Remote access of Localhost...best method?

[Baz Watkins]

Hi all,

I want to access my work pc localhost via a laptop when I'm with the client, I'm pretty certain it can be done, but what is the best way?

Thanks, B.

 

[FreelanceSoftwareDeveloper]

If you mean you are running a local webserver on your PC (for development) and want to access it when with a client?

1. Use a Remote Desktop application to access the PC, use the browser on the PC to navigate to your localhost.

2. Change your firewall settings so the web server is open to the world and make a note of the IP address to access it. Not really recommended.

 

[Subbynet]

Use logmein.com ... probably the easiest way of doing this.

https://secure.logmein.com/UK/products/free/

 

[mit74]

if you have a spare computer set a server using open source VM software that will allow you to use it as a localhost and a remote server in one. It's not too difficult to setup if you need a long term solution.

 

[OnCoreCreative]

Hi all,

I want to access my work pc localhost via a laptop when I'm with the client, I'm pretty certain it can be done, but what is the best way?

Thanks, B.

Baz this can be done,

check out www gotomypc co uk

Hope this helps.

 

[astutiumRob]

I want to access my work pc localhost via a laptop when I'm with the client, I'm pretty certain it can be done, but what is the best way?

quick solution - RDP to your desktop
easy solution - Copy the files onto the laptop before you go

 

[DotNetWebs]

2. Change your firewall settings so the web server is open to the world and make a note of the IP address to access it. Not really recommended.

If it was me I would forward a non standard port to port 80 and use basic authentication on the web server.

Regards Dotty

 

[makemoney]

Hi all,

I want to access my work pc localhost via a laptop when I'm with the client, I'm pretty certain it can be done, but what is the best way?

Thanks, B.

Do you mean access the screen or map a drive to your data? You can use VNC to access the remote screen, the computer would have to be left on to do this, http://www.realvnc.com/products/free/4.1/

 

[DotNetWebs]

Do you mean access the screen or map a drive to your data? You can use VNC to access the remote screen, the computer would have to be left on to do this, http://www.realvnc.com/products/free/4.1/

I was assuming that by 'localhost' he means his local webserver.

Regards

Dotty

 

[makemoney]

I was assuming that by 'localhost' he means his local webserver.

Regards

Dotty

I am assuming his work pc is the client with a drive mapped to a server (web or web server not mentioned); if his home laptop is now the remote client then the work pc would be the local host,

 

[DotNetWebs]

....(web or web server not mentioned)...

No but 'localhost' usually refers to the default local webserver addresss.

Regards

Dotty

 

[sanjiv]

localhost just refers to the IP of the PC you are on.

To remote desktop into it, the easiest way would be LogMeIn.com

You can set it up with Microsoft's Remote Desktop Client but this involves allowing an IP address direct access to your PC and is not as simple to setup.

 

[DotNetWebs]

localhost just refers to the IP of the PC you are on...

Yes I agree but my assumption was based on the fact that Baz is a web developer and web developers will often have 'work in progress' websites that they wish to show clients.

In this case it the most common use of 'localhost' would be the local web server that hosts these sites.

If it for general access I agree they RDP or VNC would be the way to go.

Perhaps it would help if Baz clarified exactly what he wants to do.

Regards

Dotty

 

[sanjiv]

Yes I agree but my assumption was based on the fact that Baz is a web developer and web developers will often have 'work in progress' websites that they wish to show clients.

In this case it the most common use of 'localhost' would be the local web server that hosts these sites.

If it for general access I agree they RDP or VNC would be the way to go.

Perhaps it would help if Baz clarified exactly what he wants to do.

Regards

Dotty

Yes that could be right.

Another way which you could do this would be to put the folders into a Dropbox and have the server running on your laptop too.

 

[DotNetWebs]

...Another way which you could do this would be to put the folders into a Dropbox and have the server running on your laptop too...

Yes I use Wuala in a similar way.

All my working directory is continually uploading to 'the cloud' and I can securely access it from any device that has the Wuala client installed. e.g most frequently my laptop or Android tablet.

Regards

Dotty

 

[Baz Watkins]

yep, sorry, a bit of clarification might help.

Basically I mean localhost as in http: // localhost / websitename... running via xampp/apache/mysql.

I build the site on my work pc, and I just want to access the 'in progress' website via a laptop when I'm having an update meeting with clients.

 

[DotNetWebs]

...Basically I mean localhost as in http: // localhost / websitename... running via xampp/apache/mysql...

This is what I was assuming.

Personally I would use port forwarding on your router and use basic authentication on your website(s).

If you want to reduce the chance of your website being 'discovered' and attracting brute force attacks you could use a less known or random public port to forward to port 80 on your local machine.

e.g publicIP:**** forwards to localIP:80

Regards

Dotty

 

[sanjiv]

Do you have a static ip? You may need to use a service like DynDNS if your router supports auto updating. Then you can port forward to your PC. I would also recommend fixing the internal IP of your PC.

or just put the website folders in Dropbox and access it with localhost.

 

[terryuk]

If your on Windows then download a program called PHPDev, it'll install apache, php, mysql, phpmyadmin in a tick

http://sourceforge.net/projects/phpdev5/