[NTLUG:Discuss] Secure connection between Linux and Windows over the Internet

[Stuart Johnston]

Leroy Tennison wrote:
> Have a situation where I need for my Linux PC at home to connect to a 
> Windows 2003 Small Business Server over the Internet without 
> compromising either machine.  I've thought about VNC and I guess that is 
> a possibility, I haven't done enough investigation into RDP to know if 
> that is a possibility and then there's a VPN which i think would use 
> FreeSWAN on Linux and Routing and Remote Access on Windows.  There are 
> SMC Barracade hardware "router"/firewalls (I have an SMC7004VBR, a 
> slightly older version is remote) on both ends.
> 
> Can anyone make recommendations, point me to a good HOW-TO or suggest 
> alternatives I haven't thought about?  Thanks for the input.

You'll want a VPN for the secure connection.  OpenVPN is easier to 
setup.  Your Windows server may have VPN built-in?  Then use RDP, it 
will be much more responsive than VNC.

-Stuart