Is mapping a drive across the internet possible?

[treyball3]

My friend, who lives about 50 miles away and I are wondering if it is possible to set up a shared directory and share files across the internet. We both have cable modems, and use the same cable service. We tried simply mapping a drive to each others IP addresses, but that didn't work. Is this even possible? If so, any tips?
Thanks

 

[leonec]

use the guerilla network...like imesh or morphues...and I also think it is possible if you have win2k...maybe you should ask this question in the win2k forum.

 

[wolluf]

If you enable file & printer sharing for your internet connection (eg, NIC Cable modem is attached to), then any shared resources will be available over the internet (subject to user permissions/passwords depending on your operating systems/how shares set up). Access the shares by \\ipaddress\sharename (or map a drive to this). Remember this share is visible on the whole internet.

 

[deklin]

Anyone have any tips on setting up a wide area network using cable modems? Also what software is needed. Thanks

 

[barryna]

wolluf: What ports are used by file & printer sharing? I think our cable modem service may be blocking these ports. Is this a possiblity of why it will not work? We have tried exactly what you told us about and it will not work.

 

[wolluf]

sorry, I don't know what mechanisms file sharing uses over the internet - you could well be right about your cable modem service blocking it.

Have you tried netmeeting? (I've never used it, but my son says its good for sharing resources).

 

[aucassia]

From work I can map to my home PC that is runnign on cable. win2k at work, winxp at home.

BUT I have to use my IP address.

start - run - \\xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx\c$

When it prompts me to authenticate I use

\\homepcnetbios\administrator

and adminstrator password. waala..my c-drive.

I have file and print sharing turned on at home.

 

[ceh4702]

This is dangerous, because you have to enable file and printer sharing over an Internet connection. While you are configured this way somone could be able to access your files and delete all your files from the internet. XP is suppose to be configuragble to let someone else take over your computer. This might be safer than opening your system up completely and leaving it open. I have seen a program called PC Anywhere advertised on Yahoo that lets you do similar things. If you are going to send lots of files zip them first. This helps a lot with text and data files but not too much with music files like MP3, because they are pretty much condensed already. Look for Peer-to-Peer programs that let you share files like kazza or something like that. VPN Would be safer. If you do not like my post feel free to point out your opinion or my errors.

 

[treyball3]

In response to ceh4702, can someone access and delete my files that are not in my share? or just the one's I have put in my shared folder?

 

[aucassia]

C$ is the hidden share for your c drive. by enabling file and print sharing you automatically share this drive. Just by enabling file and print sharing on your system you open it up to possibly being "hacked" where they could delete any file on your system. With file and print sharing disabled the possiblity of being "hacked" is significantly less and long as you have virus scan to stop the umpteen trojans/backdoors floating around.

 

[wolluf]

treyball3 - C$ is default adminstrative share only on NT/2k/XP & you can remove it - but I think windows will put it back on next reboot unless you tweak the registry (or if you rename Administrator user, hacker has little chance - because way in is via Administrator user & then throwing lots of password tries at it) - but if your friend can't access your share presumably with password then you are probably not in any trouble yet!

You haven't mentioned operating systems.
PS. Did you look at netmeeting?

 

[treyball3]

I'm running ancient 98, he's running ME. We actually used netmeeting before we tried this, but didn't really like it. The response time was slow, and the person connecting to the other computer takes complete control of the computer he logs into. So, if my friend logged into mine using netmeeting, as long as he is on there, I can't use my computer. We didn't find this acceptable since we both like to use our computers quite frequently. His boss actually does what we are trying with a computer he has at work. He connects from home using 98, but not sure what the computer at his work is running. So, I'm not sure what's different in this case.

 

[barryna]

My boss has 98 on both his home and work computer. He generally uses PC anywhere to do his work, cause he doesn't know how to have a truely secure share on the internet.

What me and my friend would like is a share where we can both access movies, mp3s, and other files to share. If we could find each other on grokster or kazaa that would be great, but we have been unsuccessful at that. Can anyone explain to us what a Virtual Private Network is and how you set up one of those. I have ME, and my friend has 98. We both have cable modems. Also, can a peer-to-peer program be easily written in vb 6.0 where we could accomplish this?

 

[wolluf]

Don't know if these any use

http://www.wfshome.com/

http://www.badblue.com/

 

[wolluf]

barryna - here's a link to a thread about VPN thread748-240542

 

[ceh4702]

VPN is just peer-to-peer with encryption using a special protocol. You can buy VPN routers, that would probably come with their own software. I have never tried it myself. If you do not like my post feel free to point out your opinion or my errors.

 

[aldog]

Why couldn't you just e-mail or use a MIRC program to send files?