Remote desktop connection to Mac??

equality72521 · 11:52 AM

Can someone step me through setting this up? I need to setup a vnc/remote desktop server on my Mac at home which is running the latest version of Leopard. I need to be able to connect and control the Mac desktop from my Windows XP machine at work. Can someone give me step by step instructions on how to do this? I've Googled it and tried everything but it still doesn't work. I'm using a Linksys WRT300N router. I have port forwarding setup on the router to point to the Mac (port 5900). When I try to connect I use the IP assigned by my ISP, not internal IP. It works inside my network but not from outside. Any ideas?

stomachmonkey · 02-17-2009, 08:11 AM

Leopard has VNC built in.

Go to System Preferences/Sharing

Enable Remote Management

Click Computer settings, mid/upper right of pane

Enable VNC Viewers can Control Screen with password

You may need to open/forward additional ports on your firewall, 5900 is standard but you may need to add 5901,5902, 5903. I'd look at his if you continue to have problems, IE should not be necessary under normal circumstances.

The last digit being the "display" that gets connected to.

Setup does sound correct, your client on the XP machine should be pointed to your external IP and the port forwarding handles the rest.

Which make and model of router is it?

Since it works internally I'd say you've got both machines correct, look more at the firewall.

equality72521 · 02-17-2009, 08:19 AM

I thought I tried that but not sure now, I've tried so much. The router is a Linksys WRT300N. I've also got port 5800 and one other that was suggested on another forum but can't remember what it is now.

equality72521 · 02-17-2009, 08:20 AM

I'll try it again tonight with your suggestions.

KaptKaos · 02-17-2009, 08:21 AM

Go to LogMeIn.com .

They have a free service that I believe supports Mac. I know their rescue product does.

Good luck!

equality72521 · 02-17-2009, 10:10 AM

I just tried pinging the external IP of my router and it timed out. I did a tracert and it showed the DNS along with the correct IP but couldn't reach the destination. It's like my router is invisible.

stomachmonkey · 02-17-2009, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by equality72521

I just tried pinging the external IP of my router and it timed out. I did a tracert and it showed the DNS along with the correct IP but couldn't reach the destination. It's like my router is invisible.

You need to enable remote management of the router from inside 1st.

Most routers are set that way these days.

May also have ping reply turned off by default.

If you can ping something then you know it's there and can run a portscan looking for vulnerability.

No reason for a home router to respond by default.

equality72521 · 02-17-2009, 10:15 AM

So that shouldn't affect my abiility to set up the vnc portion right?

willtel · 02-17-2009, 10:17 AM

The firewall at your office may also be restricting your connection. Where I work many ports are blocked from passing traffic both ways.

equality72521 · 02-17-2009, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by willtel

The firewall at your office may also be restricting your connection. Where I work many ports are blocked from passing traffic both ways.

That may be true. I know there are vnc users here though so at the moment I have to assume they are not blocking the ports.

stomachmonkey · 02-17-2009, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by equality72521

So that shouldn't affect my abiility to set up the vnc portion right?

Possibly but not the 1st thing I'd look at.

speeder · speeder's Garage

Since we have the attention of knowledgeable people here, anyone know how to make a Mac sync w/ Blackberry as modem? I know that PCs can use BBs as modems but Macs are trickier. I have a G4 laptop w/ Leopard and it recognises my BB on the little phone icon near the airport, etc., on top of screen but it won't connect.

rcecale · rcecale's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by speeder

Since we have the attention of knowledgeable people here, anyone know how to make a Mac sync w/ Blackberry as modem?

Denis,

the easiest way to connect a Mac to a BB is by selling the Mac and buying a PC!

Randy

stomachmonkey · 02-17-2009, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by speeder

Since we have the attention of knowledgeable people here, anyone know how to make a Mac sync w/ Blackberry as modem? I know that PCs can use BBs as modems but Macs are trickier. I have a G4 laptop w/ Leopard and it recognises my BB on the little phone icon near the airport, etc., on top of screen but it won't connect.

Hmm,

Which model BlackBerry?

It's usually just making sure you have the correct modem driver.

equality72521 · 02-18-2009, 06:00 AM

Ok, I've done all of the suggestions and still no luck. I also verified that my company does not block the ports as we have many users that use RealVNC daily. I turned on remote management but still can't connect to the router. Any more ideas to try?????

stomachmonkey · 02-18-2009, 06:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by equality72521

Ok, I've done all of the suggestions and still no luck. I also verified that my company does not block the ports as we have many users that use RealVNC daily. I turned on remote management but still can't connect to the router. Any more ideas to try?????

Who is your ISP? Do they block VNC traffic?

What VNC client are you using on the PC? Some require SSH tunneling to be enabled on the other (OS X) side.

You could try a third party VNC server like Vine

If you want to PM me the details for your VNC connection from the outside I can test it from a Mac. Might help to localize the issue.

KaptKaos · 02-18-2009, 06:26 AM

I just checked and LogMeIn works with Macs and its FREE.

Here's the link:

https://secure.logmein.com/products/free/

If you can't make it work any other way, why not try this? It accomplishes your goals, although it may not be as "techie" as you'd like.

stomachmonkey · 02-18-2009, 06:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KaptKaos

I just checked and LogMeIn works with Macs and its FREE.

Here's the link:

https://secure.logmein.com/products/free/

If you can't make it work any other way, why not try this? It accomplishes your goals, although it may not be as "techie" as you'd like.

Need to download to verify but looks to me like they are acting as a gateway/portal which means you are passing your traffic thru them. Not sure if I'm entirely comfortable with that idea.

They also seem to have some screwiness going on with their client/server. http://community.logmein.com/logmein/board?board.id=48

There is nothing really Techie about what he is trying to do. 90% of the time this stuff works out of the box. The times it does not can be a bit trying.

Had a similar issue with 2 of my linux web servers. No one in my group had issues with box 1, but for some reason box 2 was only accessible from my laptop. Could not hit it from any of the other 6 or so boxes that could hit server 1.

Both servers are identical hardware running the same version of SUSE.

We got it worked out but it took a bit.

equality72521 · 02-18-2009, 06:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KaptKaos

I just checked and LogMeIn works with Macs and its FREE.

Here's the link:

https://secure.logmein.com/products/free/

If you can't make it work any other way, why not try this? It accomplishes your goals, although it may not be as "techie" as you'd like.

That site is blocked by the company.

equality72521 · 02-18-2009, 06:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

Who is your ISP? Do they block VNC traffic?

I don't know if the ISP blocks it.

What VNC client are you using on the PC? Some require SSH tunneling to be enabled on the other (OS X) side.

I'm using UltraVNC on the Windows box.

You could try a third party VNC server like Vine

I currently have osxvnc (Vine) running on the Mac and it shows internal and external as green (good)

If you want to PM me the details for your VNC connection from the outside I can test it from a Mac. Might help to localize the issue.

Let me try some others things first.

Answer to your questions.