Sharing Files with Work Computer - Remote Login?

[ktbubster]

Ok, I tried to search for this, but I guess I am just having trouble getting the right search terms here or at google

Here's the deal - I work from home a lot designing for a publication. Right now this involves someone dropping the files I need in drop box. I would PREFER to have access to the files on my work computer at any given time to skip this portion.

How exactly would I go about connecting to my work computer from home on a different network? What information do I need etc? The computer itself is already open for file sharing, but since it's off network - what do I need to know/enter at home/do here to get access to the main folders of files at home.

This may be really simple, but I can only find info for in network connections.

My computer at home is running OSX 10.8 mountain lion and the computer at work is running 10.6.8 Snow Leopard.

Thanks!

 

[GGJstudios]

I use TeamViewer, which is free for personal use and works with Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, Ubuntu, iPhone, iPad, etc. It's very secure and quite simple to set up and use (no messing around with ports), which comes in handy if providing remote support to those who aren't very computer literate. You can talk them through the setup on their end and be connected to them in less than a minute. I prefer it over LogMeIn because it includes free file transfers between computers, a feature I use frequently.

If it's just the files you want and no remote desktop access is required, Dropbox is excellent.

 

[MacDawg]

Explain again why Dropbox doesn't work for you?

I use Dropbox extensively
I can access all my files on my work PC, my MBA, my iPhone, my iPad and I can login to the web interface from any computer and access my files

 

[ktbubster]

We use drop box just fine, but we can't store all our files and issues on it. And backing up to also our file system is a bit of a pain - We have to clear it out and we only put in the stuff I need so I am trying to just eliminate dropbox and moving files. It makes much more sense to be able to access all the files at any given time.

What I want is access to all the main folders and files on the work computer without having to store/move things on a cloud or elsewhere like drop box.

 

[zhenya]

I agree, can you explain better why Drop Box isn't working for you? This sounds like exactly what it's best at - ie. you work on the files during the day at work. You need to work on them at home that night, they are already there waiting for you. You edit them at home, and they are waiting for you again at work in the morning.

Certainly you can do work via a remote connection, but the experience is less than optimal even on pretty good networks. It's ok for administration type stuff, or retrieving a bit of data. It's not so good for doing actual work in the programs located on the remote machine.

Edit: Submitted before your above response.

I agree that one of the limitations of DropBox is that it only allows you to share one root folder. When I'm working on a project, I move that project's folder to my Dropbox for the time being until I am finished with that project. There are other services that are similar to DropBox that allow you to share more than one root folder if you want to explore that option.

The other option is setting up a VPN to the office site for file and resource access. This could give you access to everything on your network, but honestly, file transfer via the Finder over a VPN rather sucks.

Try Teamviewer - it's free and it will give you a sense of whether a remote desktop solution meets your needs.

Sugarsync is one option that allows you to choose any folder to sync. Perhaps you could use their sync solutions in conjunction with their backup service and improve both file access and data security at once.

 

[ktbubster]

I don't go into the office everyday I do the majority of the month's work from home. I am trying to eliminate having someone drop stuff into the drop box, because honestly it seems like the person doing it has been flaking lately, and I'd rather just be able to access things I need without having to wait for them to do their job.

There are also things that we do that are a lot of files to play with so I'd prefer to be able to grab what I want.

Will try teamviewer and look into sugar sync.

 

[zhenya]

I don't go into the office everyday I do the majority of the month's work from home. I am trying to eliminate having someone drop stuff into the drop box, because honestly it seems like the person doing it has been flaking lately, and I'd rather just be able to access things I need without having to wait for them to do their job.

There are also things that we do that are a lot of files to play with so I'd prefer to be able to grab what I want.

Will try teamviewer and look into sugar sync.

One option is that with Teamviewer you could log into your remote computer and drop the requisite files into Dropbox yourself. That way you don't have to deal with working over a remote connection and you can still access any file you want.

Full-site remote file access is a tricky subject for small businesses and there is no one right answer.