Remote Access between two XP Pro computers

  • Thread starter Thread starter Angelo
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A

Angelo

Hello, I'm a consultant who is trying to set up a small
network for a friend of mine. The business will be using
a Verizon DSL line with (2) Computers connected via a
LINKSYS BEFSR41 Router. How can I set up a remote or VPN
connection for an XP Pro & WIN98 that resides out of the
office so that the client can work from home using the XP
Pro machines in the office without having to purchase PC
Anywhere? PLEASE ADVISE!!!!!!!
 
Quote from XP Inside-Out, chapter 32:

"The only file you need from the CD is Msrdpcli.exe in
the \Support\Tools folder, so you might want to copy it
to a CD-R disc or a Zip disk. This file is over 3 MB in
size, so it won't fit on an ordinary floppy disk.

However, if the computer on which you want to install
Remote Desktop Connection has Microsoft Installer
support, you can get everything you need on a single
floppy disk. Microsoft Installer support is built in to
Windows 2000 and Windows Me, and you have it on other
Windows-based computers if you've installed Microsoft
Office 2000 or Microsoft Internet Explorer version 5 or
later.

Open Msrdpcli.exe in a program that opens .zip archives,
such as WinZip. (Msrdpcli.exe is actually a self-
extracting .zip archive.) Extract the file named
Msrdpcli.msi and copy it to a floppy disk; it's smaller
than 800 KB. (The other files in Msrdpcli.exe merely
install Microsoft Installer, so they're unnecessary if
you already have it.)"
 
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

Since 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 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. Since 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.
 
"RemotePC" (http://www.remotepc.com/) can be useful in this case. It
can function as a VPN replacement solution that is easy to use. Your
client can access the remote computer from home or anywhere and can
also transfer files if need be.
RemotePC works behind most firewalls without any special port settings
making remote access simpler.

Cheers,
Smith
 
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