Problems setting up a VNC connection from uni to home (SMC Barricade)

[Dustin Johnson]

> > Every time I get the Connection time out error.
> >
> > I've got it to successfully work within the LAN, but can't seem to get
> > it to work from uni so I'm not sure if it is a problem at UNI or a
> > router problem. I was wondering whether I can connect to the desktop
> > from another computer on the LAN to the desktop by going out and back in
> > (e.g. by using the wan IP) but I'm not sure how to do it cos I'm not
> > sure what additional ports to forward
>
> Without knowing what the UNI network is like, troubleshooting is almost
> impossible.  Can you ping your WAN IP address?  If not they are most
> likely using an HTTP proxy (very likely in a UNI setting).  VNC's RFB
> communication will not work through an HTTP proxy.

I second the HTTP Proxy motion.  It is VERY likely that they use such a
proxy.
If so then you do still have options.  I believe that the SSH protocol still
works through
such a proxy.  If so then you can "wrap" your VNC connection in that.  It
really is
not as hard as it sounds :).  http://sourceforge.net/projects/sshtools/ is
an open
source SSH server for all platforms.  It works well.  They also have a
client that you
can download for VNC that establishes SSH connection and then has an
integrated
VNC viewer.  Very nice!

> > Oh yeah- the laptop I'm trying to connect to the desktop runs XP pro,
> > and the desktop has XP home edition (Service pack 1 on both machines as
> > well), and both have Zone Alarm Pro 3.7.159 running, but zone alarm on
> > both allows VNC to connect I assume seeing as I can connect on the LAN.
>
> I wouldn't be surprised if Zone Alarm treats WAN traffic different than
> LAN traffic (that is the function of a firewall).  With the addition of
> your SMC, though, I'm not sure if Zone Alarm would make the distinction.
> If Zone Alarm is stopping it, there should be a log record of it.  You
> could also try shutting off Zone Alarm and testing again.

Zone Alarm does not know the difference between your LAN and your WAN
traffic, is my guess.