Server under VPN not available from clients

[Bazzu85 22]

Hi, 

 

I purchased a subscription to express vpn.

Activating it on my server cause the remote connection to not work.

 

When trying from android app (with 4g not wifi) the screen goes to server selection but I can't access my libraries..

 

There's a sort of configuration?

[Coxeroni 26]

This is normal behaviour, since your traffic is routed through your VPN and therefore not accesible under your normal IP. This topic is already discussed here in the forum, but depending on your VPN provider and/or OS it might be not easy to solve.

Edited January 14, 2019 by Coxeroni

[Bazzu85 22]

This is normal behaviour, since your traffic is routed through your VPN and therefore not accesible under your normal IP. This topic is already discussed here in the forum, but depending on your VPN provider and/or OS it might be not easy to solve.

 

I searched before post but found nothing..

 

can you link me something?

I'm on windows 10 and as said using express vpn (I think the most famous VPN provider)

[Coxeroni 26]

I meant this topic:

 

https://emby.media/community/index.php?/topic/55137-how-to-run-emby-behind-torguard-vpn/?hl=+vpn%20+guide

 

The user is obviously using another VPN service, but I guess the important feature is to have a provicer which offers port-forwarding. If you would be on linux, there would be another option, namely to reroute certain traffic (i.e. emby) "around" the VPN. At least I already did that with some success

[notla49285 48]

As @@Coxeroni says, read through the above topic, the main thing you need to do is port forward with your VPN provider, which most don't (TorGuard does but I'm yet to test it myself). The VPN provider will give you a random port number, which they will forward to a port number of your choosing.

 

For example, your real IP is 123.456.123.456, and you are allowing connections through your router via port forwarding on port 8096. Your VPN provider has given you IP address 987.654.987.654, you tell them you want a reserved port number from them, for example 54321, and you want any traffic coming in on that port to be forwarded to your real IP on port 8096.

 

Remote client visits 987.654.987.654:54321 - this goes to your VPN provider - they forward it to 123.456.123.456:8096 - this comes into your router which forwards it onto your Emby server, and away you go.

[Bazzu85 22]

As @@Coxeroni says, read through the above topic, the main thing you need to do is port forward with your VPN provider, which most don't (TorGuard does but I'm yet to test it myself). The VPN provider will give you a random port number, which they will forward to a port number of your choosing.

 

For example, your real IP is 123.456.123.456, and you are allowing connections through your router via port forwarding on port 8096. Your VPN provider has given you IP address 987.654.987.654, you tell them you want a reserved port number from them, for example 54321, and you want any traffic coming in on that port to be forwarded to your real IP on port 8096.

 

Remote client visits 987.654.987.654:54321 - this goes to your VPN provider - they forward it to 123.456.123.456:8096 - this comes into your router which forwards it onto your Emby server, and away you go.

 

I readed that express vpn don't allow port forwarding..

I'm reading something about setting the firewall but I don't know if it works..

 

thx both

[notla49285 48]

You won't be able to do this without port forwarding by your VPN provider because Emby Connect can't determine where your server is. Using my example IPs above, your IP address is 987.654.987.654, which Emby Connect will attempt to contact to find your server when your user/client tries to access it, but it won't find your Emby server because it reaches your VPN provider and then doesn't know where to go, as your VPN provider is not hosting an Emby server on 987.654.987.654, if you get what I mean.

 

Basically, you must have port forwarding, changing firewall settings without it won't make any difference.

Edited January 14, 2019 by notla49285

[Guest asrequested]

The other problem with simply using a VPN, is that they use rolling IPs. With the IP continually changing, emby connect will not be able to stay connected, even if it can find it once. The IP needs to remain unchanged and used to forward the port.

[Guest asrequested]

You know what? I was just thinking about this. I wonder if it's possible to add the host address directly in the server, and port forward through the VPN with that host address?

 

Luke, would the server be able to do that and stay connected even when the IP changes?

[Luke 42085]

the server will be fine, it's the apps that would lose their connection if the server ip changes.

[Guest asrequested]

Ah, thanks. Then it wouldn't work.