Netpath Probe is using local NIC instead of virtual adapter used by VPN

Hello,

I have installed an agent on a laptop that I use remotely over a VPN. I have given the agent the IP address that this virtual NIC is using. When I create the probe using this agent, I also provide it that same IP address.

However, when I create a Netpath with this, I run into two issues.

First, it uses the local adapter's IP address. As the page is loading, I can see that it's saying "Source: *virtual adapter IP*", but as soon as the page fully loads, it changes to show my local adapter. As far as I can assume, it is not using the IP I gave the agent OR the probe, but instead the agent itself is checking the wifi adapter and choosing that IP. There is no way I can find to tell it to begin the probe using a different NIC. In doing this, it doesn't create the path over the VPN connection, which is what I want.

Second, even if it were my intention to use the local NIC, I get a DNS error. I can create a Netpath service to my router's inner IP address, but it cannot even resolve the external IP. My guess is that somehow it's either not set up with DNS properly, or it is pointing to a DNS server that it cannot reach (possibly the one my VPN NIC is configured for?).

Any help would be great, thanks. I do not see why I cannot set this up the way I am trying to.

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marcrobinson

Your description points me to the network configuration. While netpath is great, it may be helpful to run a simple traceroute to see if it matches what you think should be happening. For your DNS issue - you will need to dig deeper or provide more detail. Does that external IP have a dns entry? IS that external interface accessible even by ip from your laptop? Its early and my brain needs coffee, but that is what I kept thinking.

TA_Thwack

Yes, traceroutes for what I am trying to do have no issues. For the DNS issue, I have no idea what could be the issue. My PC has no issue connecting to google on of off the VPN. My home PC also has no issues. There is a situation where the netpath probe apparently doesn't have DNS, OR I am wondering if it is trying to use the DNS that the VPN is set up to use, but for whatever reason uses the local adapter's IP address, thus cannot find a DNS server. The DNS server set up for my wifi adapter (corporate owned) points to my local gateway, which is fine, and works as a DNS server with no problems when not on VPN.

The issue is that my laptop has 2 adapters - a physical wifi adapter, and a virtual adapter used by the VPN. The netpath probe is gathering the local IP, regardless of any settings I change or the way I set up the agent or probe, and using that as the starting point instead of the virtual IP/adapter.

adam.beedell

Possibly something in the windows nic configuration settings? I've ran netpaths through vpns in the past, should be possible.

TA_Thwack

I have been looking around and cannot seem to find anything in the settings of my PC, Solarwinds or the agent software for this. I will keep trying. It's very strange to me, but I have been told that it may be because it is a "split tunnel vpn".

Deltona

Is the laptop that has the NetPath agent installed, added to Orion using the VPN address or a LAN address?
If it isn't added, you can try to change the NIC metric so that the VPN NIC has a lower metric and it will therefore be used first. You may have to uninstall, reboot and reinstall the agent after changing the metric.