Out of site - remote software programs for off-site access of office computers

Entrepreneur, March, 1996 by Cheryl J. Goldberg

Remote software programs keep road warriors linked to their office PCs.

MORE AND MORE entrepreneurs are working outside the office these days. Whether it's at a client's site or traveling to drum up business, you probably take a laptop with you on the road. But you still need to maintain a connection with your PC back at the office.

Perhaps you simply want an easy way to transfer files between your laptop and your office PC. Or, if your laptop lacks enough RAM to store all your applica- tions, you may want access to files and applications on your desktop machine. You may need to access a file left behind on your desktop computer. Or perhaps you need to access company resources on a local area network (LAN).

If you're a road warrior with any of these requirements, here's some software you might find useful: file transfer utilities, remote-node servers and remote-control software.

File Transfer Utilities

File transfer utilities, such as LapLink for Windows 95, are inexpensive, easy-to-use packages that allow local or remote users to move files between PCs via a modem or cable.

But moving files easily isn't all these packages can accomplish. Once you start moving files from one machine to another, you'll need to be sure you've got the right version of your document on the right machine--you don't want to do several hours of work on a document only to find you've been working on the wrong version. That's why file transfer packages offer features that syn- chronize the files between the two computers.

The disadvantage of file transfer packages is that they don't allow users to dial into a network back at the office, can't run applications on a computer remotely and can't provide access to online services.

Remote-Node Servers

Remote-node server products, such as NetRider and LANgate, are designed for small branch offices searching for an affordable, simple remote access solu- tion. These products are hardware-software combinations that allow up to three remote users to dial into a PC LAN at the office as if they were nodes on the LAN. Not only can users dial into the LAN from a remote system, remote-node servers also allow workstations already on the LAN to dial out.

Remote-node systems contain file transfer utilities that allow you to transfer files directly to and from any networked PC's hard drive. Look for the option to manage the unit remotely. This saves you the time and hassle of going to the remote user's location to make configuration changes.

Security is an important issue here. The system should offer password protec- tion and allow you to control each user's account--for example, by enabling or disabling modem sharing or remote log-in.

Remote-node servers have some drawbacks. They're not easily expandable; you can't run applications off a file server, so you'll need to use the applica- tions on your laptop; and file transfers are slower than with remote-control software. If you have more than three users or need more sophisticated abilities, consider remote-control software.

Remote-Control Software

Remote-control software, such as Norton PcAnywhere, lets you run one machine (the so-called host) from another (the so-called client)--whether across the room or across the country.

You connect to the host machine, such as your office PC, either over phone lines or a network. Once the connection is established, a good remote package gives you full control over your office PC, so you can use it just as if you were at your desk. You can read e-mail, access a LAN, even transfer files between the two computers on the road or at home, using a menu-driven inter- face.

If your communication line accidentally goes down while you're making a file transfer, most remote-control software can re-establish the connection and continue the transfer automatically. They also perform directory synchroniza- tion so you don't get confused as to which version of a particular file resides where. You can even initiate file transfers in the background while working on another application on screen.

A popular feature called drive redirection allows you to use programs and files from the host PC just like they were on a hard drive on the client sys- tem.

Some remote-control products also offer printer redirection and disk-drive redirection; these features make printers or drives on the host PC available to the client PC.

When purchasing remote-control packages, there are a number of things to watch for. Be sure the system supports your existing modem. To simplify installa- tion, look for a system that automatically identifies and configures itself to the type of modem installed in your system.

Because remote-control packages tend to be proprietary, to connect correctly, you need the proper client software in the correct version. You'll also need to ask the vendor whether the software will conflict with any of your existing applications.

Since remote-control software allows people outside your office to access machines that may contain highly sensitive company data, it's important to consider security. The program you choose should provide data and password encryption so hackers can't guess your password or access your data as it travels over the wires. You should also be able to lock the host's screen and keyboard functions when necessary to prevent someone from calling in to a particular machine.