Logging into your PC while away

[Cris]

There are 4 video cables feeding a 4 channel DVR Card inside the main computer. They are connected to a variety of cameras. Two infrared (don’t work well at night) one at the front door the other in the back. There is a P/T/Z on the NE corner and there will be a pan and tilt (no zoom) on the SE corner

The DVR s/w acts as a web server and any client on the LAN can access the cameras and control them.

What is the safest (and easiest) way to establish a remote logon which will enable me to view the cameras from a computer outside my router, from any box on the internet?

Do I need to put a wireless box into a DMZ? How do I access the PC’s behind the router? Will I need to forward the applicable ports in the router and if so to where?

Thanks for any suggestions. There is remote desktop in XP Professional that may do this but I don’t think all the functions are in XP Home. Though since all I need to do is logon as me and I’m fine.

[Patonb]

Yes only Pro has the server side..

Easiest would be to look into PCAnywhere... I use it in my hme network, when in bed to do things on my desktop.

VPN Tunnels are what they ae, but I've never run them before, So can't help there.
For fun, you could setup a cheesey wbsite, tons of freew software, and view it off a streaming webcam.

[rdf]

There are 4 video cables feeding a 4 channel DVR Card inside the main computer. They are connected to a variety of cameras. Two infrared (don’t work well at night) one at the front door the other in the back. There is a P/T/Z on the NE corner and there will be a pan and tilt (no zoom) on the SE corner

The DVR s/w acts as a web server and any client on the LAN can access the cameras and control them.

What is the safest (and easiest) way to establish a remote logon which will enable me to view the cameras from a computer outside my router, from any box on the internet?

Do I need to put a wireless box into a DMZ? How do I access the PC’s behind the router? Will I need to forward the applicable ports in the router and if so to where?

Thanks for any suggestions. There is remote desktop in XP Professional that may do this but I don’t think all the functions are in XP Home. Though since all I need to do is logon as me and I’m fine.Cris, you should be able to do this via XPs Remote login function, Professional version. I've worked with classified material using this software/OS, with no problems. But it was all ecnrypted on both ends, so if you want to go that extra step, do it.

I haven't looked into Vista much yet, but I'm sure they've either continued XP Pros ability for remote secure (if you secure it), or even probably improved ease of use. And to tell the truth, it's pretty dang easy with XP Pro. I've used wireless mainly for this, so maybe it's a camera s/w problem, or quality of camera. Lots of folks out there selling things they claim is state of the art, but which isn't.

Good luck...