Joplin Server when using Mac Client - 403 Error

[cypher2001]

Operating system

Linux

Joplin version

3.0.1

Desktop version info

Joplin 3.0.15 (prod, darwin)

Client ID: d242e9b945f54127bca80b23c84f51d2
Sync Version: 3
Profile Version: 47
Keychain Supported: No

Revision: 598677b

Backup: 1.4.1
Note Tabs: 1.4.0

Sync target

Joplin Server

What issue do you have?

Joplin Client information:

Joplin 3.0.15 (prod, darwin)

Client ID: d242e9b945f54127bca80b23c84f51d2
Sync Version: 3
Profile Version: 47
Keychain Supported: No

Revision: 598677b

Backup: 1.4.1
Note Tabs: 1.4.0

Installation has been working great since late 2023. Syncing was seamless.

Noticed a syncing issue just yesterday. Am able to login to the Joplin server using the credentials fine. The only error I'm able to see if via the Mac client. The IOS app syncs fine.

Even more strange... When I try to sync with a VPN on, it works fine. This led me to suspect some firewall rule. When I inspected my firewall, I see the contact from my Mac client to my server and additionally contact to " api.joplincloud.com 443". Why is my mac client contacting joplincloud for my local database?

Anyone else seeing this behavior? This has been working fine for some time so I'm a little stumped.

[cypher2001]

Worth mentioning. My Iphone syncs fine as mentioned above but it does so on the same network as my mac. (Wifi, etc). This would indicate to me that its NOT a firewall rule. My mac has no firewall settings enabled. I'm leaning towards this being a client issue from what troubleshooting I am able to perform.

Why it works over VPN, I'm stumped on.

[cypher2001]

Found the issue. It was Cloudflare's Bot Fighting Mode. Unsure why it was targeting just my mac clients sync while allowing the IOS device. Perhaps they are viewed differently. Regardless, After removing cloudflare bot protection, It works as expected.
Just closing the loop in case anyone else runs across this issue.