C

Visitor

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3 Messages

Tuesday, December 27th, 2022 3:08 PM

Closed

remote desktop

Remote desktop will not function on Xfinity WiFi - it works when hardwired directly to the E-net port on the gateway, or on mobile phone hotspot, but will not connect while on WiFi.  Work provided VPN connection functions as intended on WiFi, but RDP will not connect.  Urgent as I had to move my home office and cannot hardwire to the gateway any longer.

Have tried all the tricks, Advanced Security off, Port Forward @ Port 3389, but it seems it will not open.  canyouseeme does not see the port as visible.

Please help - need to be able to RDP to my office PC to be able to work from home.

Thank you!

Problem Solver

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1.5K Messages

2 years ago

I'd ask the IT department at your company about that.  Works on Lan.  Works on Hotspot (bluetooth networked?).  Does not on WiFi, yet VPN connects?

Generally, when you set up a VPN, you hijack the default route, and route ALL traffic from a client through your network, isolating it from other devices on the clients network at the same time. That's intentional to keep other potentially infected devices on the client network from messing with yours.

A lot of companies require a hard wired connection (Ethernet), and specifically say in the "acceptable use policy" you can't use WiFi or Wireless to connect to the work network.  There may be exceptions if the phone hotspot is on a company issued phone that they setup and control. 

In any case, I'd send them an email.  They should be able to tell you if that's by design, or something they overlooked and will do for you.

Visitor

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3 Messages

@flatlander3​ thank you for taking the time to respond, it is appreciated - especially with my frustration level - unfortunately, I can say with certainty this issue is not on the company's end, but rather on my outgoing connection through my home network.  I have connected VPN and RDP via WiFi before from airports, hotels, etc when on business travel.

It seems that the firewall / advanced security is preventing my machine from opening the required port to communicate with my PC at work.

I have followed all of the guides - this looks to be a known issue as there are a lot of posts available to read on the 'net - disabled IPv6, disabled Advanced Security, created a "DMZ", changed from Reserved IP to DHCP, nothing seems to work.  

Problem Solver

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1.5K Messages

2 years ago

Couple down and dirty quick ones:

Try it with windows firewall disabled -- the goofyness of private vs public networks with windows and two different sets of rules.

Forget your WiFi connection.  Then rejoin your Xfinity network, but this time say public network like you would at a coffee shop or airport. 

There's some other things like removing the Wifi device in device manager, reboot, when windows comes back and adds the device, it might be named "wifi connection 2" with clear firewall rules that aren't wrapped around the axle.

Your IT department might have a few others and have seen this before, or they may have you reinstall VPN software.  They might have a specific package you need depending on the VPN software they use.  Don't remove what you have now without asking them about it.  

Honestly, whatever Xfinity does with port blocking, shouldn't matter to the traffic through a VPN tunnel.  Windows likely is blocking it -- anti-virus maybe on the wifi interface?  Missed a pop-up to allow RDP traffic on Wifi??  Dunno.

(edited)

Visitor

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3 Messages

@flatlander3​ Thank you again for your responses.  In a "what if I tried this" moment, I thought...I'll hardwire to my Xfinity pod as if it were the gateway....and BAM it worked.  VPN and RDP connected immediately.  Obviously there is something in the WiFi settings for that specific connection that is blocking the connection - I am exasperated with it at this point so I'm just going to roll like this for now, but I would like to get the wireless connection fixed and will revisit.

Thanks for your insight!  I'm going to try your tips once I feel a little more optimistic!

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