| There are several services available now that allow | | | | forward traffic on tcp port 3389 to your host |
| you to remotely access your computer from any | | | | computer. |
| other machine in the world, as long as it is connected | | | | How to Configure the Remote Desktop service |
| to the internet. The good news is that Windows XP | | | | On the host computer, go to the control panel and |
| Professional has this functionality built into the | | | | double click the system icon. Click the Remote tab, |
| operating system. In this article, I am going to show | | | | and then click to select the Allow users to connect |
| you how to configure your Windows XP Professional | | | | remotely to this computer check box. Administrators |
| computer to support remote access using the | | | | are granted access by default, but there is an option |
| Remote Desktop feature. | | | | to add other user accounts if needed. Click on OK to |
| To use Remote Desktop you will need the following: | | | | save your changes. |
| A host computer (the one you want to access | | | | Connecting to your computer |
| remotely) that is running Microsoft Windows XP | | | | On the client PC, you will need a software client |
| Professional and is connected to the Internet. | | | | called Remote Desktop Connection. Computers |
| A client computer (the one you will use when | | | | running Windows XP Home and Professional already |
| remotely accessing your PC) running Microsoft | | | | have this client installed. If you are connecting from a |
| Windows XP, Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition | | | | client PC that is running another version of windows, |
| (Me), Microsoft Windows 98, Microsoft Windows 98 | | | | you will need to install the Remote Desktop |
| Second Edition, Microsoft Windows 2000, Microsoft | | | | Connection software. You can download the |
| Windows NT 4.0, or Microsoft Windows 95, with | | | | software for free from Microsoft's website. The |
| access to the Internet. | | | | next step is to run the Remote Desktop Connection |
| Appropriate user accounts and permissions configured | | | | software so you can connect to your computer. To |
| on the remote Windows XP Professional to allow | | | | do this, Click Start, point to All Programs, point to |
| remote access. | | | | Accessories, point to Communications, and then click |
| The IP address of your home computer. You can | | | | Remote Desktop Connection. From here you just |
| figure this out by going to a site like The only | | | | need to enter the IP address or DNS host name and |
| problem with this is that your ISP may dynamically | | | | click on connect. |
| change this address from time to time. I would | | | | Obviously, there are security implications that need to |
| recommend using a free dynamic DNS provider, such | | | | be considered when opening ports on you firewall or |
| as This will allow you to assign a public DNS record to | | | | NAT router and exposing your machine to the |
| your computer, such as You will need to have tcp | | | | internet. Please consider all of the security risks and |
| port 3389 open on your firewall. If your machine is | | | | decide whether or not this method will work for you. |
| behind a firewall or NAT router you will need to | | | | |