You ’re in a client ’s office or a Quaker ’s house , and you have to get online . No trouble : you just give the axe up your Mac , wait a couple of moment while AirPort automatically finds any 802.11 networks within hailing distance , and , bunce , you ’re online , right ? Not needs .

But fear not . Whether you need access to files or to your Mac ’s desktop , you may probably get both — using shaft ramp up right into OS X. And if those are n’t enough , you ’ve beat a couple of respectable for - pay alternatives .

What You Need

To be accessed from afar , a outside Mac must forgather a few basic requirements . First , it needs a full - time net connectedness . Second , it must be awake . You have many ways to set up that : you may leave your system on and set it to stay alive the whole time you ’re gone , you may have someone back home wake it up , or you may use OS X ’s Energy Saver druthers pane to specify standard wake and sleep times each day . If you ask more flexibleness , assay the free utilityWake550 , which can wake your Mac remotely . ( Note that this programme may not work through firewall and requires backup for Wake - On - LAN in your home system — something many honest-to-god poser miss . )

The third requirement is that you know the distant machine ’s public IP computer address . The well-fixed mode to find out is to practice an such asIP - checking Web site . Or you might want to register for a free dynamic orbit name table service throughDynamic internet Services ’ internet site — rather of recall an unsung IP address , you could then use a plain - English emcee name .

Finally , if your car uses a firewall , you ’ll require to verify that certain port wine are open . That ’s easy if you ’re attempt to get at your machine at home , where you control the firewall . But if you ’re trying to access a machine at work , where your society ’s IT department sets the formula , it may be unsufferable . In that position , you should mark with your IT section to see whether it offers any official method of distant access , such as a virtual individual connection .

Access Your Files

With those conditions meet , your next footmark reckon on what kind of approach you postulate and how concerned you are about security measure . OS X offers a turn of direction to make your distant Mac ’s data file approachable — including personal file sharing , Windows sharing , FTP entree , and distant login .

The starting item for all these result is the same : the Services tab key of the Sharing taste window glass . You ’ll see a bunch of options for open up up your organization to the outside creation there ; my preferred solution is Remote Login , because of its excellent surety . The other option ( Personal File Sharing , Windows Sharing , and FTP Access ) all go finely but divvy up one defect : they do n’t encrypt your datum transmission .

Enabling Remote Login is as simple-minded as clicking on the Remote Login check box . If you employ the OS X firewall , you should also cluck on the Firewall chit and select the Remote Login – SSH ( 22 ) option . If you employ a third - company firewall , use its software to check that that embrasure 22 is open .

When you enable Remote Login , you ’re actually enable three tool build into OS X : a secure shell program ( SSH ) for logging in remotely via Terminal , a secure copy program ( SCP ) for copying single file , and a secure FTP server ( SFTP ) that turns your remote Mac into a unattackable filing cabinet server . The first two have their uses ( peculiarly if you require to get at distant systems from the command crease ) , but most mass need only SFTP .

Secure FTP is just like regular FTP , except everything ’s encrypted . While you may use it from the command line — just type sftp username@1.2.3.4 ( where username is the short user name of someone on the distant Mac and 1.2.3.4 is that Mac ’s IP address ) , and then render your password when need — you do n’t have to . alternatively , you’re able to employ one of the GUI applications that hold up SFTP , includingInterarchy($39),Transmit($25),Cyberduck(free ) , andFugu(free ) . With one of these apps , Secure FTP is just as easy to expend as standard FTP but not near as risky ( see screenshot ) .

Control the GUI

But perhaps you actually postulate to use your dwelling computer — for example , to run away Quicken so you may see your current portfolio residual , or to transmit an e - mail from your home SMTP host . In this case , you need VNC ( Virtual web Computing ) software that lets you control your figurer remotely .

OS X 10.3 includes a free VNC client predict Apple Remote Desktop Client ( you could also download ithere ) . For this project to work , you must have variation 2.1 of the client . You get at Apple Remote Desktop through your System Preferences . If you want an covering that you’re able to be given and quit as you bid , ascertain out the freely availableOSXvnc .

Assuming that you ’re using Apple ’s client , you may enable it by going back to the Services tab of the Sharing predilection pane , selecting Apple Remote Desktop , and then sink in on Access Privileges . turn on the VNC Viewers May ascertain The Screen With Password pick and create a password . Make indisputable that at least one user in the list at the top left hand of the dialog box has the On boxful choose , too — otherwise , you wo n’t be able to connect . If you use the OS X firewall , fall into place on the Firewall tabloid and pick out the Apple Remote Desktop ( 5900 , 3283 ) selection . If you run your own firewall , open up those same interface .

To connect to the motorcar you ’ve just configured , you ’ll necessitate a VNC witness on your journey Mac . The primary one these days isChicken of the VNC(free ) . Launch Chicken of the VNC , enter your remote Mac ’s IP address and the word you created in the Host and Password boxwood , and snap on Connect . If everything works , you should now see your remote background displayed on your local Mac ( see “ Remote Control ” ) . Keep in brain that you ’ll need a fast connection to make the most of this feature , since you ’re move heavy amounts of data point back and off across the Net .

These free remote - control clients ca n’t do everything . If you need to do more , you could look into Apple ’s full Remote Desktop software andNetopia ’s Timbuktu Pro($180 ) ( see Best Current cost ) ; both give you even more control over your shut-in Mac . That mastery means ship and receive single file ( both Remote Desktop and Timbuktu ) , creating QuickTime movies of the remote Mac ’s screen ( Timbuktu ) , and instal software on networked machines ( Remote Desktop ) .

Staying in Touch

Whether you ask full remote control or just remote filing cabinet approach , with file - transference and remote - control apps , there ’s no reason to worry about result authoritative files behind . Plan ahead , and you could almost always find a way to get what you need , when you need it .

go on the route but do n’t want to fetch along a laptop ? you could still connect to your Mac at home from any commodious Mac , Linux , or Windows box — as long as you plan before . Again , it starts on the Services tab of the share-out preference dose . There , you select the Windows Sharing choice . You ’ll also need to check that that Windows Sharing is selected on the Firewall tab , or that you ’ve unfold larboard 139 on your personal firewall . Then you’re able to join from a remote Windows box using the server savoir-faire formatsmb://1.2.3.4(where1.2.3.4is your home Mac ’s IP address ) . Note that you’re able to link up only to your place booklet and that your data transmissions wo n’t be encrypted .