Remote Access for Windows 2000 Server

Hi,

I am having trouble setting up remote access for my Windows 2000 SP4 server. The server sits behind a NetScreen 5xt firewall. I have the remote desktop software from NetScreen that lets me create a IPsec VPN tunnel.

I am able to use the software to access desktops on my LAN that are running XP. To make this work I needed to enable Remote Desktop (Allow users to connect remotely to this computer). I am told this is not a security issue because my desktop has a private IP address that cannot cross the internet.

When I log into my web server I do not have an option for "Remote Desktop ". I tried going into terminal services and starting that service (which was disabled before). The computer tried for a minute then came back that the service is not responsive. It now says startING instead of startED.

I found a MS KB article that seems promising:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=80111F21-D48D-426E-96C2-08AA2BD23A49&displaylang=en


I think this article says that if I install MSRDPCLI.EXE I can have remote desktop on the server. However, this web server is in production and I do not want to start blindly adding applications that I do not understand.

Does anyone know how to set this up? I need to have secure remote access to my server's desktop to be able to make changes to a SQL database, IIS settings and even re-boot the server if needed.

I am leaving town in 36 hours and need to set this up before. Thank you!!!

 

The server would need Terminal Services installed (add/remove windows components) for that to work, which it should.

However have you considered something like www.logmein.com (Free version) ?

I use RDP and TS too, but logmein is a valid alternative and means you can remote admin your servers and desktops from anywhere with a web browser.

I currently use it on over 300 desktop pc's and 17 servers.

 

simple way is to use vnc
if you need to track the ip of the lan ( say on dsl ) you can use a tracking program service like no-ip
If you have trouble getting through a router - you can set up a hamachi network
There is a designation for working with exact computers on a network : whatever - perhaps someone here knows

http://www.realvnc.com/products/free/4.1/download.html

http://www.no-ip.com/

https://secure.logmein.com/products/hamachi/vpn.asp?lang=en

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamachi

 

All good idea's but I would definitely say logmein is simpler than any of them

 

Log me in is good , its fast and will get you through a firewall easy
It is not cheap

 

Even the free version?