How can I remotely access my computer from a different location on Apple Remote Desktop?

Question

I downloaded Apple Remote Desktop and am trying to access our computer at our church that is in the auditorium and work on slides for ProPresenter from my office which is on a different network. The Mac Pro, which is in the auditorium, is connected to a Netgear wireless router. I would also want to be able to have access to observe and control the screen on the Mac Pro whether I am in my office or at my house. I have tried everything from going to portforward.com, followed those instructions, did port forwarding, used ipchicken.com to get my external IP and made sure that the Mac Pro had a static internal IP address and made sure the computer had access for remote management. Any help to resolve this issue would be greatly appreciated! Works fine when it is on the same wireless network, but I need access being on a different wireless network. Thanks!

Answer 1

Hi austinmac14,
So the steps listed bellow assume some things. They assume that the Airport Extreme Router your configuring is connected directly to the internet connection. And that the Airport Extreme is the only router between your computers and the internet.
That means we're talking about say a DSL modem plugged directly into the Airport Extreme, or a cable modem. in ether case, this assumes that said modem, is not acting as an internet router.
If your modem has multiple ethernet ports on it, or has a little antenna sticking out of it, then your modem is probable also a router, and these steps listed bellow will probable not work.
Also these steps are so one person, can connect to one computer at your work.
Open Airport Utility:
go to the dock
Click on the finder
go to the menu bar
Click on the "Go" menu
Chose "Utilities" from the "Go" Menu
double Click on "AirPort Utility"
Access the Base Station:
Double Click on your Airport Extreme BaseStation that is your internet connection router.
a new window should pop up with your Airport Base Station as the Window Name
Configure Static Address for the computer you want to connect to via ARD:
Click on the internet Icon from the toolbar
Click on the "DHCP" tab
For "DHCP Reservations:"  Click on the "+" button
For the "Description" put "ARD"
For "Reserve Address by:"  set "DHCP Client ID"
Click the "Continue" button
For "DHCP Client ID:" set "ARD"
write down the number in "IPv4" address field
Click the "Done" Button
Configure routing to ARD computer:
Click on the "Advanced" icon from the tool bar.
Click on the "Port Mapping" tab
Click on the "+" button
for "Service:" Chose "Apple Remote Desktop"
for "Private IP Address:" copy the exact IP address you wrote down in step "3. 8)"
Click the "Continue" button
Click the "Done" button
Click the "+" button
For the pulldown menu "Service:" Chose "Remote Apple Events"
for "Private IP Address:" copy the exact IP address you wrote down in step "3. 8."
Click the "Continue" button
Click the "Done" button
Click the "+" button
For the pulldown menu "Service:" Chose "Remote Login - SSH"
for "Private IP Address:" copy the exact IP address you wrote down in step "3. 8."
Click the "Continue" button
Click the "Done" button
Click the "Update" button.
wait for the Airport Extreme to update, and for your computer to reconnect to the airport extreme. (make sure you can load and browse websites.)
Configure the ARD computer to use the correct IP address:
Go to the computer you want to be able to remotely connect to
On that computer, Go to the menu bar
Chose the "Apple" menu bar
Chose "System Preferences…"
Click on the "Show All" button
Click on the "Network" icon
For the active network connection, (the connection on the left side with the green dot), click on it
Clock on the "Advanced…" button
Click on the "TCP/IP" tab
for the "DHCP Cient ID: field put "ARD".
Click the "OK" button
Click the "Apply" buttonNOTE: Under "Status" you should see "(connection name) is connected to (airport base station name) and has the IP address (IP address)." the "(IP address)" address displayed should match the IP address you wrote down in step "3. 8."
Find out what your public internet IP address is.
On the computer you wish to connect to over the internet, gotohttp://whatismyipaddress.com/
when the web page loads, you should see "IP Information:" fallow by a number like 192.168.0.1, write down what ever number it is.
At this point you should be able to connect to the computer remotely
connect to the internet from another location.
open Apple Remote Desktop
go to the file menu
chose connect to computer using ip address
set the address to the address to the IP address you wrote down for step 6. 2.
use the same password as you used to connect to the computer at work using ARD.
So here the catch. If your router gets reset... well then your going to have to configure it again. Also all the same rules you have to connect to the computer at work, also apply to connecting to the computer from over the local network. That means your computer need to be on or sleeping. And if it's sleeping it need to be configure to wake for network access.
Also some network connections change.  When it comes to internet connections, some connections are static IP, while other connections are DHCP. If your connection is static... great! if it's DHCP, your address may change. If it dose.. well then your ability to connect will break. And then you'd have to do step 6 & 7 again.
Of corse there are ways around this. But that's kind of another conversation.
Some internet locations may block your ability to connect to your computer at work. This is very common at schools, and companies. Basically any place that tries to control your ability to browse the internet, may block remote access to computers; because a remote computer would completely by pass their web filter.
ALSO there is an easier option. As far as setup. There are programs designed to make remotely accessing your mac as easy as possible. For instance there is LogMeIn or Slack. With both of these programs, it's simple. make sure your computer is always on. Then install the software. Create an account with the service. And then you can connect to the computer almost any where by going to their website.
This option requires no router configuration. It handles DHCP. It's designed to work in as many locations as possible.