Can ARD work over the internet?

Hi

The short answer is Yes. There are a number of approaches depending on what you want?

You could use a VPN which is more secure and better all round. Especially if you want to control multiple computers. Or you could simply open ports 5900 and 3283 in whatever is at your network's edge and forward external requests to the internal IP address (ideally fixed) of whatever it is you want to control. This method is only good for a single computer. Although this does depend on what you have at your network's edge? For the best results VPN would require a fixed external IP address at the target site. For the other method you could get by after a fashion but a fixed IP would again give the best results.

If all you want is to control another computer across the internet in a non-ARD way you could use iChat or LogMeIn. Both of these don't require a fixed IP address. You just need someone at the other end.

If you browse/search the Forum for "Internet" you'll see plenty of other posts you might find helpful? It's a popular question which gets asked a lot.

Tony

Joe

You're welcome.

AFAIK there is nothing 'definitive' that could be defined as a step-by-step guide. Simply too many variables. Not everyone uses the same hardware for example.

Some of the instructions given already should help you configure the firewall/router at the remote site? How you negotiate and configure the firewall depends on what's being used. They all vary. Assuming you're at the remote site enable Remote Management. System Preferences > Sharing > Remote Management. Tick all the options.

At this point a sensible precaution would be beefing up the local admin account's password. It's your choice.

Assign the workstation the fixed private IP address you decided on when configuring the Firewall. For example if the remote site's local network is using addresses in the 192.168.x.x range then assign an IP address that seems suitable to you. You can do this in the Network Preferences Pane. To make it easier you could use the "Using DHCP with manual address" option.

The only other piece of information you need is the external IP address at the remote site. If it's a fixed IP you should have no problems. If it's dynamically assigned a phone call (assuming someone's there) to the remote site is all you need do prior to controlling the workstation.

To find out what external IP address is being used launch a browser and in the url key in:

http://www.myipaddress.com

At your end select Connect to server from the Go Menu and key in:

vnc://theipaddressoftheremotesite

At the prompt enter an admin account name and password and you should be looking at the remote workstations' desktop.

Tony