Newbienetwork
@charter.com
| Possible to run downstairs computer from upstairs?
I'm at work right now and kind of rushing to post this.
But, I have two old computers in my basement that are just collecting dust and I'd like to put them to work again.
Here is my question:
What would I need to do (I'm assuming it would be through networking), to power a monitor/keyboard upstairs from those computers?
IE I can be sitting at my desk with my regular computer and two other monitors hooked up to the basement computers?
If running a long cord is the only option, I may consider that  |
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nobody_cares
@dslextreme.com
| You can use either remote desktop or VNC to take control.
You will need to hook up those two computers to the network first by using wired or wireless.
If you are going to use wired Ethernet on those two computers, then you can enable Wake on LAN support, which will allow you to remotely power on the computer. |
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SoonerAl
Old Enough To Know Better
Premium,MVM
join:2002-07-23
Norman, OK
|  reply to Newbienetwork
Remember that to run Remote Desktop [RDC] the host PC, ie. the PC in the basement, must be running XP Pro or MCE or Vista Ultimate/Business.
Otherwise VNC is a good choice if the PC is running XP Home or Vista Home Premium or Basic.
»www.ultravnc.com
In either case if the PC is running headless (no monitor) and without a keyboard/mouse make sure you configure the BIOS in the PC so it will ignore any boot errors, ie. no keyboard found for example.
--
"When all else fails, read the instructions..."
MS-MVP Windows – Desktop User Experience |
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pp03
join:2002-06-13
Minneapolis, MN
| You guys rock, it was me btw :P
I think I'm going to hop on that, I mean the machines down there are not 'great' by any means, but just letting them collect dust until they can't run anything seems pointless
--
The History Channel rocks! ... you know it! |
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SoonerAl
Old Enough To Know Better
Premium,MVM
join:2002-07-23
Norman, OK
4 edits |  said by pp03  :You guys rock, it was me btw :P I think I'm going to hop on that, I mean the machines down there are not 'great' by any means, but just letting them collect dust until they can't run anything seems pointless What are the specs on the machines? You might consider turning one into a Windows Home Server [WHS] if its up to snuff or you can build a suitable machine out of the two. The Getting Started Guide has that information starting on page 7.
»www.microsoft.com/downloads/deta···07a98d54
More help...
»www.microsoft.com/windows/produc···ver.mspx
Blog...
»blogs.technet.com/homeserver/
Forums...
»social.microsoft.com/Forums/en-U···eserver/
Newegg generally has good prices on the software...
»www.newegg.com/Product/ProductLi···&x=0&y=0
You can also get a free 120 day trial version from MSFT.
»www.microsoft.com/windows/produc···val.mspx
I made a WHS out of an old desktop and two old hard drives I had. The nightly automatic backup of my wife's XP Pro desktop and my Vista Ultimate laptop are a big feature IMHO. My WHS runs headless under my desk in my home office 24/7. You can see the machine specs for my WHS in the screen shot. Nothing spectacular.
--
"When all else fails, read the instructions..."
MS-MVP Windows – Desktop User Experience |
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pp03
join:2002-06-13
Minneapolis, MN
| You my friend, are the man.
I have to go to bed now, but when I get off work tonight that will be high on the agenda 
--
The History Channel rocks! ... you know it! |
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Greg_Z
Premium
join:2001-08-08
Springfield, IL | reply to SoonerAl
Or just go free and run Ubuntu server, or even ClarkConnect. |
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HarryH3
join:2005-02-21
Georgetown, TX
 ·Verizon Online DSL
| reply to pp03
Ultra VNC rocks. I've got an old beater PC that I upgraded with a bigger hard drive and use as a backup server. I can control it with Ultra VNC and the free version of SyncBack keeps my files backed up to it.
Here's a link that I bookmarked long ago about using a Linux alternative to Windows Home Server: »www.linux-watch.com/news/NS9015653445.html if you decide to go that route. |
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