accessing my ubuntu computer remotely from a Windows PC

[John DeCarlo]

On 7/22/05, Jeff Co <hanzjordan at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> I'm looking for a no-cost easy-to-do way to be able to access my Ubuntu PC
> remotely. The other computer will be running Windows OS. I believe it's
> Windows XP. But just in case, I'd like to have a software that can work on a
> a version of Windows older than XP (for example: Win 98)
>
> I'd like to access my files on my Ubuntu PC. Stuff like my pictures, and
> maybe some text documents that I've saved. I want to be able to retrieve
> them, and also have the ability to do things as though I were sitting right
> in front of my Ubuntu PC. For example,  saving new files on my Ubuntu PC.
> Deleting stuff (in my home directory)
>
> I want something that is secure. Something that only I, with some sort of
> password, can access, and that nobody else on the internet can access.
>
> What must I do to my (Ubuntu) computer before I leave it? (What's the
> terminology for this computer?)
> What must I do to the _other_ computer, the computer on the other end?
> (What's the terminology for this computer on the other end?)
>

OK,

Because you only want to manipulate files (I think), your best bet is to
simply enable an ssh server.  I would install openssh-server (sudo aptitude
install openssh-server).  This will allow secure access to your account on
your Ubuntu machine.

Really, that is all you have to do.  ssh will take care of the security
aspect.  There are fancy things you can do to lock it down even more, if you
want to, but this is really good enough.

Windows.  It has been awhile, but I used to do this regularly myself, since
I was using Ubuntu in part as a file server.  You need a Windows ftp program
that supports "sftp" (secure ftp).  This will use ssh to transfer files.
Then you get a nice graphical interface - I had one free program that showed
two panels, one for local files and one for remote.  Maybe WinFTP?

It isn't clear what you mean by your side comment ("also have the ability to
do things as though I were sitting right in front of my Ubuntu PC"), because
your examples are all manipulating files.  If you really want a graphical
interface that lets you launch programs graphically (like Open Office), then
I recommend installing the "x11vnc" package.  It gives you remote access to
the current desktop (if you stay logged in and just lock the screen).  vnc
is a good package that will give you one or more separate desktop sessions
you can access remotely, and there are plenty of Windows clients.

HTH

--
John DeCarlo, My Views Are My Own
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