Remote Access W/O Real IP

[Marcon]

Hi guys,

im trying to find somekind of software, that will allow me to connect to my home pc whenever im out ... the problem is , that home pc does not have real ip and is behind NAT ,i believe.

Thanks in advance :)

[YeOldeStonecat]

A couple of methods of doing this.....

1) Lets take the free approach, using tools you already have, with an added free service. If the "host" machine is Windows XP "Professional"...you already have Windows Remote Desktop built into it. You can enable that, forward port 3389 on your router to your hosts LAN IP address. Then you connect, with your Remote Desktop Client, from anywhere across the internet, to the WAN IP address of your router. How do you know what the WAN IP address of your router is? If you have a dynamic account with your ISP, which most home users do, simply sign up for a free account with a dynamic dns service, such as dyndns.com. Many home routers support these with features built into their firmware. The dynamic ip client notifies their dns servers each time your IP changes at home. Then you just connect to your aliased name, such as marcon.homeip.net

If you don't have Windows XP Professional at home, use a free remote access program such as UltraVNC. And forward port 5900 instead.

With either of the above approaches, make sure your Administrator account password is a good one, and the password you setup on your VNC client if you use that.

2) Paid for approach....gotomypc.com No port forwarding needed, or dynamic dns services needed...it's all handled by their services.

[Marcon]

Now that sounds great,but there is a small tiny problem..
The router is for my ISP :) and obviously,i will not have access to it to forward any ports. Unless i missunderstood the concept somewhere...

any suggestions?

[lenwest]

If you only have 1 computer you may not in fact have a router at home. Your computer may be connected directly to the broadband modem. In that case, you can ignore reference to the router, simply enabling Remote desktop connection if your computer runs XP pro.
On the remote computer, you would open remote desktop and connect as advised by YOSC. You would use the IP address if static or use the service YOSC mentioned.

If you have more than 1 computer, you should be using a router connected to the modem and the computers connected (either by wire or wireless) to the router - then follow instructions in previous email.

[YeOldeStonecat]

Now that sounds great,but there is a small tiny problem..
The router is for my ISP :) and obviously,i will not have access to it to forward any ports. Unless i missunderstood the concept somewhere...

any suggestions?

I you cannot get access to the routers admin, then you can go with a service like GoToMyPC.com ....as I mentioned above, it work's without the need to open/forward ports, does not require a dynamic dns service, they do it all for you.

[Marcon]

I you cannot get access to the routers admin, then you can go with a service like GoToMyPC.com ....as I mentioned above, it work's without the need to open/forward ports, does not require a dynamic dns service, they do it all for you.


Is there anyother way? like a free way? because gotomypc.com is a pay site :)

[YeOldeStonecat]

I don't know of any "free" packages similar to GoToMyPC...that will handle the firewalls and locating IP automatically.

Else, far as I know, the only "free" way is with VNC or WinXPpro remote desktop, a dynamic DNS service, and access to your firewall.

[Blisster]

you can get administrative access to your home gateway. You might need to call your ISP's customer service department but you can tell them that you need to get into it to forward some prots and they will give you the login credentials.

[YeOldeStonecat]

I have not set this up, never touched it, only read a little about it. But it appears to be an add-on for Ultra VNC...called the "Nat to Nat connector".

http://ultravnc.sourceforge.net/addons/nat2nat.html

Seems like their free version of GoToMyPC.

[lenwest]

Try www.logmein.com
It's free and it provides access to remote computers. Works with XP home fine. No port forwarding or other geeky stuff on host machine. A one time download is needed. I use Remote desktop to access my XP pro machine and logmein to access my XP home machine. Logmein also has a paid version with extra features.
I have both computers connected to my Linksys router using a VDSL internet connection.