Checking if my work PC is connected from home.

December 20, 2007 8:34 PM

I have a work PC and a home PC, both running XP. It's fairly important that my work PC stays connected, as the router has a habit of sometimes locking up. Since I'm away from the office for the next two weeks, I need to keep an eye on the computer to make sure it stays connected, or at least lets me know if it isn't so I can go in and power cycle the router. I am thinking maybe automatic emailing on the hour?

I don't think I can just ping it because my IP changes if it reboots. I was thinking more like something that would, say, send an email every hour, so if I don't get the email I know something is wrong.

I don't need to connect to the desktop or anything like that, ideally I would just have a green light in the taskbar that lets me know that my work computer is up and running.

So in short, software that would email automatically every hour or so, or something that would send a ping from my work PC to my home one via whatever software. Searching has lead me to a lot of spam and VNC type software.

posted by tomble to Computers & Internet (13 answers total)

I'd've thought the simplest option would be to set up a webserver on the work PC and just check that whenever appropriate.
posted by pompomtom at 8:48 PM on December 20, 2007

Response by poster: I should have said `assume lack of technical ability beyond installing software reliably'. My knowledge of server setups etc. is very lacking and sadly I don't have the time to learn right now.
posted by tomble at 8:54 PM on December 20, 2007

It's VNC-type software, but if all else fails, I've found LogMeIn the easiest remote desktop software for users to set up and use.
posted by jmd82 at 9:34 PM on December 20, 2007

You can use a service like no-ip.com, basically it runs a program on your computer that keeps no-ip.com updated with your ip address, so wherever you are on the internet you can ping something like http://MyComputerOrWhatever.no-ip.com, and it will be forwarded to your computer.
posted by blue_beetle at 9:42 PM on December 20, 2007

I believe you can set up Follow Me IP to send you a periodic email. I used to use it to make sure my Mom's PC (3K miles away) was still connected to the internet and get her latest IP address.
posted by susandennis at 10:01 PM on December 20, 2007

Best answer: Can you put the router on a timer switch so that it automatically cycles once a day? I know hardware stores sell timers, although I'm not sure if there are models which you can set to turn the power off and then back on within a minute or so.

Anyway, something like that would be a low tech solution.
posted by wfrgms at 10:46 PM on December 20, 2007

Response by poster: wfrgms - that's a great idea! It locks up at least once every few days, and I have a few timers here already. They may not turn off in a minute or so but if it's off for 15 minutes at midnight, it won't really matter. Thanks!

If I had been really keen I could have considered a solution like the one posted to the blue the other day, but this is pretty much perfect for what I have to do.
posted by tomble at 11:02 PM on December 20, 2007

Response by poster: Just for reference, as well as the timer to reboot the router, I have set up my copy of Thunderbird to check email every 2 minutes, and upon receiving and email with the subject of "PING!", replies to the email with another titled "PONG!". This way I can send off a ping and get a response from anywhere, without having to remember IP addresses.

In theory I can set this up with some other software and receive a screenshot of my PC any time I want by email! Nifty!
posted by tomble at 5:37 AM on December 21, 2007

You can write a script for this or simply update the firmware on your router. I've found this solves 95% of connectivity problems with routers and keeps you from having to power cycle.
posted by pallak7 at 6:02 AM on December 21, 2007

Update the firmware on your router. I've found this solves 95% of connectivity problems with routers and keeps you from having to power cycle.
posted by pallak7 at 6:06 AM on December 21, 2007

Woops. Double post. Can't figure out how to delete one.
posted by pallak7 at 6:09 AM on December 21, 2007

Response by poster: Thanks, Pallak7, I'll look into that... Twice :)
posted by tomble at 1:56 PM on December 21, 2007

You might also consider installing a simple music streaming software (share your own music for personal use on another computer, that is) so that all you would have to do is log into the specified website and see if you can hear music. You wouldn't even need more than one song file... Check out: Lifehacker.com
posted by pontouf at 9:38 AM on December 22, 2007