connecting to work network from home

[Bumzilla]

Is this what they call a VPN? I need to connect to a Pastel that's running off the office pc from outside the office. How do I go about doing this? Running WinXP on the office pc. If it was in the LAN, I just map the drive Pastel is running on and connect, but what if I need to access Pastel out of the office?

Forget to add we do have ADSL :)

[DarrylH]

there is an online site called LOGMEIN that will allow you to remotely access you desktop from anywhere in the world.

Your firewall might prevent you from connecting though.

[Garyvdh]

Ja, a VPN would do it... but you need your IT guys to set that up for you.

The easier solution is LogMeIn... if your office computer has internet access and you can install the client on your office computer then you can just dial in from home and work on that desktop as if it was your own.

[Drake2007]

There's also VPN server/client software from leaf networks.
Let us know how it goes with Pastel AFAIK it's bandwidth hungry.
Also correct me if I'm wrong but you might need to run DynDNS on the office PC.

[ponder]

Let us know how it goes with Pastel AFAIK it's bandwidth hungry.


If one uses Remote Desktop the issue goes away as pastel still runs on the office computer, all you see are screen updates which is probably the OP's best option.

[Sting]

+1,

I find Remote Desktop extreme useful. Have been in Pretoria since March and remote desktop from my notebook to my desktop in PE or my desktop in Pretoria.

Comes in very handy when you have to run massive macros or lookup tables, as my desktop in PE is the best of the lot!

[Drake2007]

If one uses Remote Desktop the issue goes away as pastel still runs on the office computer, all you see are screen updates which is probably the OP's best option.

Yeah was thinking that after I posted.

When I looked into this a while back the alternative with remote desktop had an issue with multiple logons, otherwise a better solution than sharing the folder imo.
Anyway the company had restrictions so I never got to impliment it.

The real issue is Pastel needs to wakeup and offer SaaS. (if they havn't already)

[Bumzilla]

I know windows has the built in Remote Desktop and have used tightVNC before. Solution I need is to allow me to work offsite and printout stuff from my home printer.

Is LOGMEIN similar to Remote Desktop or tightVNC? If so, it not what I'm looking for. My office ladies will be using their PC & Pastel all the time so no use for me to hijack their pc when I use Remote Desktop. Dyndns is no problem as I've used it b4 so I know how to setup.

I'll look into Leaf Networks. Thanks :) Any other solutions?

[Garyvdh]

Yes. Logmein is similar to remote desktop.

[Drake2007]

Dyndns is no problem as I've used it b4 so I know how to setup.

I'll look into Leaf Networks. Thanks :) Any other solutions?

There's also openVPN, I never got to test this stuff out with Pastel, only what I remember from researching it and testing a few apps locally.

Just to correct something. I think the router may need to have DynDNS in it, I'm sure someone here can confirm that or not.

[Bumzilla]

My router does have that function. Otherwise it's not really necessary. You just need to open a port on the router and can still run DynDNS from the PC. Don't ask me how now...I can't remember as it was at least 7-8 years ago since I was last a geek.

[kilos]

Recommended route would be VPN as the others (RDP) are the data transfer is not secure
Your company should create a VPN account (server end) at your company and you should create a VPN client with teh user name & password & VPN server .
Recommended VPN is L2TP versus PPTP (http://www.windowsecurity.com/articles/VPN-Options.html)


Howto: Setup a Windows XP PPTP VPN Client (http://wireless.gumph.org/content/6/4/013-howto-xp-pptp-vpn-client.html)
Howto setup PPTP at your Home or company (http://pigtail.net/nicholas/pptp/)
Setting up the Vista Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP)
Virtual Private Network (VPN) Server (http://theillustratednetwork.mvps.org/Vista/PPTP/PPTPVPN.html)

[Terrabiticfossilite]

www.logmein.com
If you want hassle free, try this, otherwise, VPN, but you need to config router accordingly... kilos gives good advice :)

[R4tt3xx]

You could use a VPN application like for example Hamachi (https://secure.logmein.com/products/hamachi/vpn.asp) to establish the connection, then simply use remote desktop to remote control the PC. Creating a VPN in order to funnel the Pastel data is a waste of a license and time.

[Terrabiticfossilite]

Hamachi is owned by logmein nowdays. As r4tt3xx says, don't try running it over the VPN if you go the VPN route, just run VNC or another remote desktop otherwise you will find it will be DOG slow and unreliable. At least if your internet goes down, you don't lose your batch.

Hamachi is a great VPN solution, but logmein is king of free and hassle-free remote access IMO.

[gregmcc]

I'd strongly advise you check with your network/security guys before doing this.

Connecting to a internal machine via the internet......the dream of a hacker :)

[cbrunsdonza]

You are trying to run Pastal using terminal services. You first need to make sure you have the required licence and your host PC is running the correct terminal server. If you don't do this then you can cause lock outs and problems with your Pastal - serious problems.

Our company has a Pastal server in Jhb and my boss sits in our Somerset West office accessing it (in LINUX). He has had a lot of issues with poor configurations from companies that think they know Pastal.

The Log-Me-In is a nice idea - but gregmcc makes a solid point.

[ubercal]

Make sure you dont have pastel installed on the home pc , and trying to connect thru a VPN.There's a good chance of pastel data corruption.Rather RDP onto a pc at the office or onto a TS Server