Tunnel Enabled -- Now What?

[pgordon]

I've been trying to access my office computer from my home computer, without success, and now I'm questioning my big picture understanding of the problem. Using Windows 7 Professional, Shrew, and a Linksys VPN Router (RV042), I can enable a tunnel, but I can't get a remote desktop connection. Am I missing a step? What happens after "tunnel enabled"?

 

[DocBrown]

I use a program called TeamViewer. There is a free version you can dowload.

 

[pgordon]

I spent some time looking at the Team Viewer software, and I have reservations. I'm not exactly in the business of top secret information, but I bought my own VPN router to avoid running confidential information through what appears to be a public website. I understand that the info is on the Internet, but I thought the VPN router avoided the middle man. Also, I don't understand the economics of free Team Viewer software. Are they going to be asking me to make donations after I become habitually dependent on them?

 

[chev65]

There is a good tutorial here on the forum that might help.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3922-remote-desktop-connection-rdc-network.html?ltr=R

 

[pgordon]

I worked through the tutorial without success. In the fine print, it states that the directions assume "that you're not part of a domain." My office has a static IP address. I've followed all of the directions on the tutorial and still I get nothing after "tunnel enabled." Thoughts?

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there
to access an Office computer you'll probably have to go through an Office VPN - this ensures that you will get connected and authorized to your office's network and then it will forward you to your individual machine.

All you need on your home machine is the CLIENT version of your work's VPN software.

Most work computers will be connected to a work LAN via their own private servers -- I doubt if you'll have a "Stand alone machine" connected to the public Internet.

If your work doesn't have a VPN then it can be done but you will need to have the work Router / Server set up to pass you through directly to your machine and also the ports must be opened. -- Usually a much more difficult proposition to organize.

Check first about "Remote Logon" from your admins -- there's usually some software in place for Remote logon when people are on call out / support etc etc.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[chev65]

Somebody just reported in today about this problem. The fix seemed to be enabling all sharing settings in the "Public" file sharing settings list. This didn't make much sense to me because he was using Homegroup to share with. He was talking about these settings in the picture below. You might need to reboot after changing the settings on both machines. Make sure they are all set like this.

I can't say if this will work for you or not but it worked for him.
You can read about it here> http://www.sevenforums.com/network-sharing/48190-remote-assistance-linksys-router.html

 

[pgordon]

No luck. The office is using a workgroup, not one computer dedicated as a server. On the VPN router at the office, I opened a port dedicated to my particular computer at the office, and set the computer and the computer's firewall accordingly (including chev65's settings mentioned above and including a change to the registry to make sure the computer is listening to the correct port). I can get a tunnel enabled from the client to the router, but when I try to establish a remote desktop connection, I'm still getting the electronic equivalent to a blank stare in response. It feels like I'm missing something obvious. Any other ideas (other than throwing the computers out the window (so to speak))?

 

[chev65]

As you can tell from my last post it only takes one setting to ruin the entire deal. How could I possibly know which setting is out of place when I can't even see the computer. It's pretty frustating trying to fix machines when I can't even see them.

 

[pgordon]

You've been very helpful, despite the limitations of forums. However, I have what might be one last question. I've been trying to get it done with a particular topology as follows:

HomeComputer >> CableModem >> Internet >> DSLModem(bridged) >> VPNRouter(RV042) >> Switch >> OfficeComputers(x5)

I have each of the five office computers set to listen to a different port. Thus, when I type in my IP address for a remote desktop connections to may particular office computer, I add the port (e.g., 12.34.56.789:12345). Can it be done, or do I need to dedicate one of the five office computers to being a network server with WinServer2008?

 

[chev65]

To me it should be like this. Cable modem> router-switch>networked computers, simple as that. I have no idea why you would run a cable modem with a bridged DSL modem. And why would you have a Home Computer in front of the cable modem?

No doubt that is part of the problem.

I honestly have no idea why that set up is being used or if it can work.

 

[pgordon]

It looks like my message is confusing. What I am calling the cable modem is the device sitting next to my home computer, which enables me to access the internet from home. I guess the real topology that matters is at the office. The internet comes into the office through a DSL modem and then goes to a VPN router before going to a switch. In other words:

Internent >> DSLModem(bridged) >> VPNRouter(RV042) >> Switch >> OfficeComputers(x5)

Should it work?