How can I network?

[polliwogfrog]

Hi
I am giving my old pc to my Mom, and would
like to "network" the two...reason is so I can update
her webpages, and check her microsoft updates, etc.
(Mom is not real pc wise so I want to help) and do
not know how to...suppose its' through i.p. addresses,
but how would I get started? Also, she lives well out of
state. Any suggestions?
Thanks guys,
polliwog
:joy:

[bryantrv]

I'm far from an expert on this, but one way would be with "VNC"- http://www.uk.research.att.com/vnc/ , which can let you see and use her desktop.
I would be somewhat carfefull, as there are security implications being able to do this.

--Chris

[DCElliott]

Ya gotta do some background reading first.

Hit Win+F1 (thats the wavy windows key on your keyboard plus the F1 key together) The main windows help screen should appear. This is a great shortcut for getting quickly to operating system features.

Read the networking overview. Then find the section on creating a peer to peer network. Read it in detail. You need to absorb a lot of the terminology before I or anyone else can really help you.

I am assuming both computers have network cards. XP is really very network smart. You can actually connect two network cards together without a hub or router thingy if - and this is an important if - you have what is called a crossover cable. This is a regular Cat-5 twisted pair cable that has a couple of the wire connections reversed (these cables often have crossover marked on them or a band around the cable at one end to distinguish it.) Usually the connections you make with network cables are "A-B" type - connecting two network cards is a sort of "A-A" so ya have to get your wires crossed! If you don't have a crossover cable, you will need a hub or router with multiple slots for the network cables and two cables.

Let us know what your networking hardware situation is (and what you were running on the old computer - Win98 or Me, I assume)

[bryantrv]

Originally posted by DCElliott
Ya gotta do some background reading first.
I am assuming both computers have network cards. XP is really very network smart. You can actually connect two network cards together without a hub or router thingy if - and this is an important if - you have what is called a crossover cable.

But- I *think* her moms computer is in another *state*, so she needs to be able to access it over the internet.
It can be done, but....

[DCElliott]

OOPSIE :smack:

[Zero Angel]

Well... there is a way to take over someones PC (in a good way!) using Netmeeting. But it requires a little tech skill on her end :(

[polliwogfrog]

DC,
Okay, I'm going to go and get a really loooooonnnggg
cable!!!! ;) Really,
the one I'm giving Mom is Windows 98, and it
has networking capability: a card.
And I'm going to that site Zero mentioned too.
After I get started with all the reading, if I
have any questions, you can bet I'll be right
back here! It seems the only posts I make here
are to ask questions or reply with a "Thank-you"
for all the wonderful help I do receive here!
Sometimes I wonder how you guys put up with me! LOL
Thanks again to all who posted their help,
Polliwog
:joy:

[DCElliott]

lil smartass ;)

I can't vouch for either of these, but it will give you an idea of what is out there. Be prepared to shell out some money.

http://www.remoteexplorer.com/
http://www.spysentry.com/interior-pages-details/interior-spyanywhere.htm
http://www.thenetworlduk.net/famatech/product_pages/remote_administrator_overview.asp(this one has a 30 day free trial)

To find out more try yahoo or google with the following search string (minus the quotes):
"remote desktop control -apple -xp"
(I exclude apple and xp because they have remote desktop capabilities built in which is no help in connectiong to a Win98 PC)

[polliwogfrog]

Remote Explorer looks interesting DC. And price?
I went shopping for a heavy-duty surge box and
battery-back up for the old PC the other day,
and saw some programs that costs 300.00!
So the 30.00 for first one on you list is
a breath of fresh air compared to that!
Good websites, all 3. Thanks again!
Nichole
:joy:
P.S. to ZeroAngel: I HAVE SKILLS!!!!!
I'll get there!!!!! Gimme a chance...geez! ;)

[DCElliott]

One of the real difficulties is in connecting to a machine that gets its address through DHCP (dynamic host control protocol). This is the case with many cable and DSL connections and for dialup as well. DHCP allows machines to get a "forwarding address" when they connect to a network. This IP (internet protocol) address may change from time to time.

Ideally a remote control program works directly IP to IP. However, if the remote machine has a variable address, that doesn't work. So somehow you have to get the address of the remote machine. Your mother could run ipconfig or winipcfg on her machine and phone you with the IP address - but thats not really practical all the time (though I'm sure she would love to talk with you :p)

What some remote control products do is rely on a trusted third party to hold the IP address. To do this the machine to be controlled sends its IP address info to the company that provided the software. The machine that is to do the controlling then gains password access to the IP and then does the connection directly. This is a service provided by the third company on the list. It looks like it might be the best choice. I don't have a good feeling about the first on the list after looking a bit more at their website.

Free advice is worth what you pay for it, though:rolleyes:

[Zero Angel]

Purchasing an expensive program doesn't seem practical if you're only going to administrate one PC, It sounds like something thats aimed towards a help desk worker or a home/work setup.

It would probably be best to walk your mom through the updating. You know, click [windows update] in the start menu, select 'critical updates', click 'ok' to everything, click download, etc.

Teach a man how to fish! (or a woman in this case), it will be a lot easier for both of you in the long run.

[polliwogfrog]

I plan on spending a week with her to help her learn how to run
the pc with things other than games Zero. Only thing is, I have
obstacles; mainly her. She has a great fear that if she touches ANYTHING other than her well-known games, she'll destroy the
computer. She has not even turned her printer on in all the
years shes' had it. So getting her over the initial fear may take
longer than a week. She visited me a few months ago, and I had her do e-mail to some of her sisters all by herself. She did just
fine, but I could see she was afraid.
Anyway, I told her I'd spend some time each day teaching her how to use pc, and she said she'd just forget it. So I feel I'm
kinda fighting an uphill battle.
I'm up for the challenge though, and since Windows 98 is a much
more stable, I may just try teaching her the programs in earnest
while I'm there. I still have it hooked up in other room and am
cleaning, etc. now.
So I glean you guys for tips and tricks, and hopefully come January when she comes back home I'll know enough to sound
intelligent and be able to teach her accordingly.
Polliwog
:joy:

[biomedtom]

NOT REALLY NETWORKING...
Two programs, both easy to use.

FREE: MS NetMeeting Has a control desktop option.

Costs a little money: Symantics PC Anywhere...total desktop and system control

[ByteWizard]

You have a number of challenges here... First is the DHCP that DC mentions. When you connect to your ISP, your computer gets assigned a dynamic IP address from a pool of available addresses. If every customer of the ISP was assigned a static IP address (one that you own all the time), the ISP would run out of addresses; so they dynamically assign them hoping that no more people will sign on than they have real IP addresses for. What does this mean? Everytime you sign on, you will get a new IP address. This makes it challenging (not impossible) for you to connect with some program which uses TCP/IP. If you introduce a router or hub into mix, your computer will have a non-public IP address, making it all but impossible to make the type of connection you are wanting.

If the computer has a modem and a phone line connected to this modem (you almost need a dedicated line so you can talk and use the modem at the same time) you can use a program such as pcAnywhere to connect via modem. Screen response will be slow because you will be limited to a max of about 50k over a dialup line. If a graphic image is transmitted, you will need a big cup of coffee.

If it were me, I would use a program called DameWare Remote Control. It is a TCP/IP connection so you will need to have the IP address everytime you connect. You can teach your Mom how to determine what her current IP address might be (IPCONFIG) or she can pay extra to her ISP and be assigned a static IP address. If she can stand the extra charge, this is the best solution. DameWare has the quickest response for screen refresh I have seen. Great product and excellent support. Cost is around $160.

NetMeeting might work, but it is flaky and slow. pcAnywhere will be slow. Have you considered driving over?

[DCElliott]

Pollywog

I'm curious, when you post - do you create your responses in another program - a text editor like notepad or do you enter text directly? The reason I ask is that your posts have a <br /> at the end of every line. This can be the result of using a text editor and pasting stuff in, or using the Post Reply window but hitting [Enter] at the end of every line instead of letting the window wrap the text. Depending on the size of the window used by people viewing your post, it can result in a very ragged right margin with a mix of long and short lines. Try using [Enter] only to separate paragraphs.

[animgirl]

She has a great fear that if she touches ANYTHING other than her well-known games, she'll destroy the
computer.

It's funny how some people think that one wrong move will make the computer go up in smoke :D

sniff-sniff

[Kevinnaia]

You can do this over the internet though VPN (Virtual Private Networking). This could be COSTLY!!! Depending on the connection speed you want. Go HERE (http://www.broadbandbuyer.com/chartbusiness.htm)

Requirements:

*1. MONEY!!!
*2. A Router (sometimes you don't need one) a router is like a switch or a hub with different capabilities.
*3. A PC (duh!)
*4. A Modem (one on each side)

That is my best solution, unless you want to try: GoToMyPC (https://www.gotomypc.com/)

[ByteWizard]

VPN is nothing more than your connection over the internet with some encryption. I don't recomment this level of complexity and security unless you are transferring military secrets or design of a new invention.

Really, all you need is to know the IP address of the machine you want to connect to. Net Meeting is OK but Dameware is far, far better. If you place her machine behind a router or hub, then her IP address is going to be a 192 class address, and you will not be able to reach it from your machine.

Even if she has a dialup account and her IP address is dynamically assigned, she could sign on to the internet which will give her an IP address for that session, send you an email with her IP address and you can connect with Netmeeting or Dameware because you know the IP address of the day. BTW, DameWare is $160 and well worth the money.

[Kevinnaia]

I never cared to learn about VPN.

[Kevinnaia]

I'm *SUGGESTING* IT