Linksys -> Time Capsule : port forwarding

[wolfe17]

Hello

I'm trying to setup ARD so that I can administer/assist my recently 'converted from PC' Mac friends. I'll deal with one case as it's the most pressing. The cable modem (a Linksys) gets the cable feed from the outside world, and then passes it via ethernet cable down to a Time Capsule, which then establishes a wireless network of its own, to which my sister's iMac connects wirelessly. I want to use ARD to control her computer. I understand that I have to use the external IP of the Linksys router, but I also understand that I have to forward some ports (22 & 5900 : both TCP; 3282 : UDP - is this right?). I don't know whether I have to forward the ports in the Linksys router, the Time Capsule, or both. Once I have forwarded the ports, and know the external IP of the Linksys router, shouldn't connection be a breeze - as long as she has Remote Management turned on? Both iMacs are running 10.5.4. I have 3.2 of Remote Desktop, and have installed the latest client on her machine.

Would appreciate any help!

Thanks,

Matthew

 

[waw74]

You will want the Time Capsule in "off (bridged mode)" under connection sharing on the internet settings page.
This will make your wireless network an extension of the wired network instead of a separate network. The Linksys will then assign the IP for things on the wireless network also.

After you get the wireless mode changed over and get a new IP on the iMac (reboot the computer or release/renew in network setting), you'll want to set up a static IP for the iMac, you can do this from the network setting on the iMac, or possibly from the linksys, depending on what kind of firmware it it running.


according to my understanding of http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1629
You'll need the following ports forwarded on the linksys to the IP of the iMac.
3283 TCP/UDP
5900 TCP
5988 TCP

also if it might be a ongoing thing look at a Dynamic DNS like http://www.no-ip.com/. With a small client on her machine to keep the dns updated, you can then set your remote desktop to look for "mysister.no-ip.com" (there are several different options instead of no-ip.com) instead of getting an IP address from her. and if her address changes, it will automatically update.
I do this with my computers all the time.

 

[wolfe17]

Hi

Thanks so much for the help. Your explanation seems easy to follow - I'll try and have a crack at it tomorrow.

Seems like quite an ordeal to setup in order to access a computer! I was not aware that I'd have to do port forwarding - doesn't that require that I physically hook a cable into her router to forward the port? If I can do it remotely (ie alter settings in her router to forward the ports), would I just enter her external IP address as http://xxx.xxx.xx.xxx and change things from there? Otherwise, if it means an actual visit to her house, it wouldn't be very convenient if she lived a long way away.

I was planning to set this same method up for all my 'converted friends' however if each one involves me mucking with their routers etc, maybe I won't do it. Most people have no idea of the passwords to enter their routers anyway - I guess they might be the admin/admin ones...

Regards

Matthew

PS - will look into the 'noIP' thing too.

 

[waw74]

sometimes you are able to change the router remotely, but for safety reasons, i believe that normally that option is disabled by default. routers vary, and i actually run a linux firmware on my linksys so you can try it.

also i cant find an answer online, but it may work with UPnP (universal plug & play), which means that the computer will request the appropriate ports and the router will open them, as long as UPnP is enabled on the router. the only reference i can quickly find is about back to my mac which i haven't had much luck with, although i haven't really tried it

try adding a ":8080" to the end of the address and/or changing the http to https, to get to the remote configuration.