RDC & VPN experiences?

[darraghsmyth]

When my 12" PB arrives, I'll be looking to connect to my work PC network from home, using some sort of Remote Desktop Client (RDC) and Virtual Private Network (VPN). Does anyone have experience with this setup?

Is RDC for connecting Mac to Win built in to OS X, or do I need to download the likes of the s/w from MS?
(http://www.microsoft.com/mac/otherproducts/otherproducts.aspx?pid=remotedesktopclient)

Does anyone have any experience with using VPN tracker
(http://www.equinux.com/us/products/vpntracker/) to connect their OS X @home to Windows @work?

Or does anyone have any other suggestions for VPN s/w that works well in such a scenario?

thanks in advance for all your help
darragh

 

[kgarner]

You need to download it from MS. It works pretty good, depending on the speed of the network (LAN vs. Internet, etc.). I think having a faster computer helps too. I noticed some improvement going from my old (upgraded Rev. B iMac) to my brother's 800 MHz iBook.

 

[jane doe]

VPN tracker

I use VPN tracker... Its not bad. I don't use it to connect to a win VPC box but rather a CPN router.

I've had my ups and downs with it, the documentation sucks. But since i'm not paying for it, i can't complain.

 

[darraghsmyth]

I use VPN tracker...

I take it that OS X doesn't come with it's own VPN software?

One thing that puzzles me is whether VPN s/w in general all use the same encryption/decryption protocols. Is this the case?

d

 

[Danrose1977]

VPN is built into the networking section of the OS. I use it myself, configuration was a dodle, though I haven't tried an RDC over it.