Is it possible to use remote desktop without altering firewall settings?

I have a friend who works in a small company -- too small to have an IT
person to help him (they call someone in for big jobs, but for small jobs
you're on your own), but big enough to have installed a corporate firewall.
I don't want to mess with their firewall; I just want to help my friend. It
seems to be microsoft's remote desktop would require a port open on the
firewall. Is there a solution that would work without touching the firewall?

> Is it possible to use remote desktop without altering firewall settings?
>
> I have a friend who works in a small company -- too small to have an IT
> person to help him (they call someone in for big jobs, but for small jobs
> you're on your own), but big enough to have installed a corporate
firewall.
> I don't want to mess with their firewall; I just want to help my friend.
It
> seems to be microsoft's remote desktop would require a port open on the
> firewall. Is there a solution that would work without touching the
firewall?

Is he trying to connect "from" small company to an outside computer, or
"into" small company computer from outside machine?

"Peter" <peterfoxghost@yahoo.ca> wrote in message
news:lgTqf.2638$1Y4.298263@news20.bellglobal.com.. .
>> Is it possible to use remote desktop without altering firewall settings?
>>
>> I have a friend who works in a small company -- too small to have an IT
>> person to help him (they call someone in for big jobs, but for small jobs
>> you're on your own), but big enough to have installed a corporate
> firewall.
>> I don't want to mess with their firewall; I just want to help my friend.
> It
>> seems to be microsoft's remote desktop would require a port open on the
>> firewall. Is there a solution that would work without touching the
> firewall?
>
> Is he trying to connect "from" small company to an outside computer, or
> "into" small company computer from outside machine?

I'm trying to connect from outside into his computer to debug stuff.

> >> Is it possible to use remote desktop without altering firewall
settings?
> >>
> >> I have a friend who works in a small company -- too small to have an IT
> >> person to help him (they call someone in for big jobs, but for small
jobs
> >> you're on your own), but big enough to have installed a corporate
> > firewall.
> >> I don't want to mess with their firewall; I just want to help my
friend.
> > It
> >> seems to be microsoft's remote desktop would require a port open on the
> >> firewall. Is there a solution that would work without touching the
> > firewall?
> >
> > Is he trying to connect "from" small company to an outside computer, or
> > "into" small company computer from outside machine?
>
> I'm trying to connect from outside into his computer to debug stuff.

That's more difficult. Both of you would have to install tunneling software
first. He is probably behind NAT so he would need to initiate tunnel to your
PC. Then you can RDP over established tunnel to his machine.

But, I'm afraid, his company would not like that.