Ask Me Help Desk - Connecting to Remote Desktop Host

Hi,

I am trying to access my desktop in my office via VPN, then remote desktop but no success... Per my Tech Admin I set up the VPN which appears to work perfectly, but when I run the remote desktop I receive the following message:

Remote Desktop Disconnected
This computer can't connect to the remote computer.
Try connecting again. If the problem continues, contact the owner of the remote computer or your network administrator.

I've been battling with this for over a week now and have been told by by tech dept that the problem is on my end. I had the tech connect via remote desktop over the company LAN just to verify by desktop was working properly.

I see that another askmehelpdesk user had the same problem, but I've always attempted to connect to my workstation via the IP address. I've tried connecting on more that one of my home PCS, laptop, desktop, wireless and ethernet from PC to the router all with the same result. Running XP SP3 (one XP home version other professional) at home with all of the latest updates installed.

Some quick notes (hope this may help):
- Attempted remote desktop with windows firewall on and off...
- Once attached to VPN I can ping VPN IP address and the VPN client... but not my office workstation ip 192.168.1.111.
- The IP range in my office appears to be VERY similar (192.168.1.1 - ?) to my home network
- Router at home and office is Linksys WRT54g
- IP addresses of 2 pcs at home used to connect are 192.168.1.100 and 192.168.1.106

Running out of ideas... hopefully someone can help before I lose what's left of my mind!

Thanks very much!

Jack

The IP addresses in the range "92.168.0.0 – 192.168.255.255" are "private addresses. They don't exist on the Internet and are reserved for relatively small local area networks. I'm not sure you can easily get to your office workstation if that is the case. You certainly can't ping anything with that IP address over the Internet. You might have to activate the "DMZ" on the remote router and specify there that your office computer is to receive the data coming through the DMZ. I have looked at this, but I've never actually used the DMZ.

Also, make sure the Windows Firewall or ZoneAlarm (for example) is letting you through.

If your VPN Client is set to block local LAN access, then having your two networks with the same ID would not be a real issue.

To be sure, I would change my router address to 192.168.0.1. When you do this, you will need to release your IP address on your computer and renew it. The DHCP scope on your router will automatically change with your router address change.

Then reconnect your VPN and try and ping your office PC. As long as it is not Firewall Enabled and blocking ICMP responses, you should get a reply.

Thanks for suggestions. I did by chance have my notebook in the office. Connecting to the wireless network I was able to run the remote desktop and connect to my office PC.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jack1056077

Thanks for suggestions. I did by chance have my notebook in the office. Connecting to the wireless network I was able to run the remote desktop and connect to my office PC.

This answers any question you might have about security privilages being an issue.