Mobile Computing Technologies: an Overview - Remote Connection
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Remote connection is a software-based mobility solution that offers the ability to connect to a home or office PC and work as though you were right in front of it by providing direct access or by recreating the remote desktop on the local workstation.
The most common example of this is a VPN, or Virtual Private Network. In a VPN, a remote computer connects to a router that provides local network access or a secured connection. This provides an environment that is much like the LAN in your office. A VPN requires supporting hardware and can be set up very inexpensively. The only residual expense is the cost of an Internet connection.
There are several other software solutions that can provide access to files on a remote computer. FTP (File Transfer Protocol) and SSH (Secure Shell Access) provide complete or partial access to a remote file system by running small server applications on the host PC. VNC (Virtual Network Connection) is another similar technology that uses a server application to provide direct access to a host machine. Many VNC applications can even recreate the remote desktop to create a virtual computing experience.
A final software-based mobility solution is known as Remote Desktop. This is a remote connection, built into Windows, that allows you to create a local user session from a remote PC. You interact directly with the host PC as if it was right in front of you. Many third-party programs, such as PC Anywhere, also offer this ability.
By remotely connecting to a host PC you are able to directly access files or programs that allow you to continue working even when you are physically away from your computer. The cost is relatively modest and you will only need to maintain a central set of software. Many network administrators even use this technology for managing computers in their local area network.
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