Remote access - IP addresses and LMHOSTS file

  • Thread starter Thread starter Michael Taylor
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M

Michael Taylor

I recently purchased some remote access software called SSH Sentinel for use
on my laptop when I'm dialed in or on someone elses LAN, to allow me to
access my LAN which is behind a DSL router that supports VPN.

I've been able to establish a VPN connection and use Remote Desktop
Connection to one of my PC's on the LAN, by specifying it's IP address.

This IP address is dished out by the DHCP server function on the router, so
it's possible that each PC might get different IP addresses whenever they
get turned off and on.

On the laptop, when I view the workground, no machine names are listed, but
I'd like to use the machine name rather than the IP address, just like I do
when the laptop is connected directly to the LAN.

I understand that there is an lmhosts.sam file which might help, but I need
some education before I try to use it. Does anyone know of any good online
resources that explain and describe how to use it, plus any pitfalls? I
tried a knowledge base search but couldn't find anything that seemed
relevant, as they all looked like problem/solution documents. Windows XP
help and support didn't show anything useful either.

Thanks for any help.
Mike
 
I don't think LMHOSTS will help--it is documented via comments in the .sam
(sample) version of the file--the active version of the file would be
LMHOSTS (no suffix)

Is there a WINS or DNS server on the host lan which you could configure in
your VPN connection?

A dynamic DNS client may not work for you unless you have simultaneous
Internet and VPN connectivity, otherwise that'd be something to look at.
 
Thank you Bill for your reply. I don't have a WINS or DNS server on my lan.
I do have simultaneous internet and VPN connectivity, and I've noticed that
my router has support for Dynamic DNS but I haven't explored what that does
or even understand it - perhaps that will help in what I'm trying to do.
Same for the SSH software.
Thank you for the pointers. I have some reading to do.
Regards
Mike1
 
The router probably has a tie to a particular proprietary Dynamic DNS
service--perhaps TZO's. I don't like such ties on principal, but I do use
TZO myself and like it just fine. There are free dynamic DNS services which
many folks find do just fine for their purposes.

Read up on the router documentation about the feature. Absent the router
feature, here's what I do--and you can do a 30 day free trial from TZO for a
test (www.tzo.com) You run a proprietary client service on your machine.
Each time you connect to the Internet, this service contacts TZO's server
and passes your IP address and account number to them. They then provide
DNS listings pointing to your IP address so that you can use "mike1.tzo.com"
or a number of other possible variations, as the address for your RD
connection.

As I say, there are free variations on this--but the paid services aren't
outrageously priced--I think $40 for two years service is what I paid for a
recent re-subscription to TZO.

I assume the router variation has this client built-in to the router, which
simplifies things, but you can do an end-run around it and use the PC-based
system even with that router.
 
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