setting up remote desktop access

[Johntom2000]

I have a question does both the host and client computer being on a VPN. Can they both be on DSL thought a router? or Do they need to be their own network?

Thanks,
John

[Paul Komski]

With a VPN you can connect a network to a network or a pc to a network or a pc to a pc (across a WAN - using dial-up or broadband - or simply across a LAN).

All sorts of different configurations, hardware and software can be used so some more specifics of what you have and what you want to achieve would be helpful.

Simply setting up remote desktop access can also be done in all sorts of ways. Native Windows software and either third party retail or freeware solutions are available.

There are a variety of VNC approaches but for a simple pc to pc remote desktop solution, LogMeIn (https://secure.logmein.com/dmcq/098/home.asp) can be a very good solution.

Let us know more of you own specifics because there are a great number of approaches and variables. I am also moving this to the Networking Section.

[Variable]

Remote Desktop and VPN are not the same thing and both can be mutually exclusive. The issue with RDP is that if you’re connecting to an XP machine your limited to one connection unless you hack the registry. This means if someone RDP's to your machine they take over the existing logged in session.

VPN's provide an encrypted link over an unsecure medium (internet)
RDP provides an encrypted link over an unsecure medium (internet)

A VPN allows a client to connect to the "server" and is able to share files and access devices available over the network connection like say a printer or shared USB drive.

RDP opens a desktop as if you are logged in to the machine i.e. you can run programs as if you are sitting at the machine. This is something you cannot do over a VPN.

[DARKSCORPION]

Can you have a vpn and rdp working together on the same network?

[Paul Komski]

As indicated, Remote Desktops, whether using RDP (eg MS Terminal Services) or RFB (eg MS Netmeeting and VNC) or other T-120 manifestations are ways of viewing or operating the GUI of a distant machine. The communications may be secure or insecure but even the insecure ones (such as TightVNC) can be tunneled, using SSH for example, to make them secure. They are in essence "Thin Clients" and even though operating the distant mouse and keyboard are their sine qua non the connections may be embellished by chat, file sharing and printer sharing and even to be able to hear the audio on the distant machine. Other manifestations are protean and can include multi-user log-ons and also conferencing.

Remote desktops can be organised within a LAN or across any WAN including the internet. Many work by having server software listening on one PC and client software on the other one. These require that, by hook or by crook, the client can directly access the remote PC. Others (such as LogMeIn) use a common server on the web and software on the host machine listening via the web server for PCs wanting access.

There's no fundamental reason not to be able to remote to another PC on a VPN (one network tunneled through anothe one (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vpn)) as opposed to one on a LAN or somewhere else accessible via the Web. That at least is my incomplete knowledge of such matters.

[Variable]

Sure you can do both VPN and RDP or do them separate. It is not necessary to have a VPN to use RDP. Think of the VPN as connecting your PC to the network, while an RDP connection is to a particular machine and then from there a connection to the network.