Can 2 computers in different locations be mirror images?

Parents Forum Parent Cafe
#1

<p>I want to be able to have one computer at work and one at home have identical information on them. If I save a document on one desk top, I want to be able to access it on the other. The same for Outlook, Quicken, etc..</p>

<p>I am going to start helping my husband out with his work, but from home. I will mostly be doing billing, but it would be nice if he didn't have to drag his laptop home every night and could continue his work at home. We have heard of gotomypc.com and I am going to take a closer look at that. Are there other programs out there that would do what I want? We are also going to check with our IT guy, although I don't know if he will know if anything. I am running out so I did not explain this as well as I would like, but will elaborate later; I just wanted to get some feedback before the weekend.</p>

#2

<p>We're using SugarSync.</p>

#3

<p>Wow, if this is possible how you can be sure a hacker or noisy neighbor is not looking your e-mails or work.</p>

#4

<p>If his network allows him to VPN into his network from home (i.e. establish a secure connection), then you could just use Windows Remote Desktop to connect to his PC at work (it has to be left powered on of course) and operate it remotely. It's just as if you're sitting at the PC at work. Remote Desktop is free and included with Windows. When you do it this way all the files are left at work which is where they typically should be left so you don't have the risk of them getting stolen if someone breaks into your house and steals the PC (if you were to try sync'ing files) or stealing the laptop if it's getting carried back and forth. </p>

<p>With using Remote Desktop over a secure connection there's no need for something like GoToMyPC or Webex to do this.</p>

#5

<p>^^ depends if he also is using the PC during work and she needs access too. Would work if the data is used only at work location during the day and only from home at night. Wonder if they could maintain the documents on the server at work and both have access.</p>

#6

<p>^^ You're right but it looked like the OP wanted to be able to access it without the H having to bring the laptop home which I interpreted as after hours. </p>

<p>If they both need access, and if there's secure network access to work, the files at work could be on a shared drive (either on another server or on the H's laptop) and the W at home could access it from the computer at home. This of course means that the work has no security issues with the W accessing the network.</p>

#7

<p>At times I think I have some tech knowledge, and then I try to do what I am doing, and I get lost!</p>

<p>My husband is a physician and uses his laptop on a wireless network at work for emails, hospital access, bill paying, documents, etc.. I am going to start paying the bills for the office, but would like to do so from home. At the same time, I would love for my husband to stop dragging his laptop home every night; he has a bad back and an older, heavier laptop. If we could make it where he could leave his laptop at the office, but still be able to access anything on it from home, that would be terrific. I am think more along the line of Outlook, Quicken or maybe Quickbook, documents, saved lab results, and whatever else he does on his laptop. This is not the same as the office computer system that is used for appointments, etc..; just his personal information.</p>

<p>If we used a remote link from home, I am assuming his laptop would need to be left on at the office. Security wise, I don't know what that would mean in terms of the people that might have access to the office after hours or the early AM; cleaning crew, maintenance, his office staff. Would the computer at the office need to be on and logged in?</p>

<p>I guess for my husband, he would basically want an exact copy of his computer at home and work; this may be asking for a lot. For me, if I can get into his computer from home either during the day while he is on it, or at night, that would be great. I am thinking it will just be easier to go to the office to do what I want to do, but was curious how it could be done from home.</p>

#8

<p>I think it's much easier to be able to do this anytime you feel like it from home. </p>

<p>To do what I suggested he should - </p>

<ol>
<li>Keep the laptop in a secure area - locked in the office with a laptop cable lock securing it to something immovable like a desk. Keep the laptop powered on and make sure it's not set to go to sleep or power itself off after a certain timeframe like most laptops do. </li>
<li>Password protect his laptop such that when one turns it on they need to enter a user/password before gaining access. Hopefully it's already setup this way. This will prevent random people from getting onto his computer.</li>
<li>Encrypt the data in directories where he has any personal or sensitive info. This is usually in the 'MyDocuments' folder or a similar one depending on the exact version of Windows he's using. Some programs may put it elsewhere also. It's easy to encrypt the folder - right click on the folder in Windows Explore, click 'Properties', 'Advanced', then 'Enrypt contents...'.</li>
<li>Enable the laptop to be controlled remotely via Remote Desktop. ('System' 'Remote Settings')</li>
<li>If he's on a secured network you'd need VPN access to get onto it remotely and for this you'd need to check with the IT people. If he's not on a secured one then you should be able to access it.</li>
<li>Figure out the IP address or name of his computer. For IP address you can open a command prompt and type 'ipconfig' and see it and the name you can see through the 'System' window. If the name displayed was 'harvey' then the full name will end up being something like harvey.medicalplace.com</li>
<li>As long as he's not using the PC you can then Remote Desktop from your home PC to that PC by using the RD client - 'Start' 'Accessories' 'Remote Desktop'.</li>
<li>Login using his user/password or a guest one.</li>
<li>You now have full access to his computer including all the applications - i.e. you don't need to have the apps on your home PC since you're actually doing all the work on his PC although remotely.</li>
</ol>

<p>Once you work your way through this it's easier than it looks. Ths biggest challenge will be the basic connectivity if he's on a secured network or firewall issues. The first 3 steps are optional but recommended and good practice - especially if it had any personal info about me on it.</p>

#9

<p>I think this can all be done. His medical management company handles the office computers and works with his laptop when he needs help. Whatever we can't figure out, I am sure they can!</p>

<p>His computer is password protected for login, so can we just leave it powered on while at the office at night but not actually logged in? That was what I was concerned about; leaving the computer left logged in at night, not someone stealing the computer. When he does leave the laptop at the office, it is left on his desk. We have thought about putting a desktop at the office and leaving his laptop here at home, but he likes to have his laptop for nights he has to take it to the hospital. My husband is a creature of habit and doesn't like change, so I think he will stick with his laptop, the very old, heavy one!!</p>

#10

<p>
[quote]
Wow, if this is possible how you can be sure a hacker or noisy neighbor is not looking your e-mails or work.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>It's obvious, you would HEAR the noisy neighbor!</p>

#11

<p>LOL...it means inquisitive, nosy, curious.
Believe me when I started using computers, the computer behaved erratically, like it was controlled remotely--the mouse moved from place to another and even closed the site. I did not know anything about firewalls or to secure it.</p>

<p>A neighbor, a strange divorced and solitary woman many times repeated conversations, which raised suspicion about her. She was a very strange person, carried a radio type device in her pocket... I visited her and she had a device in her house which you could hear people's conversation. When I asked her what was the noise, she immediately turned off and ignored my question. </p>

<p>I moved to another state, but I still heard stories about her...</p>

#12

<p>snowball - He wouldn't need to leave his computer logged in - just connected to the network and powered on. When he/you Remote Desktop into it you do the login/logout from the remote computer. The IT people should know what he wants if he says he wants to be able to VPN in and Remote Desktop to his office computer.</p>

#13

<p>I have a real problem with trying this with what could be very personal and secure information. I work with files that are secret and confidential. What I have done with full knowledge of our IT department is purchased a 1 terrabyte USB powered hard drive and carry it back and forth from work. My computer at work is set up so that it automatically saves all information to both our work network drive and the USB drive at the same time. It is heavily encrypted and password protected so that if by some fluke I lose it it is going to drive someone around the bend trying to break into it. This way when I leave at night I just grab my usb drive put it in my shirt pocket and I can work on it at home. The next morning when I plug it in at work it automatically updates any modified files on the network drive. Unfortunately this would not allow both of you to work on the files at the same time. Good Luck with this</p>

#14

<p>^^ The method I indicated is very secure and acceptable by most very secure financial institutions and other locations. Firstly, the files and applications actually stay at the work location (presumably secure). Secondly, the keystrokes and video information, which is all that's actually being transferred (as opposed to the full file such as in the USB drive) is encrypted. It's more secure than toting a laptop back and forth where they're exposed to being stolen while in the car when one stops at the store for a second or where it could be stolen from the home. It's safer than the way some people use the USB stick - i.e. use it to transport the files but then copy the files to their home PC but not into an encrypted folder. If it's left on an encrypted USB stick and not transferred it's safer.</p>

<p>It's also very convenient to do it the way I mentioned since one doesn't need a duplicate of all the applications or other resources at home and one doesn't have to be concerned about forgetting to copy a particular file that might end up being needed.</p>

#15

<p>I bet I know this answer to this, but can you remote between a Mac and a PC? My first thought is no, but then I think the tech people are able to view between PC and MAC.</p>

<p>We will most likely buy a new computer for home or office; I have a Mac, but my husband has a PC. If we purchase a new home computer, I would love it to be a Mac, but hubby would not agree to that I don't think.</p>

#16

<p>I haven't tried it with a Mac since I don't have one but these links indicate it should be no problem using remote Desktop from a Mac to a Windows PC - </p>

<p>Download</a> Microsoft Remote Desktop Connection for Mac - Connect to Windows machines. MacUpdate Mac Software Downloads</p>

<p>Connect</a> Across Platforms with Remote Desktop Connection | Mactopia</p>

#17

<p>ucsd<em>ucla</em>dad thanks for clarifying that. I will talk to our IT department and see if that could work for me. At present the encrupted and password protected USB drive works well but you are right that everything is being saved and copied twice. Good INFO I will look into it for what I need.</p>

#18
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