take some time to see how often they assign new IPs via DHCP.
Thanks again.

Click to expand...

As long as the Windows PC at work stays on (or is powered up within the renewal timeframe), it will be reassigned the same ip idefinately (unless they change address schemes or scopes).

Glad to see you got it working and now you know how to review DNS and IP on your own.

Cheers,

I have the same problem.
I had no internet when i have turned on TunnelBlick connection to open VPN.
I have to disable DNS on details.

Now it works fine with internet.. i am connected, but .. i cannot ping my ip address.. on Windows I can ping it, so that is why i cannoct connect to it via Microsoft RDC.

any idea why i cannot ping it? Firewall is OFF.