I have pcanywhere on my laptop, home machine and office machine. I have both HOST and REMOTE on all three machines. Have been using pcanywhere since old win 98 days. Reliable, has printing capability, file transfer and all the options that I need. Not cheap to setup but no costs after that so in the long run have paid less to do that than online services. I also tried a FREE type connecton and did not care for it. Could not transfer files (MANDATORY FOR ME). Have used the PCA program in 33kbps dial up situations (draggy but still connects!) and T1 connections.
The bridge I mention is usually done for your HOME computer if you are on cable or dsl modem.
You would contact your ISP to get instructions to BRIDGE your connection.
Then your computer can be reached by the outside world.
Your home computer would have its own IP address (until the modem is reset).
If you do not bridge, and you try to connect in to the PC and you can't because the IP stops at the modem.
I did this technique on my mother's machine. Then installed PCA on her system. When she has computer problems, she tells me her IP address (as it can change!) and I connect in and take control of her system. I have taught her how to do things this way, fixed problems, and transfered files to/from her machine quickly. I even connected to her machine to do my taxes on her copy of TurboTax, while sitting at my own computer. Then pressed the button to print at my home printer. LOVELY.
To connect to a computer on the network at an office directly with software, you usually need a STATIC IP address assigned to that computer. Most businesses have a firewall that blocks incoming traffic. For me to connect from home or on the road to my office, I have our firewall set to translate our INTERNAL/PRIVATE IP address (only used on the local network within our property) to an EXTERNAL IP address that can be reached by the outside world and define a specific port for this use. Only three of our machines have external IP addresses. Those machines have PC Anywhere and each of us has PC Anywhere on our home machines so we can get into our office systems. Yes we can get in using Remote Desktop (goes into server then you click to go to the workstation you want), but transfering files that way is SLOWER than PCA.
When you are on the road, you would connect to your office machine using the settings necessary. Usually this means an IP address typed into the browser window or in the software interface. Once your remote machine FINDS the HOST machine, you are prompted for username/password. The handshake is completed and you are given control of the hosted machine (up to the limits defined in the software on the HOST machine).
My laptop has xp home and can not do the remote desktop that my pro can do. But the PCA on it allows me to take that machine to the keys on vacation, use the local dial-up connection and still get into the office machine to do my daily numbers. Ain't technology grand?
Depending on YOUR needs, an online service like GoToMyPC.com (expensive) or LogMeIn.com or
pcnow has a subscription with lots of uses for $10.35/mo. would do for you. Free Trials on all these products!
Of course the machine you want to connect into (the HOST) must be turned ON.
