Apr 27 2009
Save Gas and Work from Home, Part 2 the Mac Shop
In Part 1 we downloaded a suite of free apps to plug in remotely to a Microsoft run environment. Now that we’ve moved to the all-Mac workplace I think you’ll find the Mac has a lot of remote already there. OS X is a server at heart, and remote access is where its roots are.
Connect
Corporate networks span the globe thanks to proprietary VPN’s. However, the Open Source folks are never far behind. The OpenVPN protocol bridges networks securely. To set one up on a Mac, you’ll want to grab Viscosity (Leopard) or TunnelBlick (Tiger). These two client/server applications (and some elbow grease) will connect your home network with your work network, allowing services like file and printer sharing and Bonjour to connect Macs.
If a few ports is all you need to connect, check out SSH. Free config tools like iSSH and Secure Shell Helper to ease the setup.
Seeing is Believing
Coccinella is a free, Jabber-based IM solution that includes a shared whiteboard. Its cross-platform, so you can even share visuals with Windows losers, er, clients.
VNC is a tried-and-true remote desktop solution. OS X uses VNC for Back-to-my-Mac and you’ll find a VNC server already installed with OS X. JollyFastVNC is a fast, Bonjour-aware, configurable VNC client that connects you quickly with a remote Mac. Use it together with one of the VPN or SSH solutions above for secure remote access to your Mac desktop and applications.
It didn’t take a gas crunch to get your Mac ready for remote access. Check out this week’s picks and leverage the power of your Mac – remotely.