RDP onto my home machine

[azcomposer]

I am trying to RDP onto my machine.

I have set up a port forwarding rule (3389) on the router to point to my machine. I have also allowed the protocol on my firewall. RDP is also enabled on the PC.

When I try to RDP, (using external IP address), it says the computer is not available.

Does the modem, which I have read cannot be configured, blocking my RDP attempt?

[tweetiepooh]

AFAIK the modem acts like a bridge between your cat5 and VM cable networks and really doesn't play a part in filtering or handling IP traffic.

Check your firewall logs. Switch off PC firewall temporarily and see if that helps. Use something like Wireshark to see the packets coming in. Check setup on the "server" to see if it has some IP filtering.

[Aragorn]

I would suggest you avoid using RDP to a home machine.
Logmein would be more secure and works well with both VM and ADSL.

[nffc]

You should be able to. Mine works. Either RDP isn't on properly, there is a firewall blocking it or the port isn't open. Can you try it on another local machine?

[bomber_g]

Originally Posted by Aragorn

I would suggest you avoid using RDP to a home machine.
Logmein would be more secure and works well with both VM and ADSL.

/\ /\
this

also, if you tell me your IP address I'll try and help you... PM it though as I want to help myself

---------- Post added at 16:39 ---------- Previous post was at 16:39 ----------

i mean - help you myself

[azcomposer]

Thanks for the replies.

It's the firewall on my machine! I automatically thought it would allow RDP as a rule by default, but it seems it does not. I have tried to manually allow TCP In on 3389 on the firewall but it still blocks it! Tried various combinations. I can see the entry in my firewall logs each time I try, but can I unblock it? Seems no.

Disable firewall, and it all works.

@Aragorn - I am already using logmein (which is brilliant), but I wanted another 'backdoor' just in case. I am using AVG IS 9.0 for the first time, and Zonealarm was easier to configure and RDP worked. Maybe I am doing something wrong with AVG, but I am not convinced.

[Kymmy]

If a firewall allowed RDP by default then I'd really be worried

Glad you're sorted

[xpod]

Originally Posted by Aragorn

I would suggest you avoid using RDP to a home machine.
Logmein would be more secure and works well with both VM and ADSL.

Couldn`t agree more.
Another good Windows based solution is Teamviewer .In fact, i use Teamviewer via Wine on occasion to give the odd bit of remote assistance.It`s much easier & safer than expecting people to forward ports and indeed leave them open for more insecure methods such as RDP.

Personally i prefer a nice encrypted ssh tunnel, with a bit of added configuration and some nice dsa keys to boot but theres rarely any need for my having to login to home so the it`s rarely even running.

[azcomposer]

As I said, RDP as a backup.

Also, I am evaluating AVG IS 9.0 (have AVG AV 8.5 at the mo), and so far it's blocking everything, which is good, but not so good if I want it to unblock certain ports and it still blocks.

Logmein Pro is fine, but there have been a couple of times when I have lost connection and it wasn't VM's fault (not on those occasions anyway!).

Unless I am mistaken, I thought RDP was automatically allowed through the Windows (XP) firewall - I've never had to create a rule or allow it when I used it...

[Sir John Luke]

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

any use?

[Kymmy]

As the thread has gone beyond the initial

Does the modem, which I have read cannot be configured, blocking my RDP attempt?

and onto firewall questions I've moved the thread to NETWORKING