Remote Desktop Connection Over Internet (PC behind router)

[Guest]

Here is my quandry. I need to set up my home PC to be able to connect to it via a remote desktop connection. I can do this with ease from my laptop when connected directly to my home LAN. What I DON'T know how to do is to configure my home PC to accept an incoming remote desktop connection when I am OUTSIDE of my home LAN (over the Internet).
I have a DSL connection that is being filtered through a Microsoft MN-500 router, and I don't know how I am supposed to be able to connect to that machine behind the router, as the NAT the router is performing is masking the IP address of my home PC. I don't know how on Earth I'm supposed to be able to do this. Maybe I'm not? I would appreciate any feedback you could give me on this.

 

[Tom]

You will need to direct the RDC port to your home PC IP address. I use a
different router than you are using, but generally they are all the same in
that there must be a place you can open and direct ports.
Find that place (maybe something like "virtual server" or just on the
Advanced tab) and then you need to set the service port at 3389 (that's the
default port for RDC) and set the server port at your PC's IP address. If
you're not sure what that is, open a command prompt window (I assume you are
using XP) and type "ipconfig" without the quotes. If you are using your
router as a DHCP server, you may want to consider setting a static IP
address on your home PC lan card just to be sure the router never assigns it
a different IP - as this will cause your RDC to fail until you go into the
router and reset the home PC IP to whatever the new one would be.
Make sure you save the changes to the router and reboot the router (consult
the router owner's manual for how they want you to do all of this exactly)
and you should be in business.
Of course that accumes you know your IP address from your ISP. I assume that
is a dynamic address too so you will have to watch out for them changing it,
but that almost never happens with a DSL connection. You will need this
address when you run the RDC on the computer you are connnecting to your
home PC from. You can get this a couple of ways. You can go to www.grc.com
and run a scan on your ports (a great idea anyway) which will not only give
you your IP address, but will also tell you just how safe the ports on your
computer/router really are, or you can just call your ISP and ask them.
Hope this helps.
Tom

Here is my quandry. I need to set up my home PC to be able to connect to

it via a remote desktop connection. I can do this with ease from my laptop
when connected directly to my home LAN. What I DON'T know how to do is to
configure my home PC to accept an incoming remote desktop connection when I
am OUTSIDE of my home LAN (over the Internet).

I have a DSL connection that is being filtered through a Microsoft MN-500

router, and I don't know how I am supposed to be able to connect to that
machine behind the router, as the NAT the router is performing is masking
the IP address of my home PC. I don't know how on Earth I'm supposed to be
able to do this. Maybe I'm not? I would appreciate any feedback you could
give me on this.

 

[Guest]

My home setup is exactly what your looking for.

I have a MN-500 and connect remotely from a corporate office. Here are the steps.

1. Make sure you have remote desktop enabled (Right click My Compter, Properties, Remote)
2. I recommend creating a username for remote connections with limited rights
3. Download a copy of IP monster...this will reveal your external IP address (rather than something like 192.168...)
4. You can configure IP Monster to send you an email whenever your IP changes, however this doesn't happen much with Broadband.
5. Connect to your base station management tool and navigate to the port forwarding tool (persistent).
6. Add and enable a TCP and UPD port #3389
7. Don't forget to apply the settings!!

8. From a remote machine navigate to Programs-Accessories-Communications "Remote Desktop Connection"
9. Supply your credentials from the user you just set up on your home machine and enter the external IP address revealed by IP Monster.

That should be it