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Question

Help setting up a remote connection to server

Mar 5, 2014 7:58AM PST

In order to be able to work from home, I need access to my workplace's server so that I can transfer files to and from it.

This server is currently only used internally (it does not serve a web page of FTP or anything like that).

I've figured out that the server has a static IP address so it should be possible to connect to it from anywhere somehow, but I have no idea how.

I did ping the IP address but I get a timeout, and I don't know what to do. I imagine that some settings need to be changed but this is all new to me and I don't know what and where these settings are.

Also, I'm guessing that there should be a password to protect the server once I'm connected, but where does one set up that password?

Could anyone help me out with this? I'm using a Mac by the way, and the server is running Windows 8 Server. I imagine some router settings need changing but I know nothing beyond that...

Is is fairly simple to do this?

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Shouldn't the Tech's
Mar 5, 2014 8:25AM PST

at work help out with this?

Digger

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Answer
That server probably has an IP address that does not access
Mar 5, 2014 8:56AM PST

the internet and is therefore invisible to you.
As the previous poster said, this is a job for your Tech Department, if you have one.

We use a system that employs Cisco AnyConnect which establishes a secure connection between your computer and the gateway into your network.

Not a job for the average amateur.

P

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Thanks!
Mar 5, 2014 6:24PM PST

Yes we do have a tech department but they're not very helpful and I'm afraid they want me to use TeamViewer to remote-control the server and simply send files to myself using that. Now the problem with that is it sucks, since TeamViewer is expensive for professional use, is slow and tedious to use when you do this dozens of times a day.

I won't be setting this up alone, but it would be great if I knew what to tell the tech guys and to see if they are doing what I want.

Do I just tell them to set me up a VPN? Are there other ways of achieving what I want?

If I connect to a VPN, what does that do, does it mount a virtual drive on my computer that I can access all the files with? Will it look like I'm at work, connected directly to the internal network?

Would there be issues with a Mac connecting to a Windows 8 Server?

I really know nothing about this and all these abbreviations, ports, IP addresses and stuff are confusing me. Any help is appreciated, at least to get me started on what to say to my tech guys!

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Re: remote connection
Mar 5, 2014 6:59PM PST

My guess: you want to be able to download and upload files. But maybe you want to be able to simply open a spreadsheet on that server in Excel, edit it and save it. That's quite something else.

Then you tell them what you want (or let your boss tell them, since probably they'll send him a quotation and a bill later) and see what they offer. Could be something like:
- FTP
- Sharepoint
- VPN
- a password protect download/upload webpage on the company site
- Teamviewer
depending on your requirements and the tools they have or are willing to buy.

Ultimately it's a smple ROI calculation. Compare solution A (USD 2000 now + 1009 a year, half an hour extra time to spend for you each day) and solution B (USD 5000 now + 2000 a year, 5 minutes extra time a day for you). They can tell your boss what it costs, you tell your boss how much it costs you, he puts it in Excel and decides/

Kees


Kees

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Thanks!
Mar 5, 2014 7:59PM PST

Thanks for the detailed answer!

I will be transferring large image files (about 2-3 GB a day) to and from a massive 10 TeraByte RAID, so a cloud-based solution won't work. We also don't need shared calendars, wiki pages, and anything fancy. Just simple file transfers without assistance, and unrestricted access to the entire RAID.

When you say that I can open a spreadsheet on the server, edit it and save it, is that what a VPN does? If we already have a server, is it usually fairly simple to turn it into a VPN?

Thanks again, and sorry for all the silly questions. My IT people will probably propose one half-workable solution that's easiest for them, and I need to be prepared for every possibility beforehand.

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edit
Mar 5, 2014 8:11PM PST

I have no idea how to edit a post on here so I'll just reply to myself.

I wanted to add that almost all I hear about VPN is about security, to bypass government censorship, to hide your IP address, etc... but I don't care about those things. I'm not sending confidential files or anything. I just want to mount our server's hard drives and have them appear as local drives on my home computer, that's all I really need!

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A VPN, Virtual Private Network,
Mar 5, 2014 8:44PM PST

will be an extension of the network you have at work.

Usually, once connected, it is as if you physically at your work desk.
You have the same access to everything.

It does not require any changes to your 10 TB raid, quite large but not massive, or to most other things on the work network.

It is also more secure as the connection between you and the gateway into the work network is usually encrypted.


P

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Thanks!
Mar 5, 2014 9:12PM PST

Thanks, that sounds good.

Now I just have one more question: what happens when in the Finder, I go to "Connect to Server" and simply type in the IP address of the server? It does not work now as the IP address isn't public yet, but is that something that could be used to transfer files? Would it simply mount a drive as a network drive? Or is that the same thing as a VPN? Thanks again!

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No, with a VPN connection you do not connect that way,
Mar 6, 2014 10:02AM PST

You connect to the other end using a VPN client, OS X has one built in.

As I mentioned before, once the VPN is established, everything will be where it is when you are sitting at your workplace desk.

Your IT guys should be able to configure this for you reasonably easily.

P

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That's a lot of GB
Mar 6, 2014 2:58AM PST

... to transfer over the internet. Hopefully, your ISP doesn't have a monthly limit set for you. Also, that 3 GB per day may take quite awhile to download (think approx. 40 minutes at a typical speed of 10 Mbps down with 0% overhead).

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reply
Mar 6, 2014 5:15AM PST

Well we have a 100 Mbps connection so it should be fine! That's not an issue, I've done tests and I don't mind waiting a few minutes. The issue is to easily be able to get the images off of and onto the server without having to use annoying software like TeamViewer, which has the worst file browser in the Universe. You can't even drag & drop!

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Answer
VPN
Mar 19, 2014 8:54PM PDT

I had the same problem at my work. Being a small company without a dedicated IT/Tech function, I installed Threatspike Dome VPN ( https://www.threatspike.com/ ) on my work desktop and on my work netbook. I can now open up and window on my netbook as if I was sat on my work desktop. I can access all software and shared drives/printers etc.

Obviously check with the powers that be in your workplace, but simple free solution without any hardware changes.

Dave