vista basic vpn *and* rdp?

toasterman

Some of you techies will be bound to know this, and I've not come across the issue in other versions yet.

Does Vista Basic remote desktop over the top of vpn?
I'm on Vista Business, and I've just happily vpn'd to a company, then rdp'd to an individual machine fine.
Another user (with vista basic) vpn'd in fine, but when they try and rdp they get told the machine can't be found (not by name or ip address).
Someone told me that they had heard Vista basic might have an issue with this? Surely if its got the option for vpn and rdp, it should work?
Another remote worker with vista basic also has the same problem. Both users from their same locations can do it via xp machines.

So...setting missed somewhere, or a function that vista basic can't perform?

And before anyone says - I most certainly didn't recommend vista basic to them - they bought it off their own back.[SIZE=-1]
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Frozenace

Isn't Remote Desktop Connection a standard feature? If you're having problems, install VNC as your RDC server and you can just set up your ports on your router to forward to that.

toasterman

I've used VNC and it's good for some things, but it's a bit insecure, and a bit slow.
Plus someone in the office can see everything the home user is doing.

It's going to be used for several users to work full days 2-3 times a week from outside the office and it's not good enough for my requirements.
Remote desktop is a lot faster in these situations.

albertross_2

Can they ping the pc either by name or ip after they vpn?

toasterman

albertross wrote: »

Can they ping the pc either by name or ip after they vpn?

Sadly I didn't get as far as trying that.
I'm borrowing their pc and taking it to my office tomorrow, to try some things on it.

kltpzyxm wrote: »

AS far as I am aware Vista Basic doesn't include rdp functionality.
It is included in the Business & Ultimate editions.
I have found quite a few articles confirming this....

Well the remote desktop client is installed on the vista basic pc.
I don't think you can remote desktop into a vista basic pc (from any version).. but thats not an issue as I'm not doing that. Remote user is on vista, office machine they're connecting to is xp pro.

I've had a good look around and I can't see anything saying it shouldn't work the other way around.

toasterman

I see what you're saying, but if the rdp client is preinstalled on vista basic, surely it works?
The remote desktop client has always been free - on every version of windows from 95 upwards. There's also a mac version, it runs on linux, you can get it for mobile phones, etc. It would seem highly odd it wouldn't run on a version of windows.

Someone states here that the remote desktop client is available in vista basic -> http://techrepublic.com.com/5208-6230-0.html?forumID=102&threadID=236601&messageID=2329834

So long as the pc you're remoting to is a business/pro/ultimate/whatever version, then I'd have thought it would work - no matter what system you were using to do the connecting.

John_Gray

Although this may not be the answer to the question you asked, if you want to look at one PC from another, why not try CrossLoop? Works over the internet through all the routers I've tried. The remote end has to authorise that you can see and operate on their PC. Just bypass all the rubbish about creating accounts in v2.10...

toasterman

It's not really suitable.
It's for a home user to log in and work whenever they like (there may not be anyone else in the office to approve it at the time they want to access it).
2-3 times a week at least during office hours.

I've not been able to have a look at their pc yet, but I still want to stick with rdp if at all possible.


Looking at crossloop, doesn't it work the same as the free version of Logmein. See -> https://secure.logmein.com/home.asp?lang=en
I've used logmein, the paid version, as a trial and it was superb. Much faster than vnc and the user doesn't have to permanently install anything. No idea if the free version works the same, but I'd rate it higher than vnc.

albertross_2

I'd try the ping test first, it may be something to do with this?

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/922120

VNC is usually quite fast, if you turn down the colour depth and wallpaper. Crossloop (which is just encrypted VNC with an authentication through crossloop server to bypass nat/firewalls) needs someone at the other end, and if you are using a VPN, there will be 2 lots of encryption going on which will be slow.

toasterman

Don't think it can be that problem. My pc in my office has Vista Business and I can access the XP Pro machine fine from mine.

VNC isn't an option. It's just not as good as rdp, and insecure in the way that anyone in the office could put the monitor on and see what the home user is doing. If home user gets cut off half way through working, anyone else can use their system as them..etc..etc.
It has to be rdp.

I won't get to look at the issue til probably Tuesday at the earliest now, but if it turns out to be something in Vista basic causing the problem, the home user will have to upgrade..simple as that.

ABH_3

Have you tried teamviewer: https://www.teamviewer.com ?

HTH