Can someone teach me how to set up Remote Desktop on Windows XP Pro and access it remotly?

[InlineFive]

I am confused. All the guides online don't make complete sense to me so I was wondering if I could get any help. And how would I log into my computer from my work computer? Thanks!

-Por

 

[mikecel79]

First do you have a router for your broadband connection? If so you need to forward port 3389 to the IP address of your PC. Second to setup RD right click My Computer and choose Properties. Click on Remote and then check off the box that says "Allow users to connect remotely to thic computer". Then just select the users you want to be able to connect to this machine. By default members of the administrators group can connect.

 

[InlineFive]

According to Microsoft I need a VPN connection to my computer. Does this have a specific port that needs to be forwarded through my router (MR814v2) also? Thanks for the quick reply MikeCel79!

-Por

 

[lowtech1]

You don't need a VPN tunel even if you have a router/firewall...as the above poster has mentioned, you will need to portforward port 3389 to the IP of the workstation that you want to control. Howerver, portforward isn't needed if you use VPN.

 

[InlineFive]

Originally posted by: lowtech
You don't need a VPN tunel even if you have a router/firewall...as the above poster has mentioned, you will need to portforward port 3389 to the IP of the workstation that you want to control. Howerver, portforward isn't needed if you use VPN.

Wait now i'm confused. On Microsoft's site they say that I need a VPN connection to my network for the RD to detect the computer properly. If I dont use a VPN (assuming that it's still encrypted) how can I tell it which IP address to go to?

-Por

 

[CTho9305]

Originally posted by: PorBleemo

Originally posted by: lowtech
You don't need a VPN tunel even if you have a router/firewall...as the above poster has mentioned, you will need to portforward port 3389 to the IP of the workstation that you want to control. Howerver, portforward isn't needed if you use VPN.

Wait now i'm confused. On Microsoft's site they say that I need a VPN connection to my network for the RD to detect the computer properly. If I dont use a VPN (assuming that it's still encrypted) how can I tell it which IP address to go to?

-Por

If you have a dynamic IP, that'll be difficult. You could set up a dyndns account, and run an updater on your home machine so foo.dyndns.org would always point to your home machine...

 

[InlineFive]

Originally posted by: CTho9305

Originally posted by: PorBleemo

Originally posted by: lowtech
You don't need a VPN tunel even if you have a router/firewall...as the above poster has mentioned, you will need to portforward port 3389 to the IP of the workstation that you want to control. Howerver, portforward isn't needed if you use VPN.

Wait now i'm confused. On Microsoft's site they say that I need a VPN connection to my network for the RD to detect the computer properly. If I dont use a VPN (assuming that it's still encrypted) how can I tell it which IP address to go to?

-Por

If you have a dynamic IP, that'll be difficult. You could set up a dyndns account, and run an updater on your home machine so foo.dyndns.org would always point to your home machine...

I have a Static IP Address system, it only changes whenever I change my router (or router MAC). Can you tell me how to do this please?

-Por

 

[blcjr]

I have a Static IP Address system, it only changes whenever I change my router (or router MAC). Can you tell me how to do this please?

First of all, ignore whatever you are reading that says you have to have a vpn. (Now let's start over.

So you have a router, and a "static ip address system." What, exactly, do you mean by the latter? Are you saying that (a) you've assigned static ip's to the computers on your (home?) lan, or that (b) you have a static ip assigned by your ISP?

How many computers do you have behind the router? If more than one, then my suggestion is that you learn how to configure and use RDP on the computers behind the router first, and then move on to accessing a computer from the internet -- assuming that's what you want to do, and it isn't very secure! (This may be the context of where you are being told to use a vpn -- to make the connection more secure. But first things first.)

If you have two computers behind the router, see if you can install the RDP service on one, and the client on the other, and access the service remotely. Then we'll take it from there.

 

[mikecel79]

Actually using RDP over the internet isn't all that insecure. All data sent between client and server is encrypted with 128-bit or 56 bit encryption. Unless someone is sniffing your specific connection the chances of them getting anything useful out of it is pretty slim.

 

[InlineFive]

What is RDP and can someone tell me how to configure my computers (two) to use it? This would be cool if I could browse my network and use Remote Desktop remotely.

-Por

EDIT: I have two desktops behind my Netgear MR814v2 router. I would probably be using the laptop to access them remotely. I might also access one machine from work or a friends house. Can you also tell me if I need to have any ports on my router forwarded? Currently Port 3389 is forwarded to my main computer.

My main computer is doing Remote Desktop over the internet now but both computers would be really cool. Here is my network setup if it helps...

2.5Mbps Cable Internet > Toshiba PCX1100U Modem > Netgear MR814v2 > Two 100mbps Desktops and one 802.11b Laptop!

 

[mikecel79]

Originally posted by: PorBleemo
What is RDP and can someone tell me how to configure my computers (two) to use it? This would be cool if I could browse my network and use Remote Desktop remotely.

-Por

EDIT: I have two desktops behind my Netgear MR814v2 router. I would probably be using the laptop to access them remotely. I might also access one machine from work or a friends house. Can you also tell me if I need to have any ports on my router forwarded? Currently Port 3389 is forwarded to my main computer.

My main computer is doing Remote Desktop over the internet now but both computers would be really cool. Here is my network setup if it helps...

2.5Mbps Cable Internet > Toshiba PCX1100U Modem > Netgear MR814v2 > Two 100mbps Desktops and one 802.11b Laptop!

RDP = Remote Desktop Protocol. That is the protocol that Remote Desktop and Terminal Services uses. You will only be able to access one of your machines that is behind the router since you can only forward port 3389 to one IP address. If your laptop is behind your router/firewall you can use the laptop to access either one. If it's outside your firewall you can only access the machine that your router is forwarding port 3389.

I suggest you do some reading on how TCP/IP and routing works. It'll make understanding this a whole lot easier.

 

[lowtech1]

Originally posted by: mikecel79

Originally posted by: PorBleemo
What is RDP and can someone tell me how to configure my computers (two) to use it? This would be cool if I could browse my network and use Remote Desktop remotely.

-Por

EDIT: I have two desktops behind my Netgear MR814v2 router. I would probably be using the laptop to access them remotely. I might also access one machine from work or a friends house. Can you also tell me if I need to have any ports on my router forwarded? Currently Port 3389 is forwarded to my main computer.

My main computer is doing Remote Desktop over the internet now but both computers would be really cool. Here is my network setup if it helps...

2.5Mbps Cable Internet > Toshiba PCX1100U Modem > Netgear MR814v2 > Two 100mbps Desktops and one 802.11b Laptop!

RDP = Remote Desktop Protocol. That is the protocol that Remote Desktop and Terminal Services uses. You will only be able to access one of your machines that is behind the router since you can only forward port 3389 to one IP address. If your laptop is behind your router/firewall you can use the laptop to access either one. If it's outside your firewall you can only access the machine that your router is forwarding port 3389.

I suggest you do some reading on how TCP/IP and routing works. It'll make understanding this a whole lot easier.

I second the reading part, and after setup is master....edit the registry on the client box for alternative IPs & multi portforward can be implement. (To change the defaul RDP port edit the DWORD value under: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SYSTEM > CurrentControlSet > Control > Terminal Server > WinStations > RDP-Tcp)

Follow mikecel79 instruction to setup RDP for the XP box, then logon in the local network using host IP or name.

ie.
from client computer log into host computer: host_comp_name or 192.168.x.x
from client computer log into host computer with modify port: host_comp_name: Port# or 192.168.x.x: Port#