giovedì 27 dicembre 2007

Mac OS X (Tiger) and VPN

This article applies to the latest update of Mac OS X Tiger, 10.4.11. I cannot tell, if you can find the option described here, in a previous version of the operating system.

In Mac OS X you can create VPN client connections by the application Internet Connect, under the Application folder.

The procedure is straightforward, but at the end there is only one annoying issue.
When you decide to start up your new VPN connection to connect to the remote LAN it is impossible to use your gateway to continue to surf the web or download e-mails until you close the VPN.
In the best scenario you end up using the gateway of the remote LAN in the worst one you are limited to access only machines and devices of the remote LAN.

The solution is not too far. Select the menu "Connect" and then Option from the Internet Connect app.
Uncheck "Send all traffic over vpn connection" and confirm your choice.
This is a global option, that applies to every VPN connection you may have in your list.

martedì 11 dicembre 2007

Mac OS X and the file hosts

Mac OS X stores the file hosts in /private/etc directory.
hosts is useful when there is no DNS server on the LAN and you want to reference a computer by name instead of its IP address.
In the majority of the Unix systems and Windows as well, editing the hosts file is sufficient to achieve the goal.
In Mac OS X it is also necessary to make changes at the local NetInfo database.

Here's how.

Mac OS X: How to Add Hosts to Local hosts File