Networking

How to access your computer that’s behind a router remotely via Remote Desktop (advanced)

January 30, 2009 by Ian Brown No Comments

Would you like to access your computer remotely via Remote Desktop, and the computer you want to access is behind a router at home or work? You’re not going to be able to access it by entering the name of the computer. You will have to enter an IP address and set up your router to forward a port.

Which IP address, which port, and how?

First, to set up your computer for a Remote Desktop Connection, go here:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsXp/using/mobility/getstarted/Remoteintro.mspx

After you do that, come back here and follow the instructions below. This is for advanced users, btw. Sorry, but there are too many modems and routers out there to make it beneficial to be any more detailed that I am.

1)Know you external IP (you’ll have to log into either your router or modem to get this)
2)Set a static IP on the machine you wish to RDP in to
3)Set up the NAT/Port Forwarding for the default RDP port 3389 on your router if you have one and your modem if you do not (since each router and modem is different, call either the manufacturer of your router if you have a router, or your Internet Service Provider if you just have a modem and have them walk you through this)
4)Disable or configure Firewall
5)Make sure the computer is configured to accept remote requests and allow control (see link above)
6)Try to log in from a computer that is on a different network

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Written by Ian Brown
Ian has been involved with computers since very young. He took his first computer class when he was just 8 years old. He always had an affinity for computers, but never really took it seriously. It was not until he graduated from college and experienced the real world for a while did he realize that computers may be where his talent and passion lie. He has since branched out into Internet marketing and LOVES it. He currently resides in Los Angeles where he services clients ranging from residential to small business to celebrities.