How to connect to another computer over the network

Ways of gaining remote access to a computer via the Internet

Working with documentation, projects, graphics and other materials, many people often need access to several working points simultaneously. A remote connection to a computer via the Internet will help in this. Its creation allows you to get control from anywhere over the computer and the files on its hard drive, which is located, for example, in the office or at home. Such means are also useful for rendering remote assistance in setting up a PC.

The most common methods of organizing such a connection will be discussed in our article.

Teamviewer

One of the most popular programs for remote access, it can be quickly downloaded and installed or immediately run, without installation, even a not very experienced user can handle it. When you start the program displays a window with ID and password for access to the computer, and TeamViewer allows you to connect to another computer, by setting its ID and password.

Advantages: In the program there are several basic modes of operation, such as remote control, file transfer, chat, demonstration of the desktop. The program allows you to set up round the clock access to the computer, it will be convenient for system administration. The work speed is quite decent, there are versions for all mobile platforms, for different operating systems, which is very encouraging. A simple and quite understandable interface, plus some additional utilities to extend the program functionality, will be useful for the remote support service.

Disadvantages: Although the program is free, but only for non-commercial use, and when working with it more than 5 minutes a number of difficulties appear, for example TV can block the remote connection session, recognizing it as a commercial use. For round-the-clock remote access or administration of several computers, computer networks, you will have to pay for additional program modules. The price of the program is high.

Bottom line: This program is ideal for a one-time remote connection or using it for short periods of time. Convenient to use from mobile platforms, but not to administer a large number of computers. You will have to pay extra for additional modules.

Fast and secure remote access to local network: six protocols to compare

We can’t say that the task of remote access to devices on a home LAN is very common, and probably most users have never even encountered it. But more and more often there are devices and services in local network, which one wants to work with remotely. Examples are network attached storage devices with file libraries, video cameras, home automation appliances. In some cases, proprietary cloud access implementations provided by manufacturers or even just port forwarding on the router may be enough. But if there are a lot of such devices, it is much more convenient to have a direct access to the whole network at once, which can be done via VPN. In addition, these technologies can help and combine two or more networks into one with a transparent exchange of data between them.

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It is not the goal of this publication to describe in detail all of the common VPN protocols and their features. Let’s focus mainly on the practical side of the remote client connection scenario and try to compare the different options by convenience and performance.

Nowadays VPN services are used more and more often in the firmware of wireless routers and probably the largest number of them is represented in Keenetic solutions, so it is them that will be used in this article. Note that when we talk specifically about speed, a lot in this case depends on both the hardware platform of the router and the software implementation. And the second aspect may be even more important. In addition, since the firmware is usually closed, and available through the Web-interface set of server parameters may be different. Of course, performance is also affected by service settings. In this article I mostly used the default values specified by the manufacturer.

It is also worth noting that Keenetic solutions in particular have a very detailed knowledge base on the website, where articles contain examples of configuration and use of additional services, including all described in the article.

The company’s current product line is based on two models of processors (SoC) manufactured by Mediatek. MT7628 and MT7621. On the first one, which has one processing core, the models with 100Mbps ports are implemented. The second one, with two cores capable of running four streams, is used in devices with Gigabit ports. For more information on device configurations, see, for example, the iXBT forum.

Using CMD) Send message from one computer to other computer on LAN Network

connect, another, computer, network

So basically, if you take one representative on each chip, you can cover the whole line of the company’s routers in the described task, because Wi-Fi, USB ports and storage capacity are not important here.

For the test we used Keenetic City KN-1510 (the youngest of the dual-band models) and Keenetic Ultra KN-1810 (the oldest model at the moment).

We would like to remind you that this vendor’s firmware is modular, so in general each user can build his own unique version of the required services and functions. However, if for the higher models with large capacity flash memory one need not worry about the volume, then for the lower models the situation is much more complicated. In particular in this testing we had to add not more than two servers at a time to Keenetic City. Over when analyzing the results let’s not forget that this model has only 100 Mbps ports, which in certain modes will be a limitation.

All protocols mentioned in the article require white addresses on the server side for their operation, which seems quite logical. However, one of the variants, thanks to special solutions by Keenetic, can be used without it.

We tested it with firmware version 3.3.16. Internet connection mode. Ipoe. In testing we evaluated access speed of external client to computer inside LAN behind the router.

PPTP and L2TP

Some of the most well-known protocols for implementing remote access are PPTP and L2TP. The first one is already considered insecure, although it is still in use because of its low resource requirement. Note that there is a variant without traffic encryption, as well as with it. One of the features of this solution is the use of a special tunneling protocol, which is often blocked by home providers, leading to the inability to use this type of connection. In addition, the encryption algorithms used are usually not “accelerated” by special blocks in the SoC.

The second is remembered primarily by the use in the network of one of the major domestic providers and the lack of its support in inexpensive routers of many manufacturers.

Built-in clients for these protocols exist in many operating systems, including mobile ones, which simplifies the connection setup. Note, however, that for L2TP the L2TP/IPSec variant is usually used, where in addition to the usual user name and password you also need to specify a shared key. That’s what we’ll test this time.

To connect the services is not difficult. After installing the appropriate modules, you need to enable the servers in the menu “Management”. “Applications”.

Among the settings one can allow several simultaneous logins for one account, activate NAT for the clients (they will be able to connect to the Internet via this router), choose IP addresses to be assigned to the clients and choose the network segment for access.

Also, for PPTP you can allow connections without encryption, and for L2TP/IPSec you must set up a shared secret key.

Both services allow you to program several user accounts in the router and allow them access via VPN.

When configuring clients you need to specify the router’s external address (IP or host name, what can be implemented, for example, by KeenDNS), user account, for L2TP/IPSec you also need to set the shared secret key. When working with PPTP and the regular Windows client you need to take into account the features described in the knowledge base article.

For these protocols we used standard Windows 10 clients.

Anydesk

An excellent alternative to all of the previously mentioned programs is AnyDesk. You don’t even need to install it on your computer to use it.

  • Download the Windows executable file and place it first on the server machine, then on the client machine.
  • Run the option on the computer you want to connect to. Find the “This Workplace” box on the left side of the window, and in it, the text line with the ID of the PC. Write down or memorize this sequence.

Home networking options

When creating a home local network, most often two options are used:

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  • Connect two computers (PC to laptop, PC to PC, etc.) and connect them.) using a cable (often called a twisted-pair cable);
  • Get a special. A “box” called Wi-Fi router To the router, using a network cable, connects PCs, and laptops, phones, tablets, etc. Devices. Get access to the Internet via Wi-Fi (the most popular option today).

Connecting 2 PCs using twisted pair

Pros: easy and cheap (need 2 things: network card, and network cable); provide a high enough speed, which not every router can give, a smaller number of radio waves in the room.

Disadvantages: extra wires create confusion, get in the way; after reinstalling Windows. You need to configure the network again; to have Internet access on the second PC (2), the first PC (1). Must be turned on.

What is needed: Each PC must have a network card, network cable. If you plan to connect more than 2 PCs in the local network (or to have one PC was connected to the Internet, and at the same time was in the local network). On one of the PC must be 2-3 or more network cards.

In general, if both PCs have network cards, and you have a network cable (also called Ethernet-cable) to connect them using it is not difficult. I think there is nothing much to consider.

Note.Note that usually the green (yellow) LED on the NIC starts to light up when you plug it in.

Network cables for sale are different: and not only the color and length The fact that there are cables to connect your computer to your computer, and there are those that are used to connect PC to router.

For our task we need a crossed network cable (or cable, crimped crosswise. Here some people call it that).

In a crossed cable. The yellow and green pairs on the end connectors swap places; in the standard (to connect the PC to the router). The colors of the pins are the same.

In general if two PC are turned on, they work, you have connected them by cable (network card LEDs blink), the network icon near the clock has stopped displaying a red cross. It means that the PC has found the network and is waiting for its settings. This is what we will do in the second part of this article.

Connect 2-3 or more PCs using a router

Pros: most devices: phones, tablets, laptops, etc. Get access to Wi-Fi network; fewer wires “underfoot”, after reinstalling Windows. The Internet will work.

Disadvantages: the purchase of a router (after all, some models are far from cheap); “complicated” configuration of the device, the radio waves of the router can affect the health, higher pings and hangs (if the router will not cope with the load).

What you need: a router (it usually comes with a network cable to connect one PC to it).

With the connection of the router, as a rule, there are also no big problems: the cable coming from the Internet service provider, plugged into the special. Router socket (it is often called “Internet”), and other sockets (“LAN-ports”) are connected to the local PC.

Help!

How to connect and configure a new Wi-Fi router by yourself. A guide with pictures

Т.Е. Router becomes the intermediary (a sample scheme is shown in the screenshot below. By the way, in this scheme, the modem on the right side may not be, it all depends on your Internet connection).

The scheme of connecting to the Internet via a router

By the way, pay attention to the LEDs on the router case: when you connect the Internet cable from your ISP, from your local PC. They should light up and blink.

In general, setting up a Wi-Fi router is a separate big topic, in addition, for each router the instructions will be slightly different. So it is hardly possible to give universal recommendations in one article.

☝ By the way, when connecting via a router. The local network is usually set up automatically (t.Е. All computers connected by a network cable must already be in a local network, a couple of small touches remain (about them below)).

The main task after that is to configure Wi-Fi connection and access to the Internet. But t.К. This article is about the local network, I’m not focusing on that.

Connecting Computers to a Network

As it becomes clear from the introduction two computers can be connected to the “local network” in two ways. Directly, with a cable, and through a router. Both have advantages and disadvantages. Below we will describe them in detail and learn how to configure the system for data exchange and Internet access.

With this connection one of the computers acts as a gateway to the Internet. This means that it must have at least two network ports. One for the global network and one for the local network. However if you don’t need internet or it “comes” without wires, for example via a 3G modem then you can do with one LAN-port.

The connection scheme is simple: the cable is plugged into the appropriate slots on the motherboard or NIC of both machines.

Note that for our purposes we need a cable (patch-cord), which is designed for direct connection of computers. This kind is called a “crossover”. However, modern equipment is able to independently determine the pair for receiving and transmitting data, so a standard patch cord, most likely, will also work fine. If there are problems, then the cable will have to be redone or to find the right one in the store, which is not easy.

From the pluses of this option can be allocated simplicity of connection and the minimum requirements for equipment. In fact, we need only a patch cord and a network card, which in most cases is already built into the motherboard. The second advantage is a high speed data transfer, but it depends on the capabilities of the card.

Disadvantages can be called as such with great stretch. It is a reset when reinstalling the system, as well as the inability to access the Internet when PC, which is the gateway, is turned off.

After connecting the cable is required to configure the network on both PC. To begin with, you need to give each machine in our “LAN” a unique name. This is so the software can locate computers.

Now you need to configure network sharing, as it is restricted by default. This also needs to be done on all machines.

    Click on the connection icon in the system tray and open the “Network and Internet Options.

In Windows 7 and 8, you can find this block of options like this:

    Right-click on the network icon to open the context menu and select the item leading to the “Network Control Center”.

Then you need to configure the addresses for both computers.

    On the first PC (the one that connects to the Internet) after going to the settings (see “Network and Internet Options”). Above) click on the menu item “Configure adapter settings”.

In the “Subnetwork mask” field the necessary values will be filled in automatically. Nothing needs to be changed here. This completes the configuration. Click OK.

The mask is the default, but in the fields for the addresses of the gateway and DNS-server indicate the IP of the first PC and click OK.

In the “seven” and “eight”, you should go to “Network Control Center” from the notification area, and then click on the link “Change adapter settings. Further manipulation is performed according to the same scenario.

The final procedure is to allow Internet sharing.

    Find among the network connections (on the gateway computer) the one through which we connect to the Internet. Right click on it and open its properties.

Now you will be able to work not only in local network, but also in global. If you want to share data between computers, you will need to make another setting, but we will talk about this separately.

Remote access to the computer via the local network: configure the connection

You can access another computer via IP only if both PCs are in the same workgroup.

To do this, on Windows 7, right-click once on the My Computer icon (on the PC’s Desktop or Start Menu)

Then go to the “Advanced system settings” tab and in the “System properties” window open the “Computer name” section

Windows 10. Connecting to Another Computer Over a Simple Network

Here, left-click on the “Change” button and enter the name of your workgroup in the “Is a member of a workgroup” field, then click “OK” in all open windows.

The next step is to configure the internal IP address of the computer, which will be used by the other PCs to connect to the local network.

To do this on Windows, go to the “Start” menu, then “Control Panel”. “Network and Internet”. “View network status and tasks”.

Here go to “Change Adapter Settings” tab, find “Local Area Connection” shortcut, right click it once and select “Properties” menu section

In the “Components used for this connection” window click on the “Internet Protocol version 4” section. Here:

To arrange access to a computer over a local network, these settings must be set on all connected PCs. If you enter the computer address manually (static IP), each PC must be assigned a unique internal IP address from the range of values “192.169.1.Xxxx”.

Setting up the “Remote Desktop”

You can also set up access to another PC using the built-in operating system tool, called “Remote Desktop”. Please note that if you connect to a non-server computer, only one user can work with it, because it is not possible to connect multiple profiles at the same time.

    As with the previous methods, you first need to configure the system of the computer you will be connecting to. Click “Start” and go to “Control Panel.

Remember that it is not possible to connect to a PC that is in hibernation or sleep mode. Therefore, you need to make sure that these functions are disabled.