How do I use Sickbeard, Couch Potato, Netflix, etc. with my VPN? I can’t connect to the local host. I honestly have no idea what I am doing. I used the guide on the sidebar and followed how to setup all this stuff but I can’t figure out how to access any of this stuff using my VPN. What am I missing?
A bit more information on what your setup is and what you are trying to do will go a long way towards resolution. When you say you are using VPN I would assume that you are outside of your Media Systems. Have you set up the proper ports through your firewall to access your VPN server? Does your local system register a connection when you access via VPN? Are you able to get to other services on computers behind the VPN (e.g., SSH or http) for a further connection test? Are the IP addresses the VPN gives out to remote computers able to access the Media Servers. Do you already have the media servers working? What VPN server are you using? Does it require a special Client to access the VPN server? Are we talking Mac, PC, Ubuntu and what versions of software are you using? And, do you have sufficient bandwidth in your network to handle the streaming?
I could get real snarky here and complain about your lack of knowledge on VPNs but that won’t help you with your problem and I do honestly want to help. Let’s start with some more info - what is your system layout and what are you trying to do?
LW
What VPN are you using?
I don’t know a lot of that information. I have Plex working. I am using IPVanish as my VPN with the OpenVPN protocol and set it up using the IPVanish website setup guide with Tunnelblick and all that. I don’t know what a “special client to access the VPN server” means. I am on a Mac OSX 10.7 Lion. I have cable internet and streaming seems to work good.
I don’t know how a lot of this works but I’m willing to learn. I am basically just using the tutorial that was on the sidebar of the /r/cordcutters. The one from totalhtcp that walks you through setting up Sab, Sickbeard and Couch Potato. I didn’t setup Headphones because I don’t care about music. I basically just want to use Sickbeard and Couch Potato and use Plex to play everything. So far I’ve only used nzbmatrix to download nzb files and uploaded them to Sab and downloaded files that way. The files work great, go to Plex and I’m able to play them fine.
I really wish I knew more than this but I’m starting from the beginning on all this stuff. Gotta start somewhere I suppose. Thanks for your help.
IPVanish with OpenVPN.
Late last night, I realized Sickbeard didn’t restart when I restarted my computer from some apple updates. My websites that were not opening and also google searches that weren’t working and saying they wouldn’t give me results because my computer might be compromised or something to that effect all seem to have resolved from a restart. I can now do everything like normal with my VPN on.
So starting sickbeard and restarting made everything work. Maybe being a total noob made me over think everything.
you dont need vpn unless you are for example at a friends house, or your office and you want to access your computer that is still on and running at your home (even though you are not home)
I got a VPN to avoid throttling from ISP. Even though Usenet servers provide SSL, ISPs can guess what you’re doing by looking at where all this bandwidth is coming from. VPN makes it appear to not come from Usenet.
Maybe it was just me but firstrowsports.eu appeared to run smoother once I started my VPN. You’d think it’d be the other way around considering your information has to travel further.
SSL only works if you change your ports, it is not uncommon for ISPs to attempt to throttle port 119 traffic (usenet traffic). Using alternative ports can help.
Most usenet providers offer alternate ports for this very reason, contact your provider to find out the list of ports they have available.
The guide told me to use 563 for usenetserver. Is this wrong?
Maybe try 443 if your usenet provider supports it, 443 is whats used for secure web browsing sessions. This might make them think you are just using a web browser.
If that doesnt work try here;
http://www.usenetshack.com/bypass-isp-throttling-usenet-connection-port-based-packet-inspection/
Is it risky to play around with the ports at all?
no these are just settings you enter into your usenet client
I just followed the totalhtpc.com tutorial that said to use 563. Will 443 make it quicker? Can you tell I don’t know what all these ports mean? I just followed the setup guide for usenetserver, SAB and sickbeard. Only difference from the tutorial is I added IPVanish.
read the link I posted above, and change the port number in your settings in sabnzbd.
All you are doing is changing the port number in your sabnzbd settings. If you cant understand this then sorry, I cant help you.
I do understand where to change it in sabnzbd. I appreciate your help. Do you still think a VPN is overkill or good to have?
you need to turn the vpn off change the port numbers as stated above test it for yourself and see.
I dont know why you find this so hard to figure out, or why you have failed to read anything I have said.
From now on your on your own, I wont be answering any more of your questions, all of the information you need is already here, just read it.
What? I said I understand where to change it in sabnzbd. I am sorry if you feel I don’t understand you. You only said that I needed VPN for using at a friend’s house, office, etc. etc.
I said the reason I was using it. You never said it was wrong to do that. I read this article (http://www.totalhtpc.com/usenet-vpn-more-secure-downloading-with-ipvanish/) and thought it was worth doing. Is this article wrong? Why are you getting so angry? I don’t have time to read your article right now. I am currently working. I’ve spent too much time on this as it is. Be nice. I thanked you for your help.