VPN and VNC

I don't know whether Screen Sharing will work in order to access a Windows computer. Might there by chance be a Mac at work that you can attempt to VNC into using Screen Sharing, just to try to eliminate any question of VPN configuration? Or smb file share? Or even command line ftp?

You might try using one of the two freeware VNC clients ChickenOfTheVNC or JollysFastVNC. They can be downloaded from sites like macupdate.com or versiontracker.com.

I would not be surprised if you were to find that Microsoft Remote Desktop will give you much better performance, speedwise, than the two aforementioned VNC clients -- more along the order of performance that you would experience with CoreServices' ScreenSharing.app between two Macs.

I haven't used Microsoft Remote Desktop very many times, but when I have, I see the desktop of the computer that I am connected to and I can control the pointer and cursor on it with my keyboard and mouse. Wouldn't that be the "console" that I was viewing? I don't understand what you mean when you say, "it doesn't allow you to see the actual console?" What are you seeing?

What VNC server were you running on your Windows box?

I've used Chicken of the VNC and JollysFastVNC connected to Windows systems running RealVNC. But I've also seen TightVNC and UltraVNC as the server on Windows.

Another thought. Is your VPN allowing port 5900 through? Try using Applications -> Utilities -> Network Utility -> Port Scan. Specify the DNS name or IP address of the Windows system. Specify you want to test ports 5900 - 5909. You should only need to test 5900, but it is not unheard of to have the server run on an alternate port.

As a side note, I've also used Microsoft's Remote Desktop Connection (RDC) on the Mac. If RDC is also not working, then repeat the above port scan only this time specify port 3389 which is what RDC uses.

Hi Leenin,
I suppose, you can connect to your Win-Network via VPN. How did you do this ? I'm trying to get connection since several weeks using the VPN-Panel in Network Prefs (Mac at home, Windows-Server 2003 at work). With my (very old) XP-Notebook all works fine. My Mac only says "connecting...." and then brakes up the connection. Could you post your VPN-Prefs ? I would very much appreciate this....

By the way: MS RDP worked always fine....(without VPN)

Micha

Sorry: MS RDC !

Agreed- Chicken of the VNC is a great place to start. You just need to have that port open.