Wireless Anywhere

Members of the ISP-Wireless list discuss accessing a network through a remote wireless connection. Symantec and AT&T can provide solutions.

[November 11, 2000]

On the ISP-Wireless list in November, DJ queried,

"Any suggestions on setting up pcAnywhere so a client can access the network remotely, using the wireless connection on the host end?"

A number of respondents felt the setup should be extremely simple:

[SH explained] "It's just a network connection. Set up pcAnywhere just like you normally would. Unless the host machine is turned off, it's going to have an active net connection-so it won't be any different than running it on your wired server."

[BR observed] "I have tried it here, and only had to tell it to use a LAN, and it worked. It seems a little slow but that is just personal experience."

[CE added] "We're using it to remotely administer our wireless systems. Works great, but a little slow over dialup lines."

Others offered a specific way to set up the network:

[MC suggested] "If pcAnywhere can be told what port to communicate on, you could set up static NAT tables that force traffic arriving on the public side on port x to translate to machine #1, port y to machine #2, etc."

[JT agreed] "There is a doc in the Service and Support section of Symantec's web site that tells you how to do this."

Finally, RB offered an alternative solution:

"Here's one of the better kept secrets out there. Start up a browser, tell it to go to the IP address of any computer with this software running in it, and now you've got full control of that machine inside the browser screen. The price, at zero dollars and zero cents, makes it all the more attractive:

Virtual Network Computing from AT&T Laboratories Cambridge"

—End