Hey guys, I need some recommendations for a good (free or dirt cheap) application to log into my work computer from home. It needs to be something that will automatically pick up a session if the internet drops out for a minute or two without requiring someone actually there to authorize it. I have to get some stuff done that I don't have time for during regular hours, primarily setting up a new POS/inventory/Medical records system. There won't be any actual patient records yet so security is not a concern atm but I have a lot of simple drag n drop and cut n paste to do for the products and services involved so I wanted to be able to get some of it done from home on the weekend. I will likely only need to use it for a week or so.
The work comp is a Win7 box and I need:
1. simple operation
2. no person at the site needed to 'let me in'
3. connectivity automatically resumes after a brief connection drop out.
4. Being able to run the home client (or whatever) from OS X would be a big plus but I do have a Win7 and Win10 machine if needed
After the system is ready to go live and have the patient records imported I could then just delete the remote app for security.
Any advice would be appreciated. If I get this done I may not need to stay at work so late thus I will have an extra few hours a week to start gaming at home again. O0
We just use MS Remote Desktop at work.
http://www.howtogeek.com/131961/how-to-access-windows-remote-desktop-over-the-internet/
There's an OSX compatible version of Remote Desktop
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/microsoft-remote-desktop/id715768417?mt=12
That first link above walks you through creating a VPN tunnel between the machines you want to connect. That's the best option from a security standpoint.
You should be able to configure remote desktop to auto reconnect after a connection drop.
I'll second Mirth's recommendation, we use Remote Desktop at work to access our customers servers.
Sometimes MS gets it right :P
Thanks guys. I'll check it out.
We use a combination of remote desktop and a Citrix product...but Citrix is most definitely not free.
He guys, I'm necromaging this thread because I need some follow up advice. I no longer need a VPN to connect to a PC but now need a good one to connect iMac to iMac, and I need it to be as secure as possible, budget withstanding.
My employers are doctors who are frequently on call during nights and weekends and right now they have to drive to the office (not too far but still a pain at 2AM) to check a patient record in response to a call that doesn't require actually seeing the patient in person. They would like to set up an EMR client at home to connect with the office server. Setting it up is no problem but they need a OS X friendly VPN that has good security. They are only using it for assessing the server so they don't need any bells and whistles. However, it needs to be very easy to use. They are very tech-nonsavy and I don't want to have to talk them through fixing problems (assuming I would even know how to do so) in the middle of the night. If there are no free VPN apps that fit the bill I am pretty sure they will spring for a paid service as long as it isn't too expensive. I've noticed that there are a number of paid services but it's hard to know who will be reliable.
Any recommendations for an OS X VPN out there?
Doesn't OS X include a built-in VPN?
The Server App does
http://www.macworld.com/article/3127065/networking/how-to-set-up-macos-server-s-vpn-service.html
Quote from: mirth on January 22, 2017, 08:46:36 AM
The Server App does
http://www.macworld.com/article/3127065/networking/how-to-set-up-macos-server-s-vpn-service.html
Thanks- I forgot all about macOS server app and that it was replacing some of the defunct OS X Server stuff. I'll give it a test run and see if it does the trick.
Just in case there are issues with MacOS server, has anyone used ExpressVPN? It gets a lot of mention in some of the browsing I just did on VPNs.
Oddly enough, despite years of working on a Mac, I never had to use a VPN.
I'm going to try setting up something at home between two Macs and see if it works. I need a simple stand-in for the server/client setup at work. I wonder if hosting some kind of MP game would do. Anything recommended that works similar to most common Mac-based business programs that utilize LAN clients?