Author Topic: Free alternatives to GoToMyPc? (Read 3059 times)

DougHillman · « **on:** April 20, 2004, 06:14:33 pm »

Heya.

I would like to be able to access my computer(s) while I'm away from home. (retreiving files, turning off my email program so that it's not pulling messages offa the server keeping me from getting them on my Treo 600, controlling my TIVO, etc.)

I just signed up for the free trial of GoToMyPc, which does exactly what I want. But I don't think I'll ever use it enough to make it worth the $15 a month they want.

Are there alternatives?

I'm running VNC so that I can control any of my networked computers from any other one (ie. change the currently playing mp3 on the Home Theater PC from another room and such) in the house. Can I somehow access VNC from an outside network?

Thanks for any input,

D

Geekboy · « **Reply #1 on:** April 20, 2004, 08:52:25 pm »

Yes you can use VNC to access your PC from the internet. You'll have to open up port 5800 & 5900 (I'm pretty sure these are the ports) on your Router. You'll also need to know your outside IP address.

If your running Windows 2000 or 2003 server you can just use Terminal Server. That's what I'm currently using now.

Also, you may want to look at no-ip.com to get a free domain name. This makes it easier than remembering your IP address. Plus it will change if you don't have a static one.

J_K_M_A_N · « **Reply #2 on:** April 20, 2004, 10:29:09 pm »

Quote from: Geekboy on April 20, 2004, 08:52:25 pm

If your running Windows 2000 or 2003 server you can just use Terminal Server. That's what I'm currently using now.

How do you do that with windows 2000? I thought it was only 2003 server and xp pro. Please, enlighten me.

J_K_M_A_N

J_K_M_A_N · « **Reply #3 on:** April 20, 2004, 10:39:13 pm »

Nevermind. I think you were saying windows 2000 server or windows 2003 server. I took it as windows 2000 (as in windows 2000 pro) or windows 2003 server. Sorry.

J_K_M_A_N

rampy · « **Reply #4 on:** April 21, 2004, 08:23:41 am »

yeah... VNC is free. and as mentioned you'll need to open up ports 5900 (5800 is for the java client, which allows you to control your PC via remote webbrowser... which is cool and all, but it's probably smarter to disable that and use a "real" client..)

You might have to open up/fwd port 5901 as each new concurrent session will increment a port (although I doubt you'll be doing concurrent sessions... but you never know....

As noted earlier terminal services is built in to Windows Server 2000 and Server 2003. There is some remote desktop stuff in XP Pro as well... but i haven't used it (or have it disabled for security reasons...)

*shrug*

rampy

Geekboy · « **Reply #5 on:** April 21, 2004, 03:44:16 pm »

Yeah, I meant 2000 server.

Also for file transfers on Terminal server you may want to check out this little program.

http://www.snapfiles.com/get/tsdropcopy.html

Sasquatch! · « **Reply #6 on:** April 22, 2004, 09:44:23 pm »

Quote from: rampy on April 21, 2004, 08:23:41 am

As noted earlier terminal services is built in to Windows Server 2000 and Server 2003. There is some remote desktop stuff in XP Pro as well... but i haven't used it (or have it disabled for security reasons...)

RDP ("Remote Desktop Protocol") on XP Pro is quite slick, and I've found its performance to be better than VNC's.

DougHillman · « **Reply #7 on:** April 23, 2004, 04:16:28 pm »

Doesn't RDP have to be accepted at the remote end? Or can it be set up with a password?

Sasquatch! · « **Reply #8 on:** April 23, 2004, 11:27:26 pm »

Quote from: DougHillman on April 23, 2004, 04:16:28 pm

Doesn't RDP have to be accepted at the remote end? Or can it be set up with a password?

You have to configure the host machine first, but yeah, it can be set up with a password just fine.

nipsmg · « **Reply #9 on:** April 28, 2004, 02:23:37 pm »

RDP is only on windows XP PRO, NOT on windows XP Home.

On windows XP home, you have to set up one of those "help me fix my computer" sessions, and send an invitation via e-mail, then you have to accept at both ends..

On XP Pro, right click on my computer, click 'Properties' and there should be a remote tab. Configure it there.

You can also change the port you want to use if the default port gives you trouble, or you have trouble getting it open on your router -- look here for that: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q306759

--NipsMG

wboy · « **Reply #10 on:** April 29, 2004, 10:47:34 am »

Microsoft RDC over RDP is definately your best option in you are running XP Pro at home.

Default port used is 3389.

To make it even easier to connect, goto Control Panel > Add/Remove Programs > Add/Remove Windows Components. Enable Internet Information Server (IIS)... click Details... goto WWW Server (Port 80)... click Details again, and enable Remote Desktop Web Connection.

This allows you to use a web browser (prefereably IE) to RDC into your machine using an ActiveX control rather than carrying around/installing MS's RSC client where ever you go.

Look at free dynamic dns services (if you don't have a static ip) to give your PC a friendly name.

I use www.no-ip.com free services.

Basically gives my machine the domain name like mypcathome.no-ip.com

So from a web brower, you can go http://mypcathome.no-ip.com/tsweb (with IIS & RDWC installed and ports enabled for incoming requests)

From the RDWC (/tsweb) page, enter mypcathome.no-ip.com as the server name

Enter Username and Password details, and whammo... you can use your home PC from anywhere effectly.

Any account you set up to use Remote Desktop will require a password.

Answering a question above... If the machine is already logged in, and you log on remotely as the same user, you are automatically taken into there session at its current state. The person sitting at the pc is taken to the XP login screen (the session is locked if you are configured on a domain). If the user logs on again/unlocks the session, the remote session is disconnected, and the user picks up from where they left it. Its only when you remote connect using a different account other than the one logged in at the PC that the user will be prompted to okay your remote request.

hyiu · « **Reply #11 on:** April 29, 2004, 02:02:37 pm »

wow... thx... wonderboy and all... for all the details...

hmmm... maybe even I'll give it a try !!!...

I'll be able to trigger stuffs at home while at work !!!...

not a bad idea !!!...

nipsmg · « **Reply #12 on:** April 29, 2004, 02:37:35 pm »

And just a note for those of you who have used pcanywhere, gotomypc, VNC, or any other remote desktop protocols and think they're slow and they suck... well: THEY DO!

However, microsoft RDP (trust me, I'm not really PRO Microsoft at all..) is INSANELY fast. It's basically as if you were sitting at your computer. Now, don't expect to play video games or display video over it effectively, but as far as using it normally, surfing the web, etc... Besides the absense of your background graphics (which RDP won't sent to the client), it's almost just as fast as sitting there... Try it.. Trust me on this.. It's probably one of the few things Microsoft actually got right. It's done VERY well.

VNC/GoToMyPC/PCAnywhere are SLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW compared to RDP.

--NipsMG

hyiu · « **Reply #13 on:** April 29, 2004, 07:45:13 pm »

ok.... I think I have it setup....

and when I go to the webpage (from the same computer just to test).... I was prompted to login....

but 1 more question....

I think I typed the correct password... but somehow failed...

I re-read and found out I think I missed 1 step...
1 question
how to open the port in the router ??

I'm using a linksys wireless router....

If possible, please give me details... thank you... thank you... thank you....
(almost there !!!....)

just to be sure....

I have enabled the IIS, and the Remote Web thingy....

and I'm using trying to access from IE !!!...

Please... help on my last step.... thanks....

hyiu · « **Reply #14 on:** April 29, 2004, 10:47:36 pm »

sorry for stealing the thread...

I've enabled the remote desktop, installed the IIS, and the remote desktop we connection.

I also joined the no-ip.com, and got the ip setup.

I'm using DSL, and if I'm within my network (which means using the same computer, or another computer in my other room...)

I got a login screen... but it is the router login screen... not the computer login screen....

but if I'm outside the network.. (I ask my friend to try the
http://my-own-pc.no-ip.com/tsweb

it didn't get anywhere....

any more details is appreciated.... thx......

hyiu · « **Reply #15 on:** April 30, 2004, 12:01:06 am »

okie... just got off with linksys.com live chat online and they helped me opened the port...

rebooted... but somehow... still no good !! ?!?!

anyone can spot anything else I missed ??

wboy · « **Reply #16 on:** May 13, 2004, 10:27:14 am »

Have you solved the problem yet....?

Let me know if not...

hyiu · « **Reply #17 on:** May 13, 2004, 02:32:15 pm »

no... I haven't resolve my pblms yet....

but I have been really tied up and didn't have a chance to call verizon yet.... I think I'll have time to do it tmw...

will let everyone knows then....


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