Remote Desktop Quick Questions

Okay, so let's say I have Vista Ultimate on my laptop. It is connected to the internet through a router.

Say I want to connect to my laptop using Windows XP. Is there anything special I have to do to set this up?

 

As long two computers have remote acess function then your fine.

 

All you have to do is enable Remote Desktop on the computer(s) you want to connect to. And make sure that any and all firewalls on the computer or network is configured to allow the RDP protocol.

 

First, make sure your Vista Ultimate has the Remote Desktop Service enabled to accept connections.

If you're connecting locally, it should work with the XP Remote Desktop client.

If you want to connect from outside your LAN, you may have to forward the right ports in your router or put your Vista computer on DMZ to connect.

I've left out the details. Let us know if you need more info.

 

If your trying to RDP over the internet it wont work

Use a VNC or a VPN + RDP

 

Can you tell us why it won't work?

 

Different networks, different IPs and subnet...

Its possible but its unsecure to RDP naked over the net.

Download Hamachi LogMeIn (freeware) if you want to network over the internet

 

It is more than possible...at least if you're talking about using the Remote Desktop Connection utility. And i'm sure it's more secure than VNC and the rest...even though i've never used VNC. Here's how I got there.

Click | Click | Click | Click

I actually tried the port change tweak before but was unsuccessful. Have to give it a go again when I have time.

+1 for LogMeIn...it is good; I use it too, but sometimes one would love to use a built-in utility such as RDC instead of depending on a third party software. But OP, if you don't have to worry about admin rights for installing software like LogMeIn it definitely gets my vote.

 

I don't think that's a reasonable answer. If RDP doesn't work over different IPs, that is basically denying the whole purpose of it.

I believe your concern is security, and it is understandable that any open port creates a possibility for exploit (which is probably why it is disabled by default). However, I think the benefits outweigh the risks... and I'm sure lots of admins use remote desktop for daily tasks.

 

Well its up to you really...

But a VPN like LogMeIn will let you share files and also enable a safer RDP connection without making tweaks.

 

RDP works just fine over the internet - unless I've just been imagining all the connections I've made from my in-laws' house over their broadband (with one public IP address) back into my home server system on my separate broadband (with a different public IP address). Also, I use dyndns to keep track of my home public IP, so it works with that, as well.

Now, keep in mind, "works" is not the same as "secure" and I don't know exactly how secure the data being sent over the internet is under RDP. The access, however, is controlled by a standard Win UID/PW login for an existing account on the remote system, and the RDP port is the only one being forwarded, so I don't think that the access ports themselves are any less secure than any other port that's exposed to the internet.

 

Yes as a public IP but if you have a router like the OP does, the router needs to be setup properly.

A VPN will also allow a more secure connection and file sharing, not just RDP. Theres been known security holes/flaws with RDP which prompted me to use a VPN. Its probably patched up by now but i take no chances.

 

In terms of "working," a router presents no special problems with Remote Desktop, provided the router has port forwarding capabilities.

In schematic form, when I'm at the in-laws', the chain from my laptop to my home server is:

Laptop-->Wireless Router1-->ISP1 Cable Modem-->Internet-->ISP2 Cable Modem-->Wireless Router2-->Home Server

When the packets addressed to my home public IP hit the router, they get forwarded to the appropriate port on the home server using its private IP and, bingo, I'm in like flynn.

 

I use VPN Endpoint router, pc to router. This gives me full access to my complete network. Where on a std VPN the routers does a port forward to a specific PC.

If your RDP is done through a VPN Tunnel you will be very secure.