connect 2 PC across Internet. goal is to try client/server application

[jchen1]

I run a small network at home with DSL to Internet, single Port Modem/Router uplink to a 4 port switch, the PCs include Win 2K Ad. Server and Win98 (2). My brother has a Win98 PC that also have DSL connection. WE live 7 states apart. Is there an easy way to expand my network to include his PC across the Internet? Can I use the build-in Microsoft VPN adapter? I am fairly familiar with MS Networking in a wired environment, never tried anything bigger. Please give me some clues. Thanks.

"what was our goal?"
My brother and I have a small business and the account software we want to use requires a client/server environment if we want o run it at both locations. The accounting people recommended a tech. firm that will charge us up to thousand of dollars to set it up. I am just trying to see if I can do that on our own because we are only running a small business, not a million-dollar corp.
Hope this helps.

[Stef]

Use SSH, tunnel your app through it. There's a list of SSH clients for Windows at http://www.openssh.org.

Stef

[jchen1]

Thanks stef. Though could not understand what SSH is and how to use it even after checked out the SSH website.

Somewhere I read before that mentioned that VPN cab be used to connect 2 remote locations across Internet? Is that hardware or software?

[YeOldeStonecat]

Citrix

[cyberskye]

JC,

You do have many options. You mentioned that you want to share accounting/financial data. Due to this fact alone, you may want to consider professional help. I mean no disrepsect as to your abilities but you really do want to ensure that you have a reliable, secure connection.

Some things to consider if you do want to do this yourself - does your router support port forwarding (I would test this rather than believe documentation (unless you have a cisco). Does your AUP allow you to run servers (you will have to open a listening port on the server, which they can scan for). Make sure that you have hardened the server. You are exposing your finances to the internet...

For the record, MS products are EXTREMELY difficult to make secure (if it is possible at all). Nothing is 100%, though.


Good luck,

Skye

[AmdAce]

Stone suggested Citrix. Metaframe is a good option, but a pricey one.
Win2k includes Terminal Services. (Which was licensed from Citrix)
Do your homework on this bundled gem and you will have an extremely efficient solution.
My company has 5 branch offices and we utilize a Citrix environment. We not only supply our main software package to remote users, we also provide MS Office and QuickBooks on connections ranging from 56k dialup to T1. Distributed computing, gotta love it!
Just remember, you are connecting a machine, that is not very secure, to the internet and allowing it to accept connections. It is your responsibility to keep that box as secure as possible. So please, get some sort of firewall and USE IT. The computer you save may be mine.

Here's a starting point. http://windows.about.com/cs/terminalservices/