connecting to my network while away?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Robert
  • Start date Start date
R

Robert

I have four computers (two are laptops)in my home/office
network (running winXP on them all) and I am wondering if
it is possible to take my laptop with me on vacation and
still be able to access my network with my laptop? if so
how??
 
Your options include a VPN link, if you simply need to be able to access and transfer files, or
Remote Desktop if you want to access/control the desktop(s) just like you were sitting in front of
the keyboard/monitor and be able to access and transfer files, print, etc. Look at these links for
help. Note that Remote Desktop only runs in "host" mode if the box is running XP Pro. You can run
the Remote Desktop "client" software from a variety of other platforms...

VPN...

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/using/productdoc/en/conn_vpn.asp
http://www.onecomputerguy.com/networking/xp_vpn_server.htm
http://www.onecomputerguy.com/networking/xp_vpn.htm

Remote Desktop...

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/focuson/remotedesktop.asp
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/using/productdoc/en/2ndlvl_remote_desktop.asp

If your behind a firewall/NAT/router you will need to forward/open TCP Port 1723 and pass GRE
Protocol 47 traffic for PPTP VPN. Some firewall/NAT/router devices call this "PPTP Pass Through" or
"VPN Pass Through". Check the documentation or the manufacturers support web site or the local
network administrators for help with this.

For Remote Desktop you need to forward/open TCP Port 3389.

In all cases call using the public IP of the desktop/firewall/NAT/router. If your PC is behind a
firewall/NAT/router use the http://www.whatismyip.com site to get the IP. You can find the current
IP address of a PC connected directly to the public internet by using the ipconfig command. Go to
"Start -> Run" and type "cmd" in the window. At the command prompt type "ipconfig /all", without the
quotes. If your ISP assigns a dynamic IP then look at using one of the dynamic name services that
map an alias, usually of your choice, to the DHCP assigned IP address. I use No-IP.com which is
free. Go to http://www.no-ip.com for help with that. Others, some free some $$$$, can be found at...

http://www.remotenetworktechnology.com/ow.asp?Remote_Network_Home/Connections#h8

If you want to access/control more than one PC using Remote Desktop and your behind a
firewall/NAT/router then either setup a VPN link first and connect to any of the PCs with Remote
Desktop through the VPN tunnel or look at this small page that illustrates how to access multiple
Remote Desktop sessions. Modify as needed for your particular firewall/NAT/router...

http://www.oecadvantage.net/ajarvi/Multiple_PC_RD.html

Personally I recommend the VPN method since you only need to open one port on the
firewall/NAT/router.
 
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