Query - Server Setup (how to access from outside local network)

[wakkaday]

Hi Guys,

I have computer server windows 2003 rc2 installed.

I have three other computers running windows xp which can access the server over the local network.

I have BT Static IP address (not sure if I require this) I also have forgotten what it is ? How do i find out?

How do I access the server from a different location ie. home ?

is there anything else I need to do?

Thanks

[idi banashapan]

if you google "what's my IP address", this will show you your public IP. alternatively, log on to your router, which should also tell you.

to get to the server from outside your internal network, you will either need to put the machine in the DMZ (not recommended), or set up port forwarding for the ports you want to access. for example, RDP would be port 3389. set a policy on your router to forward any RDP requests to your external IP address to go to the server's internal IP address.

bare in mind the security of such actions. it will be safer to use port translation, so you send the RDP request from outside on a different port, and your router will translate that port and connect to the server on 3389, for example. this eliminates the risk of having a standard and known port being allowed a direct connection to your server - so anyone / anything probing standard ports for a connection will fail. if you will always be accessing from the same machine / location, I would recommend you set up a VPN.

[wakkaday]

Thanks for above.

Also I think I accidentally changed the IP addresses which had been configured without making a note, How can i get them back? Is there a way? If not nevermind.

For some reason I cannot find the server folder on the computers (using windows xp) which have been connected and networked to the server. ???

[wakkaday]

I have set up to share a drive on windows server 2003 rc2 and have given permission for it to be accessed to all users.

On my windows xp computer I am trying to locate this drive but it does not find it.

I have went to network places and also active directory and did a search under file and computer speaker but nothing comes up. Do I need to manually enter data I. E computer name etc server address etc? If so where can I find this option please advise

I want to create a drive which can be accessed by 3 other computers which can save edit files etc.

Windows Server 2003 rc2?

Are you sure?

You don't mean Windows Server 2003 R2 do you?