How does the internet work?

peets · 2007-11-07 05:26:04

I don't know how networks work.

I remember using SSH some time ago to copy files from one computer on an intranet to mine.

Now suppose I am away from home and I want access to my computer at home. How do I do this (with e.g. ssh (or maybe I really haven't understood what that does))?

pauldonnelly · 2007-11-07 05:43:53

Yes, SSH does what you thought, but in order to accomplish what you want you need to set up your home router/hardware firewall to forward everything on port 22 (the usual SSH port) to the computer you want to access. Beware, this means that anyone who knows your IP address has a potential vector of attack! To be on the safe side you should set SSH up to disallow password login, and only allow key based login. You can find lots of tutorials for that, I'm sure. Then you just run "ssh my.home.ip.address" from your remote internet-connected computer, and there you are.

If you aren't currently using SSH, you'll probably need to add "sshd: ALL" to /etc/hosts.allow

nogoma · 2007-11-07 12:56:34

In particular, I think this guide will get you up and running on the sshd stuff: http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/SSH
Port forwarding is a pretty generic topic, and as already stated a quick google search will probably yield the information you need. If you're going to be regularly accessing your home box from other locations, you might want to look at something like http://www.dyndns.com/ (unless you have a static IP, which is typically unusual for home connections).

Last edited by nogoma (2007-11-07 12:57:06)

peets · 2007-11-07 15:11:45

Thank you! This has been mysterious to me for too long.

Arch Linux

#1 2007-11-07 05:26:04

How does the internet work?

#2 2007-11-07 05:43:53

Re: How does the internet work?

#3 2007-11-07 12:56:34

Re: How does the internet work?

#4 2007-11-07 15:11:45

Re: How does the internet work?

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