Cant find AirPrint printer via VPN

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Evans Brasfield

• July 12, 2020 16:56

When I log into my home network via OpenVPN, my MacBook can’t see my home printer via AirPrint. When I am home, it works fine. Is there a rule I need to create to make the printer visible?

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  Firewalla

  • July 12, 2020 20:26

  When you are on VPN, you are on a different network.  The "finding printer" is based on mDNS, which gets filtered when you go across networks.  There is a way to reflect these, but ... not effective for VPN's. 

  So the best way is to access the printer via it's IP address directly.

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  Evans Brasfield

  • July 12, 2020 20:49
  • Edited

  While that will work on my MacBook, I don’t have the ability to choose the IP address for the printer when connected via my iOS devices. 
  
  

  Also, am I required to use the IP address for all of my network devices, like my NAS?

   

  And thank you for your response. 

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  Firewalla

  • July 15, 2020 19:10

  You can use the dot.lan address. (tap on devices, and then tap on the device, then look for local domain).  

  For the printer problem, it is likely due to Bonjour or MDNS not able to be forwarded to the VPN side;  Does your printer support air print? or it needs a bridge?

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  Greg Burk

  • October 05, 2022 01:51

  You can manually (by IP, not via Bonjour) add printer to iOS. This option is available only via configuration management:

  1. Download Apple Configurator from the Mac AppStore
  2. Connect your iOS device
  3. Create New Profile
  4. Choose AirPrint and fill in your printer configuration.
  5. Save this profile
  6. Select your device, press Add->Profile and install the profile you've just created
  7. Now your iOS device will check for the printer's IP directly, bypassing AirPrint's auto-discovery. This method works via VPN or when you are directly connected to a local network
  8. Depending on your connectivity, it may take some time to connect and print

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