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You are here: MacNN Forums > Enthusiast Zone > Networking > Access a server from across the country?

Access a server from across the country?
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Professional Poster
Join Date: Mar 2003
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Oct 5, 2005, 01:29 PM
 
Can I do this?

I am moving from NH to GA in a few months but still would like to access our server residing here in NH>

Assuming I get a high-speed connection down there, is this possible.

Our server runs OS X Server 10.3.9 and I assume I will be running 10.4 on a G4 or G5 in Georgia.

What do we need to do to make this work?
     
Mac Elite
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Oct 5, 2005, 01:41 PM
 
The Server Admin tools will work remotely, there are issues of NAT and Firewalls though. If theres anything else that you can't do using ssh you can always get Apple Remote Desktop. It s not much of a security issue if you use a ssh tunnel instead of connecting directly, the ssh tunnel will also let you connect to more than one machine one the same LAN as the tunnels endpoint.
     
KeriVit  (op)
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Oct 5, 2005, 01:44 PM
 
Originally Posted by BLAZE_MkIV
The Server Admin tools will work remotely, there are issues of NAT and Firewalls though. If theres anything else that you can't do using ssh you can always get Apple Remote Desktop. It s not much of a security issue if you use a ssh tunnel instead of connecting directly, the ssh tunnel will also let you connect to more than one machine one the same LAN as the tunnels endpoint.

NAT? firewalls? SSH?

English please.

I'm just needing to access the files we have (logos, quark, photoshop, etc) I do not need to admin. I will leave that to the guy here. But unfortunately he is a PC guy and he doesn't know how to set this up either.
     
Mac Elite
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Oct 5, 2005, 02:16 PM
 
Wasn't sure what you meant by access. If all you want to do is read/write files then you have several options.

The first hurdle is accessing the machine from the outside the LAN. Your IT guy should know how to do this because it involves the network not the server itself.

Then you need to decide what kind of access you want.
WebDAV - Mounts in finder, most OSs
ftp - not very secure
sftp - very secure, need a third part cleint unless your comfortable with Terminal
AFP - Mounts in finder Most Mac OS X only
HTTP -readonly via Web browser
     
KeriVit  (op)
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Oct 5, 2005, 02:19 PM
 
I'll check that. Thanks. What about Remote Desktop? Is that any help?
     
Mac Elite
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Oct 5, 2005, 02:23 PM
 
ARD is apples inplemementation of VNC, it lets you connect to a computer remotely like you were sitting at it.

Details about any of these things can be found at your local ( or international ) search engine.
     
KeriVit  (op)
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Oct 5, 2005, 02:27 PM
 
Looking into VNC now. Thanks. Though if the searching was as easy as you imply, we would not be having this discussion right now.
     
KeriVit  (op)
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Oct 5, 2005, 02:51 PM
 
How about setting up a VPN? Will that work? It seems there are many more options than I thought.
     
Mac Elite
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Oct 5, 2005, 02:53 PM
 
Without the keyword it can be fairly difficult. Thats why I listed a bunch of them with only general descriptions.

Your best bet will probably be AFP -Apple File Protocal or WebDAV which would bothe let you type in the DNS name ( www.xxxx... ) or IP Address in the Connect to Server dialog. Which you get you a disk mounted on your desktop.
     
Mac Elite
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Oct 5, 2005, 02:56 PM
 
If they don't already have a VPN that you can connect to its usually big money to get one. A ssh tunnel is the poor mans VPN.
     
KeriVit  (op)
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Oct 5, 2005, 03:15 PM
 
Thank you BLAZE
     
Grizzled Veteran
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Oct 6, 2005, 06:03 PM
 
I've just set up to do this so that I can access my server from my powerbook when I'm away. I used ssh tunnel manager to set up an ssh tunnel, and vnc to get a graphical front end through the tunnel. Search on my username for the last week or so, and there is information on how to do exactly this.

J.
By all means let's be open-minded, but not so open-minded that our brains drop out - Richard Dawkins
     
Mac Elite
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Oct 6, 2005, 07:31 PM
 
VPN doesn't have to be expensive, just need to set up your firewall with it. M0N0Wall is free and has a PPTP VPN.

ImpulseResponse
     
   
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