Remote Access to my Windows Server 2003

Hi i have a windows server 2003, i would like to access the server remotely from my home, can anyone guide me through the steps pleaseeeee.

Thanks,
TRI

 

Hi, trishanth!
It depends on your network configuration... You can make a vpn connection to your server (having opened appropriate ports on the firewall, of course ) and use RDP.

 

If you want a easy, free and quick solution - go for Microsoft "live mesh "
https://www.mesh.com/welcome/default.aspx

- Madhurjya

 

I have an Small Business SERVER 2008 too can anyone help me in getting remote access to that too plzzzzzzzzzzzz

 

Hi my friend,

There is no simple and straight forward answer to your request.

1)
What remote access you need?
- to send/to get files to/from the the server?
- to remote admin the server?
- to forward the desktop of the server to the local desktop?
etc.

The last one is quite complicate, without an easy solution.


2)
Which remote client you expect to use?
Samba/cygwin/rdesktop/vpn/tsc etc.


3)
Which OS you're going to run on your remote client? Windows/Linux/Unix/BSD etc. ?


4)
You must have experience on;
- configuring "Remote Access for Windows Server 2008 "
- setup group policy
- creating SSL certificate
etc.


If you just need to connect the computers between home and office better to run a workstation in your office. The setup is much easier including forwarding the server desktop to the remote client and vice versa.


B.R.
satimis

 

Hi Thanks for replying...
here are the answer for your questions.

1) What remote access do you need
I wanna remote admin the server

2)Which remote client you wann use
I wann use either remote desktop or VPN whichever easier to setup

3)Which OS ur gonna run on your remote client
Windows XP Professional

4)I have experience in creating setup group policy and SSL certificate.. I never configured the remote access to Server 2008 upto but i would love to that for my small business server 2008. In order to that i was seeking help from one of you guys..

thanks,
TRI.

 

Hi,

To my understanding "remote admin the server" is only limited to users account control and files transfer. It doesn't include installing software, running update and server reconfiguration (not taking overall control of the server). For the latter it is a little bid complicate, especially for Windows which needs multiple reboots after update/reconfig/installing new software etc.

Windows is NOT Linux which rarely needs reboot except upgade kernel. On each reboot you need to reconnect the Windows server. If unfortunately reconnection fails you need a hard reset on the server. What I did in the past (>10 years) installing another NIC which integrated to a hard reset device. In such arrangement you need a second IP address in addition. I don't know up-to-now whether Windows has made any solution on this problem.

Please don't reconfigure firewall remotely. A new configuration (untested) may result in failure on connection.

VPN is only attaching the local PC to a remote network through a secured line. It doesn't take control of the remote PC.

It is up to my knowledge that Microsoft provides the Administration Tools for Windows Vista.

Microsoft Remote Server Administration Tools for Windows Vista
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...97-23CE-4A36-B7FC-D52065DE9960&displaylang=en

I'm not aware the said Tools work on Windows XP


If you can't find a software/solution for your application (according to my interpretation) I suggest you look at;

OpenSSH
OpenSSH for Windows
http://sshwindows.sourceforge.net/

OpenSSH for Windows General Information
http://sshwindows.sourceforge.net/information/
Tested with:
* Windows NT 4.0 Workstation with SP6a
* Windows 2000 Professional with SP3
* Windows 2000 Server with SP3
* Windows XP Professional
* Windows 2003 Server, Enterprise Edition

the Open Source software which is FREE to use. Any question relating to OpenSSH please subscribe their mailing list and/or forum.


However without GUI you must be knowledgeable in running MS DOS commands, particularly the "NET" command for users account control.


If you expect taking full control of the server remotely I recommend you make a ssh tunnel and run RDP. However it won't solve the reboot problem nor the risk on testing firewall configuration remotely.


Regarding configuration of Windows Server 2008 for remote access there are tons of articles on Internet for you to use. Google is your friend.


HTH


B.R.
satimis

 

By far the best, simplest, and most secure solution is to invest in a hardware firewall that provides VPN access. Cisco, Watchguard, Sonicwall all provide small firewalls that are ideal for small businesses. On an extremely tight budget or for SOHO a netgear or draytek firewalling router can do the job well.

Install the firewall, Set up VPN to the firewall and connect in. Once you are connected your home PC will behave as though it is connected to the local network, and simple things like remote desktop will work just as well as they will from your work PC (though there is a bandwidth issue - so accessing shares and moving large files back and forth is slow and should be avoided).

 

Hi i got the remote server access by connecting through the vpn and remote desktop, but is there a way where i can give remote desktop access to my client PC's too with vpn connected ???

 

It depends on how the VPN is set up. If you are using a point to point VPN (typical windows server to remote PC connection) you'll have to fiddle with the server settings to allow access to the network. If you are using a firewall VPN as I suggested, it is just a case of altering the firewall rules to allow access to the PCs you want to connect to.