The best way to access Quickbooks remotely?

I am hesitant to open the flood gates, but I am using a web based access from Logmein.com for the past month. It is very similar to GoToMyPC except that it is free. Works like a charm, and you don't have to worry about the dynamic IP situation. There is also a paid version which allows you to do file transfer, and that product is less expensive then GoToMyPC as well.

Gary

There's no real "setup."

Dynamic IP: Doesn't matter.

Port forwarding: Doesn't matter.

You're cool. It is far, far easier than you might suspect. I'm serious. We're talking like two button pushes easy.

Thanks folks! Very helpful....

Fred

I would suggest UltraVNC as it includes file transfer w/o any cost. It's an open source freeware project. No spyware, no suprises. When controlling a remote computer in full screen I have to actually think "is the screen i'm looking at mine or the remote machines" HUNDREDS of screen refreshes per second so it's transparent....SOOO much better than the old days of PC Anywhere... There is even a version called Win2PC that lets you have 2 monitors on your desk and control both with one keyboard and one mouse (each monitor being connnected to its own computer...great for one monitor being dedicated to email)

UltraVNC hands down.

I'd like to understand your answers a bit more. If you say there is no problem if the IP address is dynamic, then what do you point to from the outside world? Or, are you assuming some sort of handshaking in the background by telephone, email, etc?

Once into the LAN router via that dynamic IP address: No port forwarding?? then how are incoming messages routed? i.e. to which computer on the LAN and how?

Thanks,

Fred

How does it deal with dynamic IP addressing and such like....

The really cool thing that I forgot to mention about UltraVNC which could be a killer app for the right resaurant/retail environment is that it can be used with clients of myriad designs..so control your Win XP (or 98, or Linux or Mac) from a wireless PDA held by a waitress at the table (there are several PDAs now that include 800 pixel wide screens..so you could display a half screen at a time.) Same could be said of using it to check inventory in a retail environment with Quickbooks. Alternately take a notebook..even an old junker..plus a wireless adapter into the USB...go crazy. UltraVNC is the only thing you need to run on your junker laptop..run a dozen apps on your remote XP machine and still have great performance.

There are several things wrong with UltraVNC:

1. It requires something else to be installed on the PCs.
2. It's not a Microsoft product and using it on a MS machine may void your warranty and/or cause hair to grow between your toes. (You may laugh, but I've seen it happen.)
3. It's an "open source" [Communist] project.
4. It has not been approved by the FDA (similar to breast implants).
5. The documentation makes no mention of three-prong plugs.

Get a free domain redirection service from dydns.com or no-ip.com.

I've been using no-ip.com (but not for remote QB access any more) for quite a while and two different routers that I use can automatically update a dynamic ip with the domain name at no-ip.com.

I have a dynamic IP address but when I need to use my computer remotely I don't have to deal with it. I simply type "xxxx.no-ip.com:5900" in the box. (actually it's preselected in most cases or a drop down option) xxxx is my unique identifier on the no-ip.com system. I set my router up ($10 router D-link DI-614..should have a router anyway for security) and it handles the DDNS (Dynamic Domain Name System) for me. I can access my windows computer from any computer thru a web interface using java or preferable by using UltraVNC client program (which by the way does NOT need to be installed ....can run it from USB flash drive or floppy disk) It's a set and forget program... never a problem.

OK - thanks!

Use gotomypc.com. It costs around $100 per year, does not require you to install anything on the client computer (I have used it from internet cafes in the US and Canada) is very secure, and does NOT require a static IP. I have been using this product almost since inception, and it works great. Alternatively, your client could use the online version of QuickBooks, which costs twenty dollars per month or $200/year, with no upfront cost for the software, never needs upgrading, etc. I have not tried the online product, but have used gotomypc heavily and recommend it without reservations.

To get into my home PC I set up a free dyndns.org account so that example.dyndns.org (for example ;-) always points to my home computer. I have a little utility running on my home computer that sends a new IP to dyndns.org whenever it changes. My firewall at home forwards queries to the affected ports to my desktop computer. Works great.

With a service like dyndns and software like TightVNC you should have no trouble setting up a reliable connection with between two computers.