I always thought that using DynDNS was a little bit complex. I found a solution that has worked well for many years, and is free and extremely easy to use. Google search for a program called Gateway IP monitor. This program is free to download and use. It simply runs on a computer at your house, monitors your IP address, and if it changes, sends an email to any account you specify. I have it setup to email my hotmail account, so I can always check that when away from home, and know what my WAN IP address it. I suggest you try it out!
@VanessaCalyce: DynDNS is pathetically easy and would save you a crap ton of time since you wouldn't have to check for emails about your IP changing...
Basically you setup your DynDNS account... once, setup the updater... once, and then just connect! Where ever you are, no futzing with checking for emails or updating the IP in your connection client, etc.
I have set up an account with DynDNS and have downloaded/installed the Windows updater client, however, the client I am using looks vastly different from the one pictured above... plus my subdomain doesn't showup within the client software.
Also, what else will I need to do to my system in order to access it from my work computer? I remember something being said about enabling dynamic DNS in my router. I'm using a Zoom (provided by my ISP) and I'm able to access the admin page, but I don't know how to enable this feature. Some guidance here would be greatly appreciated.
Will I need to make any additional modifications to my home system apart from enabling filesharing and/or printer sharing? Will I need to install additional software?
I think it would be quite helpful to some of us if you could elaborate on this how-to guide for those us who are not blessed with GEEK WISDOM!
I thought DynDNS was supported by most routers for several years now. It was supported on my Netgear MR814v2 (802.11B router) and my current Dlink also supports it so most won't need the desktop client. I do wonder how they make money if everyone uses their service for free though...
@awdark: Because their free service is entirely automated, and likely doesn't cost them squat to run. And it gets them a lot of users that may eventually sign up for pay services since they are already there and like the idea of being able to administer all of their free and pay services from the same account...
ive been using dyndns for a couple of weeks now. i noticed that with the updater client it tends to refresh and keep track of your IP when: 1. you login to your windows profile and dyndns is set on autostart. or 2. random intervals.
there have been times tho that i have tried accessing my computer while im away. and the updater client wasnt doing its job.
@drinksoy: Yeah, DynDNS seems to recommend the software based updaters, but everyone I have ever talked to says that the ones embedded in a router are WAAAAY more reliable.
@Daniel Welch: Yes, yes it is. And thanks to the ed staff for taking our advice from the comments of that Remote Admin post and posting something about DDNS services!
Aaaand congratulations, you've just opened up a massive security hole.
VNC communications are sent in plaintext, so anyone sniffing is going to be able to read your log ins just like they were sitting over your shoulder... actually a bit easier.
If you're going to use VNC you're also going to need a secure VPN, SSH tunnel, or, if you're too lazy to do either of those, at the very least a Hamachi connection.
You'll also want to make sure that your home system requires a log in, might be a bit annoying but it's an extra level of security.
I have a persistent firewalled VPN between work & home in addition to client-based VPN server daemons. VPN is done at the routers using OpenVPN on Ubuntu 8.04 with iptables for firewall and ip route/rule for traffic balancing between cable and DSL.
I find that this is the easiest and bestest way, and highly recommend it.
"How To: Remote Control Your Home Computer From Anywhere"
Yeah, right. Totally worthless effort folks. I mean, I've already done this and it is a total sham.
I did all the steps exactly as John describes, that part went well, no glitches. Then I went on vacation. While away, I remotely accessed my Mac thinking "wow, this is SO cool!" and entered several commands. But two weeks later I got home to discover:
@bosskev: Yeah, I know what you mean. I have VNC on all my computers b/c of issues with the cams, and I always get IM's saying my bed isn't made, there's a cat on my couch, etc... that VNC never seems to be able to do anything about.
You NEED a static IP. You know how much is broadband with permanent static IP???? I have cable. The IP changes... rarely. But it does. And the moment it does, you are screwed.
So I use GotoMyPC.com service at $100/yr. it's always on if the PC is on it's always connected and the Video is SUPER, SUPER fast. Faster than Windows own VPN!.
As a backup, I use a FREE service from Logmein.com. It's video is not as fast as GotoMyPC but it gets the job done. I have everyone I know that needs PC help from time to time on it, so I can log in their PC's to help them.
I've used both services for over 4 yrs now. Locally pretty much every week and from overseas several times with zero glitches.
GotomyPC $100/yr beats hands down the cost of a Broadband Static IP and it's waaaaay faster than VPN (even over ethernet)! IMHO.
@aec007: I use logmein exclusively, also they just release hamachi which allows you to create a zero config vpn without all that nasty hardware issues, then you can juse use Win Remote Desktop or Mac Screen Sharing and its all free
@pdditty:I used to use it, but being able to setup DDNS pretty much negates the necessity of paying for some other ghetto-rigged web-app service, and you don't have to dick with a web based interface to get started...
Tomato and DD-WRT both work flawlessly with a free DynDNS account. And bonus, you get a domain name O_o (sort of).
And if you don't want to deal with a 3rd party router firmware, there are software based IP updaters as well.
@aec007: Gawd, GoToMyPC is such a chunk of s#!t. I'm surprised people still pay for that crap when there are so many ways to do the same thing for free.
I can see people using the pay version of LogMeIn if they are in and out of a LOT of machines under vastly differing network environments (and/or supporting not-so-tech-savvy friends/relatives). But beyond that, I really see no need to be paying for these services anymore...
The free version of VNC doesn't lock the screen of the remote computer so if anyone is at home, they'll be able to see your desktop and be able to take control if they wanted to. It's a good cross platform solution, but you'll need to spend some money if you want "screen blanking" like MS RDP.
@Syndication: You should also mention that VNC is very secure. I've used it at work and been able to logon to the VNC session by typing the wrong password. Granted, the wrong password contained the right password, but this would still make brute-force attacks easier.
@worsethannormal: So is it secure, or isn't it? I think I know what you mean though. From my experience, VNC is limited to 8 character passwords, so as long as the first 8 are correct, it will let you in.
@zombie_batch: agreed, I use RDP to get into about a dozen different computers at two jobs and at home, I've never experienced any lag except on the SQL server that is hosting data for in excess of 200 sites (I'm not actually the SQL admin but I need access to that machine for other things...), so there's pretty much no avoiding that bottleneck when it is experiencing heavy traffic.
We tried using VNC on that SQL server and it was utterly useless.
Also, I have discovered that the DDNS features in DD-WRT are outstanding, just setup a free DynDNS redirect and you are golden for getting to any VPN setup...
@bpapa9013 - Is now an ego maniac thanks to his new star ->: I only wish that the Windows Mobile 6.1 RDP client would store full profiles, as far as I can tell it will only store the hostname/ip you still have to manually input the user/pass/domain whenever you change servers...
I know there are third party RDP clients for WM that will do it, but I really don't want to pay ~$50 to save 20 key-strokes...
05/04/09
04/07/09
04/07/09
Basically you setup your DynDNS account... once, setup the updater... once, and then just connect! Where ever you are, no futzing with checking for emails or updating the IP in your connection client, etc.
Get with it man...
04/06/09
I have set up an account with DynDNS and have downloaded/installed the Windows updater client, however, the client I am using looks vastly different from the one pictured above... plus my subdomain doesn't showup within the client software.
Also, what else will I need to do to my system in order to access it from my work computer? I remember something being said about enabling dynamic DNS in my router. I'm using a Zoom (provided by my ISP) and I'm able to access the admin page, but I don't know how to enable this feature. Some guidance here would be greatly appreciated.
Will I need to make any additional modifications to my home system apart from enabling filesharing and/or printer sharing? Will I need to install additional software?
I think it would be quite helpful to some of us if you could elaborate on this how-to guide for those us who are not blessed with GEEK WISDOM!
Thanks!
04/07/09
You get one domain that can only be pointed at the WAN IP of the entire network.
04/06/09
it's really annoying...are there other programs out there that don't make you do this yet provide the service for free like dyndns?
04/07/09
It sounds like something is wrong with your setup...
04/06/09
04/07/09
04/06/09
Their support is actually really good too (presumably for paying customers).
04/06/09
there have been times tho that i have tried accessing my computer while im away. and the updater client wasnt doing its job.
anyone else notice these things?
04/07/09
DD-WRT / Tomato / etc. FTW!
04/06/09
04/07/09
04/04/09
VNC communications are sent in plaintext, so anyone sniffing is going to be able to read your log ins just like they were sitting over your shoulder... actually a bit easier.
If you're going to use VNC you're also going to need a secure VPN, SSH tunnel, or, if you're too lazy to do either of those, at the very least a Hamachi connection.
You'll also want to make sure that your home system requires a log in, might be a bit annoying but it's an extra level of security.
04/04/09
04/04/09
04/04/09
Followed by RDP or SSH, or file shares.
I have a persistent firewalled VPN between work & home in addition to client-based VPN server daemons. VPN is done at the routers using OpenVPN on Ubuntu 8.04 with iptables for firewall and ip route/rule for traffic balancing between cable and DSL.
I find that this is the easiest and bestest way, and highly recommend it.
04/04/09
04/06/09
"Network Admins do it remotely."
04/04/09
Yeah, right. Totally worthless effort folks. I mean, I've already done this and it is a total sham.
I did all the steps exactly as John describes, that part went well, no glitches. Then I went on vacation. While away, I remotely accessed my Mac thinking "wow, this is SO cool!" and entered several commands. But two weeks later I got home to discover:
• bed still not made
• kitchen trash not emptied
• laundry unsorted and unironed
Can't believe I fell for it. I'd have better luck trying to remote control my cat.
04/04/09
04/05/09
So far he's only good for cleaning the floors and annoying my cats. (They're not scared of him anymore.)
04/04/09
Ahh...the mother-of-all to make it work.
You NEED a static IP.
You know how much is broadband with permanent static IP????
I have cable. The IP changes... rarely. But it does. And the moment it does, you are screwed.
So I use GotoMyPC.com service at $100/yr. it's always on if the PC is on it's always connected and the Video is SUPER, SUPER fast. Faster than Windows own VPN!.
As a backup, I use a FREE service from Logmein.com. It's video is not as fast as GotoMyPC but it gets the job done.
I have everyone I know that needs PC help from time to time on it, so I can log in their PC's to help them.
I've used both services for over 4 yrs now. Locally pretty much every week and from overseas several times with zero glitches.
GotomyPC $100/yr beats hands down the cost of a Broadband Static IP and it's waaaaay faster than VPN (even over ethernet)! IMHO.
My 2 cents....
:)
04/04/09
04/04/09
04/04/09
04/05/09
Tomato and DD-WRT both work flawlessly with a free DynDNS account. And bonus, you get a domain name O_o (sort of).
And if you don't want to deal with a 3rd party router firmware, there are software based IP updaters as well.
04/06/09
I can see people using the pay version of LogMeIn if they are in and out of a LOT of machines under vastly differing network environments (and/or supporting not-so-tech-savvy friends/relatives). But beyond that, I really see no need to be paying for these services anymore...
04/04/09
The free version of VNC doesn't lock the screen of the remote computer so if anyone is at home, they'll be able to see your desktop and be able to take control if they wanted to. It's a good cross platform solution, but you'll need to spend some money if you want "screen blanking" like MS RDP.
04/04/09
04/04/09
04/04/09
RDP is better than VNC if you don't need screen sharing. VNC has more lag time than RDP.
04/05/09
We tried using VNC on that SQL server and it was utterly useless.
Also, I have discovered that the DDNS features in DD-WRT are outstanding, just setup a free DynDNS redirect and you are golden for getting to any VPN setup...
04/05/09
I know there are third party RDP clients for WM that will do it, but I really don't want to pay ~$50 to save 20 key-strokes...