Microsoft Terminal Service question

[Maliy]

I have 3 computers running on the workgroup; one win2k server, and 2 winXP. What I need to do is be able to connect to them remotly from work. I use terminal service advanced web client, which lets me connect to the computer at home by typing the ip of a home computer. When I am at home I can connect to all 3 computers by typing the internal ip. My question is how do I connect from home to three computers maybe by typing a different port for each computer. If anyone has done these before please advise.

[YeOldeStonecat]

I don't know if this is possible with terminal services, but I don't use terminal services anyways, I prefer PcAnywhere...and I know it's possible with PcAnywhere....and I have a lot of clients who also do this....have several employees who connect to several different computers, all through the same router/broandband connection.

I'll layout the steps of what I do with PcAnywhere.

PcAnywhere uses two ports by default, 5631 and 5632. I never use the default ports, because tons of peeps leave PcA hosts running, and tons of kids run PcA scans looks for hosts running to try to hack into. So I choose different ports. If you wish to run several different PcAnywhere hosts, stagger them in port ranges 10 apart. In other words, if your first computer is running default 5631 and 5632, and you wish to add another host...simply specify that host to run on 5641 and 5642. If you wish for a 3rd host, specify it to run at 5651 and 5652. 4th host, 5661 and 5662...so on and so forth.

When you create a PcAnywhere host, you can specify which ports it runs on under tools==>options (this always differs according to what version of PcA you are using BTW...but I'll assume it's somewhat new, at least version 10.0) TCP Host properties, advanced....you'll find a spot to specify the host ports. Then...on your router...you specify the same ports..and forward them to the LAN IP address of that particular host. Now on the remote computer, it's easy to create a remote PcA, you'll see a "details" tab right on the TCP page..and you match the ports as the host.

I manage dozens of networks from my computer at the office...and several of those networks have more than one host running...I do this quite often, works great.

PcAnywhere does cost money, but it works great. I imagine you can do the same thing with VNC, which is a similar software package, less features, and is free. I'm don't really use Terminal Services much except on my own network at the office to manage the server, so I don't know if you can split hosts via ports so you can remote admin several through a router with the same WAN IP.

[twwabw]

:nod: Yep.... YOSC's got it right. Prior to PCA ver 10, it was a real pain to set up custom ports, but now it's a breeze.

Another alternative is to VPN into the Lan, and leave no ports exposed to the outside. Once your tunnel is established, you can browse for all internal waiting hosts. This is the way I can run dozens of internal hosts behind firewalls. Mapping special ports to individual pc's becomes impractical with more than a few hosts, and each of those open ports is an exposed port to the internet.

[Sid]

I use terminal services all the time, as a matter a fact I using it ringt now to work on an exchange server. The only thing you can do is access files and folders that are shared.

I think VPN would be my choice if I needed to do what you need. Since you run 2k server you already have it and won't cost you anything unless you exceed the CAL limets.

[Maliy]

Guys thanx for the replys!!
I am aware and used both pc anywhere and VNC. Unfortunatly both of them do not compare to the speed and and certain features of Terminal Client. When i talk about speed i mean that when I use Terminal client i feel like i am in real mode next to the computer even connected through my cable modem to work. When I talk about certain features i mean the webclient. This is a killer feature which makes a website and you can connected from any machine that has IE 4 or higher to use the server. Unfortunatly after doing some research the Terminal client is using only one default port, which makes it rather impossible to connect to multiple servers on one network using the webclient (it is possible to do it by using the built in Terminal client with a VPN feature). I am also aware that VNC has a web client, but if u have ever used the one in Terminal compared to VNC you would know the difference. As for PcAnywhere it is a great tool but unfortunatly the client doesn't even fit on one floppy and if the servers are accessed from different locations I am out of luck.

[twwabw]

Originally posted by Maliy
and if the servers are accessed from different locations I am out of luck.

Why are you out of luck? This is what PCA is designed for.

[Maliy]

Originally posted by twwabw
Why are you out of luck? This is what PCA is designed for.

Well you need a client to run the PCA on a server. And if I travel or use computers in different sites i cannot access server because they don't have the PCA clients installed. Terminal doesn't need it, only needs a web browser.

[YeOldeStonecat]

Originally posted by Maliy
I am aware and used both pc anywhere and VNC. Unfortunatly both of them do not compare to the speed and and certain features of Terminal Client. When i talk about speed i mean that when I use Terminal client i feel like i am in real mode next to the computer even connected through my cable modem to work.

Really? I choose PcA over Terminal because I find PcA better, faster, love extra features. I find TSWeb sluggish.

[YeOldeStonecat]

Well, you can always go with VNC, because that client fits on a floppy last I knew.

[Maliy]

VNC is extremly slow, even the advanced version tightvnc is very slow. TSweb works very well for me and when i use it i feel like I am next to the monitor. :)