I want to be able to get to my data files on my home laptop from a remote
location. My home network consists of a DSL modem connected to a 7 port wired
router. Two laptops are connected to the LAN. Can anyone point me to some
documentation that will explain how to do this? I have tweaked the router for
a week with no success. I have even obtained a Dynamic DNS to resolve the WAN
IP address that changes frequently. No luck still can't get in. My ISP says
they aren't blocking any ports. I am a novice and want to learn how to make
this work.

Just files or do you also want to access/control the desktop and be able to
transfer files? If its the latter case and you run XP Pro on the home PCs
look at using Remote Desktop.

http://theillustratednetwork.mvps.or...eshooting.html

If the home PC is running XP Home then look at using UltraVNC with its
encryption plug-in.

http://ultravnc.sourceforge.net/

Both Remote Desktop and UltraVNC have file transfer functionality included.

You can run both Remote Desktop or UltraVNC through a SSH or VPN tunnel for
added security.

http://theillustratednetwork.mvps.or...esktopSSH.html
http://www.broadbandreports.com/faq/11544

If you just want to grab files from the laptop then a very secure way to do
that is to setup a SSH tunnel and use WinSCP (a free SSH File Transfer
Protocol client).

http://winscp.sourceforge.net/eng/index.php

A PPTP VPN is also an option...

http://www.onecomputerguy.com/networ...vpn_server.htm
http://www.onecomputerguy.com/networking/xp_vpn.htm

--

Al Jarvi (MS-MVP Windows Networking)

Please post *ALL* questions and replies to the news group for the mutual
benefit of all of us...
The MS-MVP Program - http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights...

"Toni" <Toni@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:347D8FC7-BAC3-4C5F-8083-60A209E43253@microsoft.com...
>I want to be able to get to my data files on my home laptop from a remote
> location. My home network consists of a DSL modem connected to a 7 port
> wired
> router. Two laptops are connected to the LAN. Can anyone point me to some
> documentation that will explain how to do this? I have tweaked the router
> for
> a week with no success. I have even obtained a Dynamic DNS to resolve the
> WAN
> IP address that changes frequently. No luck still can't get in. My ISP
> says
> they aren't blocking any ports. I am a novice and want to learn how to
> make
> this work.