Requirement:

You want to allow connections from the Internet to your local LAN.

Assumptions:

You want to access RDP server such as Windows XP or Windows 2003 server

You have xDSL connection to the Internet

You don’t have a firewall between your network and the Internet

Port: 3389 TCP

Server/Workstation IP: 192.168.0.100

WAN fix address: 123.123.123.123

Netgear Router

Problem

Since IP communications can not be passing from the Internet to an internal address such as 192.168.0.0 since these IP subnets are assigned for internal use.

The solution

We need to have some mechanism that will forward communication based on the Port to the internal address.

What you will need?

User name and password to your router.

Router’s IP address.

Make the server or XP workstation ready to accept connections.

Any Cable modem or xDSL connection have an IP address on the WAN side assigned by the ISP. Note your WAN IP address by accessing this site: www.whatismyip.com this address is dynamic (can be changed next time…)

1. Login to the router using web browser
2. Under the advanced section click on Port Forwarding

Click the “Add Custom Service” 

Under the service name type the name you want such as “RDP”

Under the starting Port: type 1

Ending port: 3389

Server IP Address: 192.168.0.100

Click Apply

The next step is to test it.. go to another station from the Internet and launch the RDP and type the WAN address 123.123.123.123 and click connect…

Good luck!

Warning: anyone from the Internet would be able to access this workstation or server, make sure you are using

1. Strong password (at least 8 charters long numbers, small/CAPS letters)
2. All security patches are installed
3. Antivirus installed and updated

Please note: You are using the information above at your own risk.

Yigal Behar