Computer Question Regarding Home Network

[Johnny Fila]

Ok, first I'll explain my setup:

Computer A is on the first floor. It is my primary computer.

Computer B is in the basement. I like to use it for entertainment purposes (music library, TV, etc).

Computer B is wired into my basement stereo, so that what ever I play on it sounds good. The basement stereo is then linked/wired into the stereo on the first floor, so that I can listen to music thru out the house.

The computers are wired together thru my router. I can access documents.

Recently I've really started getting into putting my CD collection on computer B. So far no problems.

What I would like to do is to CONTROL computer B (the basement computer) from computer A (my main computer on the first floor) so that I can play tunes on computer B which is linked into the house stereo.

How do I do that?

When I try it now all I can do is play the songs/albums by sharing them with computer A; which means that they play thru the computer. That's not what I want to really do. It's cool, but doesn't do the trick. I need to be able to actually control Computer B as if I'm sitting in front of it. I imagine it's got something to do with the firewall or something (I don't really know, I'm guessing).

Can anyone help?

Thanks.

 

[Josh Ryan]

remote desktop


or


VNC

 

[Johnny Fila]

remote desktop


or


VNC

??? sorry, but huh?

edit: so a little google search reveals that; it's that simple? in theory I don't even need the 2 networked together? as long as there's an internet connection? is that it?

 

[Sonic_Death]

You can remote desktop from MSN if you have it.

Windows also comes with a Remote Desktop thing.

I am sure someone else here can give you full detail on how to do it, or you can look it up.

 

[Geoff St. Germaine]

What operating system? If you have Win XP Pro then you can use remote desktop.

I'd do it with VNC if remote desktop isn't an option.

Invalid Link Removed

 

[Johnny Fila]

What operating system? If you have Win XP Pro then you can use remote desktop.

I'd do it with VNC if remote desktop isn't an option.

Invalid Link Removed

no, just regular xp.....

 

[lemur821]

There are several mind numbingly simple ways that you could do this.

Under Linux you would have the most options. You could use SSH, a remote terminal program, to run a console media player on your lower computer while displaying the interface on the upper. Even better would be to make use of one of X11's (Linux's de facto graphics system) under appreciated features to display your favorite media player on the upper computer while it ran on the lower. X11 is meant to run across a network in this fashion, so it's no trouble at all. Another option would be to use a Linux media player called MPD which is designed to be controlled remotely.

Using a certain popular feature-free operating system you have fewer choices, but I do have one very good solution for you. VLC media player has a web interface. Keep it running on your lower computer in the background. From the upper one (or any computer on your network) you will be able to type its URL, at which point you will see a web page from which you can control the media player.

 

[Josh Ryan]

no, just regular xp.....

real VNC would be perfect for what you want.

check out that link Geoff posted.

 

[Johnny Fila]

real VNC would be perfect for what you want.

check out that link Geoff posted.

i just downloaded it to the computer on the first floor.
do I need to do it for the basement computer also?

 

[bburk]

i just downloaded it to the computer on the first floor.
do I need to do it for the basement computer also?

You need to run the VNC server on the computer you want to control. Then run the client on the computer you want to control from.