Accessing my work pc from home

trcooke

If your work PC is Ubuntu then you already have vnc server installed. Go to 'System->Preferences->Remote Desktop' to enable it.

rhythmsoup

It depends on how both your machines are connected to the internet. Are they connected directly (i.e. do they have a public ip address?) or do they go via a router (i.e. they use NAT to translate from the LAN private IP address to the public IP address).

Once you can reach from one PC to another (i.e. ping for example) or even better FTP or telnet. Then you should as mentioned above be able to use VNC which is like windows remote desktop, to get onto the linux box desktop, if thats what you need to do.

I would also echo using VNC. Ive use it with success many times. I dont know why you just dont switch to linux completely, if you are just using office base apps like word, excel etc plus your open source app, then open office available on ubuntu works a charm.

I use ubuntu 8.04 for everyday work use, i only need windows for a few specific applications that dont work on anything else. Check out www.ubuntu.com I would recommend downloading / burning and booting from the CD you might be suprised how easy it is.

elljay

Thank you so much. Yes my linux is Ubuntu so I'll have a look as soon as I get in to work.

I may be back.................

Gratefully - Liz

Lorian

VNC or any other remote control solution is going to suck over a dial-up connection. You are going to need to consider security too.

If you have a router at work you are going to have to open/map a port to to your works PC and probably create a firewall rule to allow the home PC to connect to it.

First off try putting your home phone number and postcode in to this and see what it says for available broadband delivery:

http://www.samknows.com/broadband/checker2.php

then put your phone number in here:

http://www.adslchecker.bt.com/pls/adsl/adslchecker.welcome

And post up what it says (remeber to block out your phone number!)

elljay

Lorian wrote: »

VNC or any other remote control solution is going to suck over a dial-up connection. You are going to need to consider security too.

First off try putting your home phone number and postcode in to this and see what it says for available broadband delivery:

http://www.samknows.com/broadband/checker2.php

then put your phone number in here:

http://www.adslchecker.bt.com/pls/adsl/adslchecker.welcome

And post up what it says (remeber to block out your phone number!)

Samknows: "Congratulations, you are in a broadband enabled area.However, the quality or length of your phone line prohibits you from receiving ADSL of any speed."
Adslchecker: Our initial test on your line indicates that your line may not support a reliable ADSL Max broadband service, with current technology. However, an order for 250Kbps broadband speed will still be accepted, but an engineer may need to visit who will, where possible, supply the service.If you decide to place an order, a further test will be performed to confirm if your line is suitable for the service you wish to purchase."
Yest another checker says that despite an engineers visit they still can't supply broadband and it goes off into recommendations for dialup.

2 engineers have been - I keep hammering away at them. I've had ongoing conversations with BT and my isp (Orange) about this but nothing can be done apparently until the system is upgraded as part of 21CN .In my case that will be quarter 3 2010 at the earliest. I'm afraid for those of us in rural areas this is a common problem. I've got a mobile broadband dongle for use out and about but at home get about 3 bars GPRS so not a solution either.
Thanks anyway. If anyone has a solution to this it would be so wonderful. I work for a charity that has to pay for me to have an office as I can't work from home easily, it's horrendous in this day and age. Thanks, Liz

timbim_2

Could you not just copy the database onto an external HDD and take that home with you? Probably easier than trying to remote desktop over dialup

elljay

Thanks. Yes I wondered about doing that but would need to get an ext hard drive to do it on - more expense! I just thought it would be easy to link the 2 pcs. Cheaper to take a fan heater in to work in the end.

Thanks to everyone, I've learned so much even if I can't make it work for me now it's useful information for the future.

Liz

exup

you will need your IP address from your laptop to connect I would expect - especially if its VNC you use to connect them.

if you go to
(XP) - Start - Run - type in cmd in the black window that appears type in ipconfig and you ip address should come up. if it starts with 192.x.x.x then you may have a problem.

jmc160

You could try Windows Live Mesh...

Get your self a Windows Live ID (if you don't already have one) then go to www.mesh.com and sign in. You'll have an option to install the Mesh locally. Do this on both PCs and you'll then be able to connect remotely either way without the need for fixed IPs. You can also share "online" folders between the two.

I don't know if this supports Linux, and the interface will probably be painfully slow over dialup, but it works and it works well!

(It's also free)

k1rkyc

Teamviewer is also a very good piece of software