Specifically, on Windows XP Pro w/ SP3 Is there a way, besides using remote desktop, to start/stop services on a remote computer?
You can use a program like PsExec. Download the PsTools package from here: PsExec and extract it (for example to C:\PsTools) Then open a command prompt and browse to that folder (where PsExec.exe is stored). Then enter this command: Code: psexec \\RemoteComputer cmd.exe where RemoteComputer is the name of the remote machine. If it's located at an off-site location, you might need to establish a VPN connection first. Once you're logged on, you can use the net start "service name" and net stop "service name" to start and stop services You can even use this method to launch other applications on the remote computer, and even execute the Runas.exe command to execute any application or command prompt as a different user (for example when you're not logged on as an Admin on the remote system) if it works, you can even create a custom desktop shortcut for it.
Interesting! What about the remote computer + VPN thing? I would need a VPN connection only if the remote computer is unreachable via the internet, right? I mean a computer that is hooked up right to the internet itself and isn't sitting behind a router or a firewall should be reachable by simply \\IP
That's true, but if it's behind a router, you could either log on the network using a VPN connection or forward a port to the specified computer.
