Question : Remote PC access from behind a restrictive firewall and proxy with VNC or other program

The problem: I need to be able to access my home PC from my work PC.

Work PC: Running Win2k, behind a firewall and proxy. Opening extra ports is not an option

Home PC: Running WinXP, behind a simple router, port opening and forwarding easy to setup.

I have tried using VNC server on the home PC and opening up the java VNC client on the work PC, I can load the java viewer (VNC ports moved to 80 in an attempt to bypass port troubles), but I get a "no route to host" error when I try to login. I have looked at using something like httptunnel, but I am not currently savy enough to set that up on my own.

I am open to using any software advised not just VNC, but it seems like the most simple way to proceed.

Answer : Remote PC access from behind a restrictive firewall and proxy with VNC or other program

Yes, Win2k can start the session. Like I said, XP's Remote Desktop can be web enabled, and set to "listen" on port 443 which "should" be allowed through your corporate firewall. A quick check: can you access any secure web sites with  https:// ?

On XP, right-click on MyComputer, Remote tab, Check the box "allow users to connect remotely to this computer"
For this configuration, on your router, forward TCP port 3389 to the inside IP address.
You'll have to download and install the Remote Desktop Connection on your Win2k system. Then simply open the Remode Desktop connector and put in the IP address of your home router.

Alternative is to install Remote Desktop Web Connection on the XP:
1. Open Add/Remove programs in Control Panel
2. Click Add/Remove Windows Components
3. Select Internet Information Services and then click Details
4. In the Subcomponents of IIS list, select WWW service and then Details
5. In the Subcomponents for WWW service list, click the Remote Desktop Web Connection check box, then click OK.
6. In the Windows Components Wizard, click Next
7. Open Internet Services Manager.
8. Expand the folder hierarchy until you reach the 'local computer name'\Web Sites\Default Web Site\tsweb folder.
8(a) Right-click on "Default Web Site", choose Properties, and you can change the TCP Port from default port 80 in case your ISP is blocking inbound. Change it to 443
9. Right-click the tsweb folder and then click Properties
10. Click the Directory Security tab on the Properties dialog box
11. In Anonymous access and authentication control, click Edit
12. Check the Anonymous acces check box on the Authentication Methods dialog box, and then click OK twice.

To connect to your home PC, open a web browser at work, http:///tsweb:443