Remote pc access for dummies

**buksida** · September 17th, 2007, 04:06 AM

I have been banging my head against the wall with this one for sometime so will be eternally grateful to anyone that can help.

Heres what I need to do:
Connect to a work network Win2k server or XP clients from a remote laptop. The local IP addresses cannot be changed (ie the server is 192.168.10.xx). I need full file access to the server so I can administer the network from any location with an internet access.

Heres what I've tried:
Windows remote desktop
PC anywhere
A couple of free download programs

I can't for the life of me get this running so would really appreciate a step by step idiots guide to setting this up.

**NooNoo** · September 17th, 2007, 05:19 AM

Alot of people use ultra VNC.

Does the router forward the correct ports to the relevant machine(s)?

**Matridom** · September 17th, 2007, 06:19 AM

www.logmein.com

**arch0nmyc0n** · September 17th, 2007, 02:45 PM

While I like the look of what Mat suggested.... my vote goes with Noo and UltraVNC:

http://www.uvnc.com/index.html

I've been using it for quite a long time now to remotely log into my network at home.

The ports UltraVNC uses are 5900 (program) and 5800 (web interface via Java) These can be changed in the program easily. I setup my router to forward those ports to the proper IP address assigned to the machine. I also forwarded 5901 and 5801 to a second machine ip with it installed and 5903 to a third. I employed the free part of dyndns.org and their automatic updater to give me a subdomain name rather than an ip (I've already got to many ips to remember). I find it works well for me and the options that comes on the viewer is very handy for file transfers.

I find it important to let you know I have a few friends that have had UltraVNC bruteforced open however. This was done on the lowest security measures setup on the server program. I've not messed with it heavily but it appears UltraVNC can authenticate via MS Login Groups onto domains and such.

For myself, friends or really small businesses this works quite well... Larger businesses I'd probably lean towards Mat's idea.

**Matridom** · September 17th, 2007, 05:59 PM

the reason i like logmein is cause it proxies through the webserver, that means several things.

1. you don't need to open any ports what-so-ever.
2. where your connecting from does not require anything special other then access to the website hosting the service.
3. If necessary, you can even proxy through a third point to the website if needed.
4. The basic service is free.

**Kodiak** · September 18th, 2007, 12:28 AM

What I set up for customers is hamachi and tightVnc. This gives you an encrypted tunnel for security and allows you to transfer files also. I donlt believe UltraVNC is secure.

**buksida** · September 18th, 2007, 01:46 AM

Thanks for the responses, was really looking for something software based rather than web based so will try the uVNC.

May need a little assistance with the port setup on the router though, not even sure how to access the damn thing at the moment, cant get an admin screen via its IP ...

**buksida** · September 18th, 2007, 04:40 AM

Works!

A phone call to the ISP to get them to open the relevant ports on the router for local IPs. Installation of uVNC on the three computers I need to access, restart them all. Disconnect laptop from LAN and go onto dialup to test it and it works a dream!

One final question, this network has a leased line and static IP, how would I configure the admin for computers on dynamic IP internet access?

Thanks again for the help, its taken me ages to get this running when I should have got my head out of my #$% and posted here first!

**Gabriel** · September 18th, 2007, 09:36 AM

Originally Posted by buksida

Works!

A phone call to the ISP to get them to open the relevant ports on the router for local IPs. Installation of uVNC on the three computers I need to access, restart them all. Disconnect laptop from LAN and go onto dialup to test it and it works a dream!

One final question, this network has a leased line and static IP, how would I configure the admin for computers on dynamic IP internet access?

Thanks again for the help, its taken me ages to get this running when I should have got my head out of my #$% and posted here first!

You have to make the dynamic into static...
meaning - if IP changed than you have to make a DNS name constant
there are many free (and paid) services to make a "constant" DNS name point to a "dynamic" IP address.
Personally - I use http://www.dyndns.com/ -> works like a charm with my routers (mostly level one) - So I don't have to install any application (when router "gets" ip addrss from the ISP - it autoamtically keep DynDNS "posted").

Its a brave new wold,
Gabriel

**arch0nmyc0n** · September 18th, 2007, 11:35 AM

Originally Posted by Kodiak

What I set up for customers is hamachi and tightVnc. This gives you an encrypted tunnel for security and allows you to transfer files also. I donlt believe UltraVNC is secure.

UltraVNC has DSM (Data Stream Modification) plugin capabilities...

http://www.uvnc.com/features/encryption.html