Remote desktop over a local network (and not over the internet)

Ricochet J · 22 May 2014 at 14:51

Hello

I want a powerful desktop machine for computational work. The only space for this is the spare bedroom. But I don't want to be stuck in the spare bedroom for hours working away.

I want to work in the living room, whilst watching TV, sitting on the sofa etc. Can I remotely connect to the computer in the spare bedroom, and control it from a laptop in the living room without using the internet (and only using the local area network)? I want full GUI access from the laptop. I want the laptop to be the monitor for the PC.

Can this happen using WiFi only?

Thank you

Ricochet J · 22 May 2014 at 14:54

How do you do it? When I want to remote into a computer from the internet I need to create a VPN and then use remote desktop to access the computer remotely.

Do I still need a VPN if I'm remotely connecting to a computer on my LAN?

Ricochet J · 22 May 2014 at 15:15

Thanks guys. I was holding off buying the powerful PC which I'll remote into until I knew for certain that what I wanted was possible.

Ricochet J · 23 May 2014 at 10:23

I need a way of doing this which doesn't use the internet. I.e. I don't want to traverse the length of the internet just to connect to my PC in the other room.

Is there a WiFi or LAN only option?

Ricochet J · 23 May 2014 at 13:30

bledd. said:
What version of Windows will it have?

If it's it's a Pro or above version, then it will have remote desktop built in.

Free and simple.

Once you enable Remote Desktop on the new machine (let's call it the host), on any other laptop/pc on the same network, you just open a run box (Winkey + R) type in mstsc hit enter.

Now type in the computername of the host, enter the Windows username/password for that machine and you'll be connected.

I haven't yet built the computer. I can buy Windows 7 or 8 Professional and put that on if Remote Desktop will do what I want. I will remote into the machine from a Macbook Pro Mavericks OS. I can download the Windows Remote Desktop app on Mavericks (I've used it and it's very good).

Ricochet J · 23 May 2014 at 14:25

Thanks guys. I'll let you know how I get on