WM6 Remote Desktop on Axim X51V with WM5!

[Kronalias]

WM6 Remote Desktop on Axim X51V with WM5!

Why on earth would you want to do it? You tell me…

My reason was to use an old laptop for longish jobs and monitor and control it occasionally without having to power up another PC. Here’s what did…

My old lappy is running XP Pro, and connected to my home network wirelessly.

Get the remote desktop thingy working on lappy and connect to it from another PC
Note that you will have to set up a password on lappy – remote desktop won’t work if there isn’t one. In this step you’ll connect to the lappy using its computer name. You won’t be able to do this from an Axim, but we’ll sort that out later… . Use the following to get you going:
Windows XP: Get Started Using Remote Desktop

If you close the lid of a laptop it normally goes into standby – you can change this in the power settings to do nothing when the top’s down. Do this, close the lid, put lappy away somewhere out of the way (obviously with power connected!) and you won’t have to touch it again!

Now we can sort everything else from your other PC.

Although you connected to lappy using its computer name you won’t be able to do this using an Axim – you’ll need to set up a fixed (static) IP on lappy. Do this using remote desktop from another PC, using this guide:
static ip LAN - converting from DHCP
and you should end up with an IP of something like 192.168.1.245

Now download the WM6 Remote Desktop Client from here:
WM6_RDP (Mobile Remote Desktop Client) - PDAPhoneHome.com
If this link is broken just google around for WM6 RDP-Finster.zip and download it.
Unzip it on a PC, put the .cab file on your Axim and install it.

If you are still remote desktopped from your PC close the connection.

On the Axim tap Start => Programs and you’ll see WM6 Remote Desktop. Click this and you should have a screen as follows:
Status: Not connected
Computer:
User name:
Password:
Domain:

At the bottom there are Connect and Options tabs.

Click Options, set Colors to High Color (16 bit) and Sound to Play on this device. Click ok.
Enter the static IP you set earlier in Computer, and the Username and Password for lappy in the other boxes. Leave Domain blank.

Make sure the Axim’s on your wifi network and click Connect. It may take a few seconds, and then you should see a black screen, a logon window pop up and down, and then your lappy screen. You’re there!

Slight problem 1: Don’t click Full Screen – there’s no way back that I can find!
Slight problem 2: When you click Disconnect you’ll go back to the ‘Not connected’ screen. There’s no option to exit the proggie, so you’ll have to stop it using the switcher bar or Resco or something.

Hope this helps,

Cheers, Kronalias

[Kenjari]

Okay..

So I followed this all the way down to crossing my T's and dotting I's. I have my statip IP. I changed the settings in Windows XP.

Achievement: I managed to get this working on PDA as long as I'm on the same internet network. I have a router at home, as long as my laptop and PDA are at home...I can connect to the laptop using my pda.......:approve:

Failure: I'm trying to set this up to leave laptop at home connected to the internet and use my pda at WORK connecting remotely through the internet at the office. I can not get this to work!!!! I followed the instructions: put the IP in 'Computer'; login user and password...all that! Yet, nothing!

So let me ask this.... CAN I CONNECT TO MY LAPTOP REMOTELY USING WM6 RDP......WHILE BEING AT TWO DIFFERENT PLACES? IN OTHER WORDS, CAN I CONNECT TO MY LAPTOP AT 'HOME' USING MY PDA AT 'WORK'?

Is it it because its two different internet providers? Are the instructions misssing something? Did I go wrong by setting up my static IP? (I used the link in the above instructions) Should I hard wire my laptop to the router as oppose to wirelessly connecting it?

Thanks in advance!!

[pinyon]

Having used the stock RDP client on my Axim all along what's the advantage to the WM6 version?

[Kenjari]

I have no idea of the advantage. Actually, I'm using the WM6 version on my Axim which is running WM5. Is there a WM5 verson or something? I wonder could that be my failure!!!

Have you been successful with the client? Do it work for you in the way described?

[pinyon]

It works for me just like an XP version of Remote Desktop works except of course dealing with the small screen. I use if primarily for emergencies while traveling when I don't have access to my laptop or another computer. I've connected successfully with WiFi of BT DUN. The link does indicate that the WM6 version saves the username for you which the WM5 version definitely does not.

As far as your connection issues, most routers act as a firewall and you either need to open up the RDP port (3389) considering the security implications of this or some routers have port mapping that can help. Alternatively if you have a way to VPN to your home network you might be able to make that work.

[Kenjari]

Well. I went into the firewall and tried change the port and had the specific IP of the PDA while at the office. All of this to no avail. I will continue to trying this. If you or anyone else have a suggestion....please post!




Thanks in advance!

EDIT: I tried adding the Remote Desktop port....It shows one existed. It had the same port number 3389. However, it was for TCP. Should I add a 3389 UDP? Second, I changed the scope to 'confined list'. That way I can add the IP address. I'm not sure if this is a good path!!

[pinyon]

I only have to do TCP. Make sure the office isn't either blocking the outbound port or that you're not in a NAT environment. If you are in NAT then your firewall will see the gateway address.

[Kenjari]

Hey thanx for the reply pinyon.

I'm not in a NAT environment, so I know that isnt the case. I have tried three different wireless spots....Dunn Bros. / a local cafe (Panera Breads), and then my office. Still no luck.

So with my office...I will check the outbound port! Thanks for the suggestion:approve:

[Kenjari]

BTW...I cant figure out why the WM6 RDP works between my Axim and laptop while I'm at home but not separate (as explained above)! Why do you think that is?

[Kenjari]

After exploring as thoroughly as possible, I'm starting to believe I can not connect remotely to my at home terminal via pda at work unless I have a VPN established. There is also the possbility of using a web-subscription remote service....which is out of the question.

I really to do like the RDP client because its small and it adjusts fullscreen mode better then others that I have tried.

Last question: have anyone used the WM6 RDP to connect remotely to their host computer without a VPN (strictly through the internet)?

Thanks again pinyon for all your suggestions buddy! I appreciated it!

Yes ... I use RDP almost daily ... no VPN ...

You do know that you have to forward the RDP port number on the remote router, correct?

[AgentDelta]

Okay..

So I followed this all the way down to crossing my T's and dotting I's. I have my statip IP. I changed the settings in Windows XP.

Achievement: I managed to get this working on PDA as long as I'm on the same internet network. I have a router at home, as long as my laptop and PDA are at home...I can connect to the laptop using my pda.......:approve:

Failure: I'm trying to set this up to leave laptop at home connected to the internet and use my pda at WORK connecting remotely through the internet at the office. I can not get this to work!!!! I followed the instructions: put the IP in 'Computer'; login user and password...all that! Yet, nothing!

So let me ask this.... CAN I CONNECT TO MY LAPTOP REMOTELY USING WM6 RDP......WHILE BEING AT TWO DIFFERENT PLACES? IN OTHER WORDS, CAN I CONNECT TO MY LAPTOP AT 'HOME' USING MY PDA AT 'WORK'?

Is it it because its two different internet providers? Are the instructions misssing something? Did I go wrong by setting up my static IP? (I used the link in the above instructions) Should I hard wire my laptop to the router as oppose to wirelessly connecting it?

Thanks in advance!!

Quick question: Which IP address are you entering into the WM6 Remote Desktop client? Are you putting in the 192.168.1.xxx? If so that will not work, but you can connect to your computer from your work network, you'll just have to go through a few more steps to do so.

As KPDUTY said, you will have to set your router to forward port 3389 to the static IP you set up for your computer. Next, on a computer on your home network, go to WhatIsMyIP.com. If you try connecting to that IP from your work network, it should work with no problems. However, if your internet service is like most, this IP will change every few days.

So the next step is to make that change irrelevant. Set up a Dynamic DNS account at DynDNS -- Free Dynamic DNS (DDNS) Service
It is free, and it will give a constant URL that you can connect to. You will have to install a small program on the laptop in question so that the constant URL will always point to the right place. I believe that the Dynamic DNS provider I linked to provides sufficient documentation for setting up their service, so I won't get into that here.

Once you get that set up, you should be able to connect to your laptop from any network in the world by putting the constant dyndns URL into the "Computer" field in the RDP client on your Axim.

I apologize if you already knew all of this, but I hope this helps you do what you're trying to do.

AD

[Kenjari]

Thanks for the reply KPDUTY and AgentDelta.

No apologies necessary cause I am learning this stuff and what you described is completely new.

KPDUTY, I think thats what I am having trouble with (you mentioned it to AD)....is forwarding the router to 3389. I'm not sure how to do that or if I have done that already. I have messed with a few things on the laptop so far. If you point me in the right direction....I can probably figure this out.

IP address is 192.168.0.xxx. Do you think this is one of the problems? I will go directly DynDNS as soon as I hit 'submit reply' on this thread. I read through that numerous of times....but may a dumn assumption that I didnt have to do this. So now I see I have to get this free service from that site.

Now that I have the assurance that this is possible...I will keep following the instructions y'all give.

Thanks again ... will post later!

Follow AgentDelta's advice and you should get thing s to work.

Note that the "local" network IP addressess in 192.168.0.XXX (Class "C" network) reside BEHIND your network router and are invisible to the outside world.

As AgentDelta noted, it is your ISP provider's Class "A" IP address that needs to be called by the Remote desktop application.

In my case it is simple with no need for DynDNS since my company has a dedicated static IP address from our ISP that is unique to my company only specifically used for port forwarding (for RDP and other applications) .

So, once you get a static IP setup, you have 1/2 the problem solved (i.e. How to access your router uniquely from the "outside world" side of your router)

Next, you need to "Forward" the port used by Remote Desktop to the specific Laptop/Desktop on the "Local" side of the router (192.168.xxx.xxx). Otherwise, there is no way for Remote desktop to know which local PC is running/looking for the remote connection.

Note that port forwarding is setup on the router of the network you are remotely connecting to, not on any remote or local PC.

Good luck....

Also, someone above asked about the diff between WM6 RDP and previous versions:

16bit color on WM6 version
Sound control on WM6 version

Also, someone above mentioned that Full Screen is a NONO. True, if using the touchscreen SIP, but nice if using an external keyboard. If accidently hit using touchscreen, I've recovered by enabling the "onscreen keyboard" option in XP on the remote desktop and controlling from the remote instead of Axim ...

[Kenjari]

Thanks KPDUTY. I believe I'm half way through it like you said. I have the static IP. I did the DNS anyway....it was worth cause I understand more better the IP. Next, I went to Portforwarding.com through the link AgentDelta posted. I forward the port to the router for the remote desktop.

Last Questions (hopefully): Based on your last post...when using the remote desktop client...Do I use the Static IP of the router (is that the Class A?)...or the specific laptop? I'm just trying to clarify which is the class A and B IP...and what IP do I put into the WM6 RDP client?

I really appreciate the help from both you! Over the last two hours...I have learned a lot about Remote Desktop, Portforwarding, Firewalls, IP's and routers.I think I'm ready for a new degree

Thanks again!!