Setting up a VPN

[_dan_]

Hi all, I'm want to set up a VPN so that I can access my home PC from various places I work. I have a Netgear DG834G router at home. The places I work sometimes have pretty stict firewalls so some form of http tunnelling may be required. Would I need a VPN client? If so which is best? and is it needed at both ends?

The PC is running XP Pro, and the router has the lastest firmware on it.

Cheers, Dan

[BliarOut]

Yes, XP has a PPTP client built in. You need to know a few more details about the VPN endpoint that you'll connect to, but in theory there's nothing to stop you doing it.

[agent006]

Not free, but by far the best multi-access solution for locked down environments:

https://www.gotomypc.com

[touchingcloth]

If you have XP Pro (which you do) you can just use Remote Desktop. Details here:

clicky

You may need to configure port forwarding on your router to point to your pc and it helps if you have a static IP. From the end you are are accessing on you can access via the client built into XP (home or pro) or by a standard browser running activeX.

[BliarOut]

Arse, I read it back to front More to come tomorrow

[zumbruk]

agent006 said:

Not free, but by far the best multi-access solution for locked down environments: https://www.gotomypc.com

Which we block as a matter of course...

If you're a contractor (or an employee, for that matter) and your employer forbids access to something, do you think it is entirely wise to take steps to circumvent that proscription? That could cost you your job ...

[sp60]

Your best all in solution is to buy a mobile data card and associated account from your favourite mobile phone provider to plug into a laptop. As has been mentioned, your life will be made much easier if you have a static ip address on your home account. Then its simply a matter of setting up the vpn access on the router...which isn't too difficult on modern routers, and using the built in vpn client in windows to create a vpn tunnel. Set up your XP Pro machine at home to accept remote connections, and use the remote desktop connection prog. to remote control the pc from anywhere in the world. I set this up at my work and home using a variety of connections and it works just fine. You are very relient on your WAN connection reliability and speed though.
Also mentioned above was the suggestion that it is a bad idea to try and connect from your various workplaces. I would have to agree with this sentiment as you are essentially creating a huge security hole in the closed network of whatever system you are using. We have had several contractors in at our place who have assured me that their laptops are virus free and fine to plug into the network. Fortunately I know better and have always scanned and checked them first. Roughly 50% have had a virus or been badly configured. Don't rule this option out though as it may provide you with the fastest and most reliable way of connecting to the web, just make sure you talk to the system admins first. If they don't want you doing this, fall back to the mobile data card technique when you need to.