"PC Anywhere" type programs

[VR46]

Does anyone use them regularly (allows you to access home PC from work etc), couple over at download.com

eg http://www.download.com/GoToMyPC/300...-10349578.html

sounds good but curious how secure they are etc.

Any views/opinions/recommendations appreciated.

[SharkAttack]

I use gotomypc.com for remotely connecting to my work laptop from home. Seems pretty secure and very good.

[Pij]

we use PCAW, Net Support Manager and ultra vnc, out the 3 i would recommend Net Support Manager, seems to most reliable.

never had a problem with security, just dont make your pw 12345, qwerty etc

[marcus]

I dont have an internet address as such which Im finding makes PCAnywhere difficult to configure - I always thought that you would register with the vendor of the software and communicate to your home pc via them - my setup is that I have a domain which sits behind a router/firewall, on adsl. The router is allocated a dynamic IP from my ISP, and I have two boxes beyond that one of which is my server which I want to connect to from work. That has a static address. Any thoughts on the best program to achieve this?

[mmmonkey]

Marcus - this may help you a bit, http://www.dyndns.org/services/dyndns/

Gives you a static name to communicate to the dynamic ip address of your router, then you can forward the correct ports for your chosen remote control app to the static internal address of your server.

Pete

[marcus]

Ive an account there now, a hostname and IP (of my ISPs allocation). Presumeably now I can install VNC client onto my work PC, tap in the hostname Ive been given, and access my network. It being behind a netgear ADSL router/firewall, and my server being on an internal IP network can you advise as to how I configure this? My server IP is 192.168.0.10 internally. Id expect it to fail at this point connecting from work tomorrow.

[Valken]

Forward port 5900 (I think) to the private IP address of your computer in the router control panel.

[edandersen]

If you are using Windows XP Pro or 2003, just turn on Remote Desktop / Terminal Services (right click My Computer, then the Remote tab).

Start > Run "mstsc" will run the remote desktop connection program built into XP or you can get the free client off Microsoft. Free and easy. Why do people pay for "Remote PC" programs?

[mmmonkey]

I've just noticed on my netgear dg834 that it supports dyndns, so if you get allocated a new ip address it will update your record with dyndns. It's under the Advanced - Dynamic DNS options if you have the same/similar

If you go down the Remote Desktop route, then you'll probably need to forward TCP Port 3389 to 192.168.0.10, and yep VNC is port 5900 if you use that.

Pete

[Ginger Tosser]

I use Remote Desktop built in to XP/2003 and installable on 2000 Server. Before i had a static IP i used DNS2GO (now a pay service) and connected with no problems. Just had a open port to my local IP address opened on my old router (port 3389 for info).

Being paranoid I also had a software firewall on my server and only allowed remote access to my old employers IP.

Just had a look at GoToMyPC, i did know citrix did that. Bloody expensive though, just like Metaframe XP.

[Rossco]

With the remote Desktop one in windows, do you need to accept it or can I just go onto a PC in Uni, type in my IP address and it'll give me access to my PC. There doesn't have to be someone at the other end so accept the connection or anything no?

[edandersen]

With the remote Desktop one in windows, do you need to accept it or can I just go onto a PC in Uni, type in my IP address and it'll give me access to my PC. There doesn't have to be someone at the other end so accept the connection or anything no?

Nope, its all cool. Just enter the IP address of the remote windows PC when Remote Desktop has been turned on, make sure it can poke through whatever firewall you have, and when connecting to the remote PC a log in dialog comes up. Piece of piss.

Please someone tell me who actually pays for remote access programs when the functionality is built into every OS?

[Ginger Tosser]

Its built in to XP so providing its enabled and theres not firewall in the way. It should work (subject to your uni allowing remote access via port 3389).

Looking at the Citrix product it seems to be aimed at business users rather than home. It runs as a service on your PC and send an alive message to citrix. To log on to your PC you do it via Citrix. I'm guessing its using the ICA client is so much better than RDP on **** bandwidth. Still like you Ed, i cant see why anyone would pay.

[marcus]

Ok so in a nutshell I need to forward TCP Port 3389 to 192.168.0.10 in my Netgear CP, then after enabling remote connection on my server and work PC, I enter the IP given to me by my ISP in order to connect?

[Ginger Tosser]

Yes, although i think earlier you said you had a Dynamic DNS provider. You should be able to enter the DNS name rather than the IP. This assumes your work will allow outbound connections via RDP 3389.