MJW

I need to be able to remotely connect a laptop into my works network and heard VPN is the best way to do it. Does anyone know of any straightforward guides to setting it up or can help out ? The works broadband connection has a static IP if that helps.

Kieran_Burns

iTrader: (1)

You need a routing and remote access box of some description at the work end (I'm used to configuring ISA Server for this)

The client end is easy - there is a wizard for configuring it within XP, but as to the Server end...

sparkplug

I personally use Norton pc anywhere; cost me £24.95 of Amazon
I’m out and about all day and have a static IP address at home/office
Setup home as a host and my laptop as a client never fail to connect on dialup or any broadband network I can get onto while I'm out
Don’t forget to setup port forwarding on host router.

Good luck

Tony.

sainge

Maybe worth contacting your Systems Admin.....

They will have all of the details you require

Chris L

I'd say it was essential - you can't really set this stuff up on the fly - you'll need to involve your network admin team. VPN is the ideal way to handle remote access, but you have to make a choice on things such as encryption level, VPN type (SSL or IPsec) and whether you use any form of 2-factor authentication (i.e. SecurID-type hardware token), for starters.

Chris

MJW

My network admin team consists of me and a Netgear DG834 firewall router !

sparkplug

All these tekies thinking you worked for some big multinational corporation
VPN and all that is it bit over the top for what you need just keep it simple
And try what I suggested in my earlier reply doesn’t cost much so nothing
to lose really.
And if your worried about protection you can setup password protection and
Encryption with Norton PC anywhere It’s worked perfectly for me for the
past 12 months

Tony.

Kieran_Burns

iTrader: (1)

I daren't say who I work for... give you a hint:

Local Govt Support
Labour party
Loans
someone just packed their job in
(congestion charging.....)

mike1210

Remote desktop is another option if you dont want to go down the VPN route and if you have XP pro it comes with the machines. Would need to forward TCP port 3389 from the router to the PC. The account MUST have a password also and remote desktop must be allowed (right click my computer, properties, remote tab)

The work place has place has a fixed IP which is good but do you have one your end, if so you can tighten up the firewall on the router to only allow port 3389 from certain IP addresses. If not you must leave it open to all so make sure the local admin password and user passwords are strong, same applies for PC anywhere

TopBanana

VPN's in XP:

http://www.computernetworkinghelp.co...ent/view/41/1/

HHxx

Lets take a step back..

You didn't mention what you wanted to do with this remote connection?
Remote control a box?
Pick up emails?
Connect to some strange application?

MJW

It's just so that Sage accounts information can be shared, nothing too fancy.

Chris L

VPN certainly isn't over the top and neither does it have to be expensive or difficult. However, you will need to involve your network admin people - otherwise what a lot of people are suggesting here would almost certainly be in breech of your IT usage policy - which will get you into trouble when they found out (this has no bearing on how big your company may or may not be). If you're accessing accounting information, that is almost certainly sensitive and commercially useful, so it must be encrypted. Given who you work for - haven't they got an official remote access setup? I'd be very surprised if they didn't.

Kieran_Burns

iTrader: (1)

I charge reasonable rates for configuring VPN access on ISA2004