Accessing home PC on ntl from abroad

sjdigital · 17-10-2004, 22:45

I back up my notebook unto my PC at home and would like to have the capability to access this backup when travelling abroad. Is it possible to do this? And if so, how? I've tried a search of the forums but can't come up with anything.

Florence · 17-10-2004, 22:57

You would have to set the PC at home to accept your laptop VPNing to it over the internet.
You can look at this one

Some useful info here

A good how to page

Hope that helps

sjdigital · 17-10-2004, 23:10

Thanks for this prompt reply - I'll check these links out.

sjdigital · 20-10-2004, 11:28

I'm still trying to get to grips with VPN but it would seem that I need to have the IP address of my home ntl connection. But I don't think I have a fixed IP address so how does one get round that problem? Sorry if this is a daft question

punky · 20-10-2004, 11:40

Your best bet is to use VNC. It is simple to install/use, powerful, and best of all, free.

If you want to control your computer without downloading anything at the foreign end (like if you was at a cybercafe), you can use GoToMyPC. It works through your web browser, but unfortunatly it isn't free. It has a really long free trial though.

Salu · 20-10-2004, 13:34

Have a look at www.no-ip.com

sjdigital · 20-10-2004, 13:51

Thanks guys for these two suggestions. Taken together they may do the trick. I'm assuming that ntl uses dynamic IP addressing?

poolking · 20-10-2004, 13:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by sjdigital

Thanks guys for these two suggestions. Taken together they may do the trick. I'm assuming that ntl uses dynamic IP addressing?

Yes ntl does.

I think its just business lines that use a static ip.

punky · 20-10-2004, 14:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by sjdigital

Thanks guys for these two suggestions. Taken together they may do the trick. I'm assuming that ntl uses dynamic IP addressing?

It is dynamic, but on broadband it rarely ever changes for most people. You normally get your old IP back. In fact people have a hard time changing it.

sjdigital · 20-10-2004, 14:17

I supose if the cable modem isn't switched off then the IP address is unlikely to change. Or is that too simple an assumption???

Chris W · 20-10-2004, 14:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by sjdigital

I supose if the cable modem isn't switched off then the IP address is unlikely to change. Or is that too simple an assumption???

it is indeed unlikely to change- as well as you leave the device that is connected to the modem on as well because the two ips (for CM and CPE) are independent of each other.

Maintenance work in your area may also make your ip change, but i have had the same ip for months now....

punky · 20-10-2004, 14:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by sjdigital

I supose if the cable modem isn't switched off then the IP address is unlikely to change. Or is that too simple an assumption???

Nope. And just to back up what I said before, I went away on holiday for 2 weeks, and noone was coming in the house so I turned everything off, including my STB. After 2 weeks, I came back to was given the same IP as before.

SOSAGES · 20-10-2004, 15:02

i like many people have ntl im lucky and have what seems to be a static ip as it hasnt changed in 3+ years for what ever reason and ive been offline for days at a time and ubrs have been chopped up and resegmented so it just seems static but its probably not i just been lucky- maybe im just out of ntls loop as everytime i have an issue with the line they dont seem to admit i can get cable in my post code anyway - get your self a dynu ip thingie and then xp remote desktop to it ihave been to a few places on holiday and all the web cafes have XP and remote desktop on them so u can easily check i used it a few times while in spain last year worked a treat

sjdigital · 20-10-2004, 15:05

So if the IP address remains the same then presumably I could simply use the VPN capability of WIndows XP to connect to my computer at home without bothering with any additional software?

poolking · 20-10-2004, 17:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by sjdigital

So if the IP address remains the same then presumably I could simply use the VPN capability of WIndows XP to connect to my computer at home without bothering with any additional software?

To be on the safe side I would sign up with no-ip as suggested, you download a client from their site and you run it if your IP changes and the URL you are given always points to the new IP address.