How to Map to Shared Drive on another Computer across Internet?

[davisdog]

Hi,
I have another computer across the internet (on a DSL line) that I want to be able to access files on its harddrive from my home computer via its cable modem.

How can I get (map?) that remote harddrive so I can see the hard drive and access files on it. I assume I would need to turn on file sharing on the hard drive for that computer? But, How do I find it from my home computer (I can ping it (know the IP) but dont know how to bring it up in Win Explorer or anything like that). both are Win98SE

Not to concerned about security at this point, sort of an experiment (will try VPN later) but interested in any simple protection advice also after I get access to the drive (assume I can use passwords on the sharing)

thanks,
Steve

 

[jmcoreymv]

type \\ip\. Like if the ip was 192.168.0.1 type \\192.168.0.1\

 

[Spiff]

what jmcorey said.

No, across the internet, you will not have the broswe list provided by Network Neighborhood. This is because there are no WINS servers or Master Browsers talking to each other across the internet... In addition, the ports used for passing that information are likely filtered in many cases.

As an alternative to simple file sharing, you could always run and FTP server on the machine. A non-standard port will dissuade the casual busybody.

I personally like Serv-U as a third party FTP server with WS_FTP as a good client. Others recommend WAR FTP. Or, if the machines in question are NT 4.0 or Win2K, you could use IIS as the FTP server. But that is not typically as robust as these others I mention.

 

[davisdog]

thanks for the hints, but I haven't made it where I want to be yet...

I'm typing the IP in the Win Explorer and it seems to goes out and find the machine but times out since Win Explorer by default seems to try to look for Hypertext (http? How can I get it to show the drives or files available on the machine?

also I want to be able to execute a shared app on that machine rather than download it to my machine so I'm guessing straight FTP isnt what I want

basically I'm looking to access that machine as a file server from my client machine I'd guess...the only thing different is its across the internet as opposed to being on my LAN

more hints/ideas are greatly appreciated...

thx again...Steve

 

[Pauli]

I think you could do this if the machine you want to connect is running some flavor of Windows and has &quot;File and Printer Sharing&quot; bound to TCP/IP ---> <NIC>. Your machine would also have to have this setup. However, do you really want these machines exposed to the ENTIRE WORLD this way? Sure, you could password protect the shared folders, but configuring in this way is an invitation for hackers to go to town on this.
Actually, I think Virtual Private Networking is what you want to do. I'm not sure how this works, but I'm sure someone here knows. Good luck.

 

[fergiboy]

JmCorey is right you can use \\ip\. It will show all the shares at that ip.

 

[WoundedWallet]

davisdog, you need to type &quot;net view \\IP\...&quot; at the command prompt.
I don't think it works with internet explorer. But I'm not sure it works with W98 either.
Also what Pauli said about security is true, you really don't want to have your legs that opewn with so many horny dogs around.
I don't know how VPN works but that's what it was designed for.

Just make sure you don't act like a horny dog yourself.

 

[eelw]

Type \\ip\ under the run line. This will open up a Windows explorer of the remote computer. You will not be able to share applications from the remote computer. The way I typically do this is to run Netmeeting. On the remote computer, enable remote desktop sharing. Ensure both on both computers the under the security tab incoming and outgoing calls are checked off. This will add an icon to the system tray. Right-click and enable remote sharing. On the local system, enter the IP address and connect. You will be prompted for the admin pw set on the remote computer. Voila!

 

[davisdog]

...still haven't got anything to happen when I type //xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx/



but I set up the remote sharing with Netmeeting as suggested and that works pretty sweet...some lag from the screen draws etc...but it brings the remote desktop up in a window on your machine and you get full control of it...with speedy machines on either end and fat pipes it works pretty nice..

thanks

 

[jmcoreymv]

davisdog: Its not //ip/ its \\ip\ thats your problem

 

[murdmath]

try this at a dos prompt

net use i: \\ipaddress\sharename

try that. Make sure your nic is bound to microsoft network and file printer and sharing is bound on the client side.

Mat

Type &quot;net use ?&quot; for more options on this command