Need some netwrok/remote access help!!

[ruefy13]

Hi everybody,

To start off, I am pretty familiar with setting up a home network and currently have a functioning wired/wireless XP pro network with a workgroup set up for my parents with about 5 computers on it at their house. They live out in the country so they are running high speed internet through direcway business satellite which works suprisingly well and the new direcway modem is also a router just so you all know.....the broadband runs independantly from the computers and is distributed through the router and a wireless access point.

No here's my question. My dad rund his business from home and travles a lot. Is there a way to set up a remote access so that he could log into the workgroup or home noetwork while he is traveling? This is where my networking knowlwdge runs out and i have no clue as to what the best way or most feasible way to set this up would be. He would pretty much like to be able to access the files on the home computers while he is away, so they would all be in one place and if they were changed by someone he wouldn't have old copies on his laptop.....constantly syncing files on multiple computers is a pain so having them centrally would be easier. I don't know if this is possible, thanks for the help.

 

[JackMDS]

There are few ways to do so; it depends on How Easy it needs to be and the level of security.

First you have to make sure that your Home Computer/Network is easy accessible from the outside through the Internet, that applies to any of the Remote Access mean that you choose.

Link to: The options to Connect through the Internet to a Home/SOHO Computer/Network.

As for Remote Access Applications.

Middle of the way, very easy to set and use, can be encrypted, you can use UltraVNC Remote Control.

Link to: Ultr@VNC (Remote Control for your Network/Internet) - Installation, and Settings

For High Level security you should use VPN.

Link to: Introduction to VPN.

Link to: Use Virtual Private Networks for Secure Internet Data Transfer.


Link to: Configure Windows XP Professional to be a VPN server.

For a more complicated comprehensive solution you can use Microsoft Remote desktop.

Microsoft - Remote Desktop in Windows XP.

Link to: Set Up Remote Desktop Web Connection with Windows XP.

Link to: How to use remote Desktop Access in Windows XP.

:sun: