Quick question re: bridged internet, xbox, vpn's...

Forums › LAN (ethernet/Wifi/routers/Bluetooth) › Quick question re: bridged internet, xbox, vpn's...

bener

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#90959 4-Oct-2011 12:38

Hey there everyone,

I have a quick query - I have signed up for WiTopia's PPTP VPN plan (worked out to about $50NZD/year) and it is fantastic.

The question is, I want to connect my Xbox (original model) to my PC's ethernet port and bridge the ethernet with my wireless connection. What I want to achieve is to have the Xbox's internet access going through the VPN that my computer is connected to at any time (I use a few different servers).

I would assume this would work but I am not sure if the Xbox will get its own connection from the router, via the PC's WiFi, or actually share the internet connection of my PC, thereby getting sent through whatever VPN the PC is connected to at the time.

I haven't had a chance to test this out and would usually just give it a go and see, but I though someone might have specific experience and tips for me. I am also wondering how this would affect FTP access to the Xbox and IP addressing...

Any info would be greatly appreciated.

bener

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#528987 4-Oct-2011 12:39

I was thinking ICS could be a better option?

timmmay

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#529090 4-Oct-2011 15:04

I don't know the answer to that. I use Astrill, if you have a DD-WRT router you can put the VPN in there directly, and your whole connection goes over the VPN. You should see if you can do that with your VPN provider.

bener

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#529100 4-Oct-2011 15:41

I do indeed have a DD-WRT router but I don't think that would work as I don't want the rest of my network running through the VPN...

If I connect from my PC it only affects that connection. Thanks for the reply though! I have looked into client-bridge mode with the DD-WRT (as a kind of replacement for the xbox wireless adapter) but unless I can get XBMC to switch VPN's easily it is not the fastest option for when I want to use different VPN's.

bener

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#529342 5-Oct-2011 08:56

Update (in case you're interested timmmay...) I did get it connecting to the network using the DD-WRT router (Linksys WRT-54G) but could not get any of the proxy settings to work with xbmc or the plugins I'm using. I'm going to try ethernet to my PC tonight.

timmmay

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#529356 5-Oct-2011 09:21

If the DD-WRT router is your main router, or even just on the route to the internet, won't that send everything over the VPN?

bener

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#529446 5-Oct-2011 11:01

I was using the DD-WRT router as a bridge to my wireless connection (Thompson TG-585v8, not a very good router IMO) - almost just a replacement for the xbox wireless adapter, the DD-WRT connects to the Thompson with WPA2 then shares the connection with the xbox over ethernet. Xbox was connecting to internet fine and I could FTP to it over the network...

I was configuring the proxy settings in xbmc, on the xbox, but they were not working. I could play around more but there are a few different plugins that need to run on a few different proxy servers so I'd rather be able to control that from my PC.

bener

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#529447 5-Oct-2011 11:03

Sorry, re: your comment 'even just a route to the internet', my WRT-54G is running DD-WRT micro which does not support PPTP within the router itself. Also, it would be slow to switch proxies as when the router is in bridge mode you cannot connect to it wirelessly (e.g. 192.168.1.1) as it effectively becomes transparent.

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timmmay

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#529448 5-Oct-2011 11:05

You're past my networking knowledge now.

bener

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#529460 5-Oct-2011 11:14

Basically I am just saying it may well be easier to connect my xbox directly to my PC (and share its internet connection) so I can change VPN servers with a few clicks; rather than having an extra WiFi router working as a wireless adapter for my xbox, then trying to sort out a quick way to change VPNs with that setup.

I will have my answer tonight when I try my original idea (direct link to PC) and see if it all works properly. I will update the post accordingly...

Thanks for the original suggestion either way.

Ragnor

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#529566 5-Oct-2011 13:27

Why do you want the Xbox to use the vpn? I presume it is an old Xbox just used for media so: you're trying to get it to access Netflix, Hulu etc directly?

ICS should work.

bener

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#529571 5-Oct-2011 13:32

Yeah you got it Ragnor, just tinkering around trying to avoid paying for a HTPC setup (I'll set up something on the cheap eventually anyway). Keeping myself entertained really.

ICS will be my first port of call when I get home as that should make VPN switching nice and easy from my PC.

It's pretty hard getting any good plugins for the Xbox version of xbmc (XBMC4XBOX) but it's more of a side project than anything...