posted
These days, I use XP's "remote desktop connection" instead of my old PCanywhere program to go to my office computer from home so I can grab a file to work on, or check & reply to faxes, or look up pricing info in quickbooks etc.
Anyway, I had help setting up what "address" I type in the box for the computer I am trying to connect to. The address that was set up is my IP address followed by : and then a 4 digit number that I believe identifies which of the 4 computers on the office I am trying to get to.
I know my IP address hasn't changed because I just checked www.whatismyip.com yesterday, but I have not been able to get in for 3 or 4 days. I did unplug my CAT-5 cables last week to move my server & then plugged them back in, possibly switching LAN ports that each machine is hooked up to.
I assume this caused the connection trouble. I have no idea how that 4 digit number is identified.
In case this info is needed... I have 2 routers. the first one that is hooked up to my dsl modem has 3 ports used... 2 for computers in that part of the shop, & one to run a cable into another part of the shop where my second router is used as a hub to connect the server & the design workstation that I am trying to access.
posted
Good day, Doug - I am not familiar with the XP technology you describe, so the following may or may not help.
There is a password within your routers that is either a factory set default or something different set up by your techie. This password sometimes has to be reset when you change your internet passwords.
I know this because my email stops working if I change the DSL password until the same password is installed in the router.
posted
Moving computers changes things. Usually your router will assign internal LAN address to your machines. usually something like this 192.168.1.100.. If you move or unhook a cable . the router will reassign new internal IP address. To get them all back to the right numbers >>>> turn off and unplug powr cords to every thing. Then in this order turn on the following . DSL/ CABLE modem,, your router,, then your main computer,, then your satelite computers.
The four numbers after your IP is the PORT address. IE.. 192.168.1.100:6000 You have over 64 thousand of ports available most of which should be closed by your router. YOur tech likely set up your router to open or port forward your IP address into your computer via that four digit number. Port forwarding is very easy once you see it done.
Your external IP (WAN) is assigned to you by your ISP. Your network is (LAN) has its own address usually set by your router.
IE: My FTP has the external IP address (for example) 68.55.121.01 into the router which then forwards data acccess to your machines address 192.168.1.1:6000 a four digit port address. Essentially.. doing so makes your machine invisible to the world.
-------------------- Leaper of Tall buildings.. If you find my posts divisive or otherwise snarky please ignore them. If you do not know how then PM me about it and I will demonstrate. Posts: 5274 | From: Im a nowhere man | Registered: Jul 2001
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posted
Curtis, I have a question. I have DSL at the shop and dial-up at home. Is there a way that I can be at home and contact my shop's computer? Both are XP PRO OS. Quite a while ago I was trying to send an invitation from the shop but could never get it to work.
-------------------- Laura Butler Vision Graphics & Sign 4479 Welch Rd Attica, Mi 48412 Posts: 2855 | From: Attica, Mi, USA | Registered: Nov 2000
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posted
Laura, you will be able to connect the same way I do using XP's "remote desktop connection"
You can access that feature through start > programs > accessories > communications > remote desktop connection.
If you go to www.whatismyip.com you will get the IP address, then you will need the port address Curtis is explaining to me.
Once you have that, that is what you will enter from the remote computer, but for how to set up a password protection on the host computer... I'll get out of the way & let someone who knows how answer.
posted
I assume everyone knows this trick, but just in case... you can get your router to assign you a new IP address by a simple command.
Just go to program/acessories/command prompt At the C:\ prompt type "ipconfig /release" after the router releases your computer type "ipconfig /renew" This will reassign your IP address and your computer will now be able to see the internet.
It saves me from rebooting the router and all the computers hooked to it.
ernie
-------------------- Ernie Balch Balch Signs 1045 Raymond Rd Malta, NY 518-885-9899 Posts: 405 | From: Malta, NY | Registered: Jan 2003
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Yes laura, doug is right. remote desktop works great. You can also use VPN wich is a very secure private network. XP pro has this ability.
yes ernie ,, that works great. You have the experience to handle it. however,, sometimes another machine on the network will assume the main machines IP address. If this is so, then the IP you need may not be available.
For example. The main machine may be assigned a xx.xxx.xx.110addres when you actually need it to be a xx.xxx.xx.100 address.
So for beginners who know very little. I have them start from scratch by rebooting every thing.. that get them started from an known state,,
-------------------- Leaper of Tall buildings.. If you find my posts divisive or otherwise snarky please ignore them. If you do not know how then PM me about it and I will demonstrate. Posts: 5274 | From: Im a nowhere man | Registered: Jul 2001
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posted
Remote access is easy enuf ,, you can do it anytime. But, first you should study it to get an idea of what you want it to do.
you can start tonight with a VPN too.. BUT,, as with remote access u should study it for a while first. Set up one machine then go to the other and log in..
Same basic ideas but very different type of access.
-------------------- Leaper of Tall buildings.. If you find my posts divisive or otherwise snarky please ignore them. If you do not know how then PM me about it and I will demonstrate. Posts: 5274 | From: Im a nowhere man | Registered: Jul 2001
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posted
Laura, I think you will need to start the process on ther office computer. Right above where you access the "remote desktop connection" is a "new remote connection" choice, & a "remote connection wizard" these, along with window's help features should provide enough info.
For DOMAIN, my setup has the name of my network (as seen in windows explorer if you My Network Places > Entire Network > Microsoft Windows Network > your-network-name-is-here
My mind wanders. And that's not a good thing, 'cause it's too small to be out there alone. Posts: 3129 | From: Tooele, UT | Registered: Mar 2005
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posted
nope... I tried what Curtis said, but I wonder if the time that my tech guy set it up, maybe the server was the first address to be assigned (since I never turn it off... except for this test)... so in that case doing what Curtis suggested may have given my design station (the one I want to access from home) the first available address... instead of the same one as before. I wish there was some way of just checking what the port address is today. I don't care if it is the same as before.
I went into the router setup page & checked all the tabs looking at numbers & only saw one that looked like it could be the one... but I tried to remote in from another computer here on the same LAN & it did not work.
posted
Sounds like your probably using one of the blue Linksys routers. Your aiming to the outside IP address of the shop. The router picks up this request and the :8080 or whatever number is setup in the router to forward to the IP of the desktop. It's hard to believe the tech would have used dhcp or auto assigned ip addresses since this problem would eventually arise once the desktops changed ip's internally. Your best off having him assign fixed ip address internally. Then the port forward can't miss.
-------------------- Bruce Evans Crown Graphics Chino, CA graphics@westcoach.net Posts: 910 | From: Chino, CA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Can you remember what the port numbers were that you used to use?
The router settings would hold the clues. It should still have the old instructions for the port forwarding. If it does, you can recreate what the tech did by changing the IP address assignments back to what they were before.
My mind wanders. And that's not a good thing, 'cause it's too small to be out there alone. Posts: 3129 | From: Tooele, UT | Registered: Mar 2005
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posted
Yes, look under advanced / port forwarding n the router. There should be a list of items being forwarded to your main machine IP. Each item will be named. across from that will be the machines address.
Then under port triggering you will see another list with the port number your item is assigned.
This is lynksys.
D-lynk and others have different terminology. Some do not have port triggering showing. Some have added it later via new firmware so you have to update your firmware.
-------------------- Leaper of Tall buildings.. If you find my posts divisive or otherwise snarky please ignore them. If you do not know how then PM me about it and I will demonstrate. Posts: 5274 | From: Im a nowhere man | Registered: Jul 2001
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posted
Don't forget most DSL lines you dynamic IP addresses unless you specifically pay more for static addresses.
Dynamic IP addresses change over time. I'm not sure if this is a random (to you) change at the ISP, or if it changes everytime you reboot your DSL modem.
Using static IP addresses within your LAN is pretty easy. You enter it on every computer rather than have your server use dhcp to assign the names. Even when using dhcp, the server usually finds the computers in the same order everytime and assigns the same sequential address. This may change when you reposition the PC connection.
OK, now I'm getting in over my head.
-------------------- Paul Luszcz Zebra Visuals 27 Water Street Plymouth, MA 02360 508 746-9200 paul@zebravisuals.com Posts: 483 | From: 27 Water Street, Plymouth, MA 02360 | Registered: Jul 2003
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posted
Paul, it is a static IP address, & I mentioned looking it up with whatismyip.com just because Verizon has recently been bought out (in this region) by Hawaii Telcom... & that resulted in a new & different static IP address a few months ago... so I checked to make sure that IP didn't get fouled up somehow... & it didn't.
Curtis, I found the list of port address's where you said they would be, & the one that used to work is still assigned.
I also wonder if testing this out from another computer on the LAN here in my office is an acceptable way to troubleshoot? Is there any reason it wouldn't work here, but would still work from home... or can I assume that untill I find something to work here, theres no point trying from home?
The message I am getting from here says I may not have remote access enabled, could it be that I somehow disabled "remote connections" from the host computer? How would I check for that possibility?
[ November 28, 2005, 04:24 PM: Message edited by: Doug Allan ]
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