XP Remote Desktop help

[John Seemann]

I am trying to configure my work/home computers to use
Remote Desktop. Both machines are running WinXP pro
without SP2. Work machine is behind a Gateway.2Wire
router/firewall, but port 3389 has been opened. Both are
using SBC DSL internet connection. Home computer has no
modem firewall. Both computers are using third party DNS
software to read the dynamic IP address, and no other
firewall software. My questions:

1. Do I need to set up a VPN connection between the two
computers first before using Remote Desktop?
2. Do both computers need to have user passwords for the
user to connect?
3. If I can "ping" one machine, why can't I achieve
TCP/IP connectivity?

Please feel free to email me with any assistance you can
provide.

 

[Robin Walker]

I am trying to configure my work/home computers to use
Remote Desktop. Both machines are running WinXP pro
without SP2. Work machine is behind a Gateway.2Wire
router/firewall, but port 3389 has been opened. Both are
using SBC DSL internet connection. Home computer has no
modem firewall. Both computers are using third party DNS
software to read the dynamic IP address, and no other
firewall software. My questions:

1. Do I need to set up a VPN connection between the two
computers first before using Remote Desktop?
No.

2. Do both computers need to have user passwords for the
user to connect?

On the RD server, you need to configure which local accounts on that PC may
use RDP logins. You would be foolish if those accounts did not have
passwords set, otherwise anyone in the world could take over your work PC.
On the RDP client, there are no special requirements on users and passwords,
as it is the RDP server which does the authentication at RDP login time: the
state of the client is irrelevant.

3. If I can "ping" one machine, why can't I achieve
TCP/IP connectivity?

There isn't enough information there to advise: what is the nature of your
problem?

 

[Bill Sanderson]

1) no--but it would add to the security of the connection.
2) I can't add anything to Robin Walker's reply on this one.
3) If you can ping, you have TCP/IP connectivity. The most likely issues
beyond this are RD not being enabled at the host end, or the router and/or
some firewall mechanism, not being properly configured to allow traffic on
port 3389, TCP through to the destination XP Pro host machine.

You can check the enabled or not issue by testing from another machine on
the same LAN (work or home) as the machine you want to connect to.

Triple check your forwarding arrangements, and also whether or not there are
any additional software firewalls involved.