Remote Desktop Connection and Linksys Router

[Dan]

Hi-
I have a desktop set up in my dorm room on a college campus that is
connected to the internet through a Linksys WRT54GS router. I want to
connect to this desktop from anywhere on the Internet through my laptop.
Both computers have Windows XP Pro SP2 and have RDC enabled. I know that I
can connect to the desktop since if I plug in my laptop to the router I can
just connect using the computer name or IP address. When I try over the
internet from my house however it doesn't work and I get an error saying it
cannot connect. I am sure it is something with the router. I have read a
lot on the internet about Remote Desktop and routers but I cannot seem to
get anything to work. I would REALLY appreciate any help and can supply
anymore information that you need. Thank you-
-Dan Orth

 

[Matt Gibson]

Forward port 3389 TCP to your computer behind the router.

Matt Gibson - GSEC

 

[Dan]

Thanks for your help Matt. Am I doing this right? I went to my router
control panel and selected Applications & Gaming and then Port Range
Forward. I have these properties set:

Application: RDC
Start: 3389 to End: 3389
Protocol: Both
IP Address: 192.168.1.112

The IP Address has the first 3 sections set and I can only change the 112.
Is there anyway to figure out if this is correct? Thanks again-
-Dan

 

[Matt Gibson]

Looks like you're doing okay so far!

On your PC, Click on Start -> Run -> Type in "CMD" -> Press Enter.

Type in "ipconfig" -> press enter

That'll show you your PC's IP adresss.

Use that address in your router config, and you should be good to go.

Matt Gibson - GSEC

 

[Brian K]

Or assign a static IP address to that computer because your previous address
may change when you reboot the computer. Is your internet connection a
static IP address?

Brian

 

[Sooner Al [MVP]]

This page may be of some help...

http://theillustratednetwork.mvps.org/RemoteDesktop/RemoteDesktopSetupandTroubleshooting.html

Hopefully the university network does not block TCP Port 3389 inbound to your room...

--
Al Jarvi (MS-MVP Windows Networking)

Please post *ALL* questions and replies to the news group for the mutual benefit of all of us...
The MS-MVP Program - http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights...

 

[Dan]

Thanks guys - I got it to work fine! Just one more question, is there
anyway to have an option to have 2 computers hooked up to the router and
have an option of which one to connect to? Thanks again for all your help -
I appreciate it!

-Dan

 

[Sooner Al [MVP]]

Sure...

Via a SSH tunnel...

http://theillustratednetwork.mvps.org/RemoteDesktop/SSH-RDP-VNC/RemoteDesktopVNCandSSH.html

....or opening/forwarding multiple ports on the router...

http://theillustratednetwork.mvps.org/RemoteDesktop/Multiple_PC_RD.html

You could also setup a VPN tunnel versus a SSH tunnel...its a bit more problematic, IMHO, because of
potential GRE Protocol 47 issues and consumer grade routers...

http://www.onecomputerguy.com/networking/xp_vpn_server.htm
http://www.onecomputerguy.com/networking/xp_vpn.htm

--
Al Jarvi (MS-MVP Windows Networking)

Please post *ALL* questions and replies to the news group for the mutual benefit of all of us...
The MS-MVP Program - http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights...

 

[MDBJ]

or, using the tsweb method
strangely, as soon as you get the webpage,
you can typein the workgroup computer name- and it passes the session off to
that machine
(or through to, I don't know which)

I was amazed the first time I tried it- it just worked,
I could use that 'logon' page to reach any machine in the workgroup first.

 

[Dan]

Hi-
Does this method work only on local networks or can I use this over the
internet as well? Also, does the tsweb method allow me to run RDC on
computers that don't have RDC installed and where I am not an administrator?
I can use tsweb now to connect but I am having trouble choosing a specific
machine to connect to. The router only has 1 IP address and I do not
understand how I should be able to connect to more than one computer when i
can only type in 1 address. Thanks for your help!
-Dan

 

[MDBJ]

Hi-
Does this method work only on local networks or can I use this over the
internet as well?

internet as well

Also, does the tsweb method allow me to run RDC on

computers that don't have RDC installed and where I am not an
administrator?

Yes-er-maybe.. it does not require RDC to be installed already, it DOES
require internet explorer
and it DOES require activeX- if it's a system where you are NOT
administrator- you may not
be able to do the active X install of the client due to local security
policy (I've seen many machines that blanket forbid
activeX, I've also been in a webcafe where they unlocked it for me on
request (with an explanation of my intent))

I can use tsweb now to connect but I am having trouble choosing a specific
machine to connect to. The router only has 1 IP address and I do not
understand how I should be able to connect to more than one computer when
i can only type in 1 address. Thanks for your help!

the webpage? where it asks for the servername to connect to? I type in the
machine name
(from the workgtroup) and hit connect- it routes to that machine

 

[Dan]

Hm... maybe I am not understanding tsweb correctly. Is there a central
webpage I can go to connect to this? Right now I just went to MS's site and
downloaded it and installed it to my laptop to try it out but that doesn't
really help me if I am away from my computer. I do have a shared hosting
service (unix) for a website of mine - is there anyway I can install tsweb
on that? That would be the best for me if that is possible. Thanks for
your help!

-Dan

 

[Dan]

I actually got tsweb to run fine from my server. The only thing left that I
can't figure out is how to choose which computer to connect to when I only
have 1 ip addreess for the both of them. Is this possible?

-Dan

 

[MDBJ]

try this- in the 'server' box- type in the windows workgroup computer name
or (if you know it) the
local lan ip of the machine you want (like 192.168.1.100 or 101 for a stock
linksys lan)


then hit connect.