VPN with SMC Barricade

[NateDoggITH]

I would like to be able to log on to my network at home from other locations via Internet. This sounds all fine and dandy and I understand the concept (I think...) but I don't have a clue how to do this.

When set up, I would like to have all the services I have at home (file sharing, network drives, shared printers) and I would also like the ability to conduct MP games as though I were on the local network (I think VPN would allow for this...)

If anyone could take the time to help me out it would be greatly appreciated, Thank You.

Nate

[Greenstead]

If you want to use a VPN you need a router with VPN passthro:
e.g. SMC7004VBR
Not all routers have this ability.

Theres a simple description of VPN here:
http://www.homenethelp.com/vpn/

Then you need the VPN software. A VPN server on the host (home PC) and a VPN client on the remote. This software costs money, but I have heard of a free one - can't remember where off-hand.

A true VPN is encrypted communication and secure, more suited to business use, with a bandwidth overhead for the encryption so I don't know how it would perform with dial-up.

I have not used a VPN to-date. If you are satisfied without encryption you can use this (which I use):
http://www.realvnc.com/what.html
It has both a windows client and java script client for use with IE.
It is a remote desktop tool, easy to install and works well.
You access a local ISP by dial-up and enter your home IP.
It is free.