Need help streaming Home Media over VPN

[randyharris]

I have a Mac Mini on the home network which has a VPN server setup, it also houses all my music tv and movies in Apple Music and Apple TV. We use this to stream content to AppleTV's in the house. I would like to be able to stream this while away from home. This is why I setup the VPN Server on the Mac Mini, I can connect to the Mac Mini via the VPN no problem, but when connected via VPN from a remote location on an iPhone, when I go into the TV app, it does not show the Mac Mini's Home Share content that computers / devices on the LAN are able to see.

Ideas on what I am missing here?

 

[BrianBaughn]

It could have something to do with location. The iPhone (or an iPad) knows where you are despite being connected to your home VPN. Maybe someone here can confirm.

I don't know about home VPN servers, Apple TVs and iPhones but I'll relate my experience with my home VPN server, Xfinity stream, iPhone/iPad, a Mac and using a Chromecast at a remote location.

I cannot stream Xfinity on my iPhone or iPad when it's connected to the home VPN and it has to be because of location. The Xfinity Stream app requires location info to be active for it to work, I'm pretty sure. Streaming via Goodle Chrome works on my old Mac, however…I assume because location info isn't being forwarded to Xfinity.

Chromecast added an additional level of complexity. I had to add a travel router with VPN client capability so that the Mac and the Chromecast would both be connected to the same wifi and the home VPN. Also, the Mac and the Chromecast have to be set to the same time zone as my home or problems will ensue.

This info may or may not be pertinent when it comes to Apple TV.

 

[randyharris]

It could have something to do with location. The iPhone (or an iPad) knows where you are despite being connected to your home VPN. Maybe someone here can confirm.

I don't know about home VPN servers, Apple TVs and iPhones but I'll relate my experience with my home VPN server, Xfinity stream, iPhone/iPad, a Mac and using a Chromecast at a remote location.

I cannot stream Xfinity on my iPhone or iPad when it's connected to the home VPN and it has to be because of location. The Xfinity Stream app requires location info to be active for it to work, I'm pretty sure. Streaming via Goodle Chrome works on my old Mac, however…I assume because location info isn't being forwarded to Xfinity.

Chromecast added an additional level of complexity. I had to add a travel router with VPN client capability so that the Mac and the Chromecast would both be connected to the same wifi and the home VPN. Also, the Mac and the Chromecast have to be set to the same time zone as my home or problems will ensue.

This info may or may not be pertinent when it comes to Apple TV.

Wondering if it has to do with maybe Bonjour not being broadcast over the VPN.

 

[BrianBaughn]

Wondering if it has to do with maybe Bonjour not being broadcast over the VPN.

Could be. You should eliminate that hurdle by connecting via IP…give the home Mini a static IP via your router.

 

[randyharris]

Could be. You should eliminate that hurdle by connecting via IP…give the home Mini a static IP via your router.

It already has a static IP

 

[BrianBaughn]

It already has a static IP

I don't know how the (Apple) TV app works. You could be right that it relies on Bonjour…and Bonjour doesn't like VPNs from what I remember.

All I can think of is wondering if it's possible to add your Apple TV content to a Plex Server on the Mini and view it that way. My guess is you can't.

 

[randyharris]

some researching tells me I'd need a TAP VPN Server not a TUN VPN Server, unsure if that's possible for me to do on Monterey with macos server, or if there is a third party solution.