Can I map a drive over the internet?

[JMI]

Hello,

My brother and I would like to be able to share drives over the internet.
Can I map a drive to a shared folder on his computer over the internet?
He's in Utah and I'm in South Carolina. And soon both of us will have
broadband internet connections. Also we are both running WindowsXP Home.

How can we do this?

Thanks,

Jeff

 

[Hans-Georg Michna]

My brother and I would like to be able to share drives over the internet.
Can I map a drive to a shared folder on his computer over the internet?
He's in Utah and I'm in South Carolina. And soon both of us will have
broadband internet connections. Also we are both running WindowsXP Home.

How can we do this?

Jeff,

fundamentally the answer is yes, but there are a few obstacles.

1. Your computers don't have a host name and probably have a
varying IP address.

You can circumvent this by either using some DynDNS service or
by telling each other your current IP addresses every time you
want to link up.

2. If you use a router with NAT (Network Address Translation)
you have to either open and redirect certain ports or put the
computer in the DMZ (demilitarized zone).

3. If you use any kind of firewall, you have to set up a
traversal.

Hans-Georg

 

[Bob Willard]

Hello,

My brother and I would like to be able to share drives over the internet.
Can I map a drive to a shared folder on his computer over the internet?
He's in Utah and I'm in South Carolina. And soon both of us will have
broadband internet connections. Also we are both running WindowsXP Home.

How can we do this?

Thanks,

Jeff

Keep in mind that when you expose a file/folder/HD to one person over
the 'net, you are also exposing it to the entire world: friends,
enemies, and strangers who want to steal your identity. There are
ways to keep your file/folder/HD somewhat veiled, but they are not
very secure. I suggest that you look at VPN to securely share data,
instead of exposing a share to the world.