XP PRO - Remote Assistance Behind a Router

[allanc]

Does anyone have a link to how to request remote assistance in XP PRO if you are on a network that connects to the Internet using a router?
Same question regarding providing remote assistance.
TIA.

 

[MattTheTech]

A common problem with machines behind firewalls is that they require certain ports to be open on the router.

steps:

check your ip in your local network. (192.168.1.X usually)

get into your routers config, most have a 'fowarding' section, which you can use to tell your router to send any traffic on port 3389 (the default remote assistance port) to the internal ip of your machine.

thats it! the user trying to connect, enteres in your WAN ip (the ip your internet provider gives you), and your router will know to forward that connection to your computer.

If you have a linksys router, I can give the instructions better, but they may vary for other brands.

 

[allanc]

Thank you.

 

[stockjock]

Isn't it easier to just go into your DMZ on the router and enter the computer's IP address to open up the firewall for that one computer??!! That way your not exposing any other computers on the network...

 

[MattTheTech]

DMZ means that one particular computer is completely exposed to the outside internet. The method I mentioned only opens 1 particular port, to 1 particular machine.

I don't think either way is hard. You simply have to enter the ip, and click a few things and enter in the port number.

 

[allanc]

In a LAN with multiple PC's, couldn't the internal IP address vary depending on the power-up sequence of the PC's?

 

[MattTheTech]

Yes it can.. if it is dynamic.. but it rarely will change (it doesnt change everytime you turn them on in a different order).

You can always set the machine to static if you want.. its pretty easy.

Just open up a command prompt and type ipconfig/all (to get the settings for your nic).

then just set the ip, gateway, subnet, and dns servers in your tcpip properties (for your nic).

To make sure your router doesnt try to assign that ip to something else, most routers start assigning ips up from x.x.x.100, so you could do .99 for your ip... look in your router config to find out..

Then you wont have to worry about it at all.

 

[RhythmAddict]

I highly reccomend NOT settin it up in the DMZ unless it is necessary. Listen to matt on this one.

 

[allanc]

Got it (I think).
Tks.