I'm trying to do some work from home, but I'm having issues accessing a specific website. When I click the same link on my home internet, it loads for a bit and then shows the message: 'This site can't be reached.' The link looks like it has an IP address in it, which makes me think it might be tied to my company's network. The link works fine on all my devices at work, including my phone, but not when I'm connected to my home Wi-Fi. The link I'm dealing with looks like this: https://111.111.1.11/exa#home/studies/all (I've changed the IP for privacy). If I take out the IP part, it says 'DNS address could not be found.' Also, I can't install any software on my work computer to help with this. What's going on with the IP/DNS in the link, and is there a way for me to access this website from home?
5 Answers
Yeah, that link is most likely only accessible from within your company's network. If you can get a VPN connection, you should be able to access it that way from home.
It sounds like that website is hosted on your workplace's network, which means you need to be connected to their network to access it. Have you checked if your company has a VPN? That could allow you to access the site from home by linking your device to their network.
I doubt they'll have a VPN in place. I work at a small clinic and I'm not sure if anyone there is tech-savvy enough to set one up. Is there any way I could set up a VPN myself if I have the router info?
Does your URL start with `https://192.168.`? If yes, that’s a private IP, and you won’t be able to access it from home without being on the company’s network. Routers block outside connections for security reasons.
From what you described, it sounds like you're using a local IP address. These addresses aren't accessible from outside your company’s network, and that's why you're getting that error at home.
That's typically called an intranet. If it's using a private IP range, like 192.168.x.x, then your guess is spot on! You'd need a VPN to connect to your work's network.