Thanks Alan.

I'm not at home at the moment so can't get at the router, but I suspect my Wednesday afternoon is now committed

Has anyone used fugu/openssh? http://rsug.itd.umich.edu/software/fugu/

No, but it looks very promising.

Back to My Mac is trivial to set up, and works really well. As does Back To My Time Capsule. It really is as simple as having the same .mac/mobileme account set in the iMac/Timecapsule and the remote MacBook. When you're away, the devices just show up in Finder as if you were on the same LAN.

Not quite "free", though, unless you already have a MobileMe account for other reasons.

Another useful tool is iGet. OK so you have to pay for it, but it uses SSH with either a pre-set key or certificates. It's quick and gives a finder like view of the files on you machine with rapid transfers either way.

I've used it in the past, but it is a good idea to change the default SSH port from 22 to something more obscure. If nothing else it keeps out the script kids

I now use a VPN with the free iP Securitas. If your modem supports a VPN concentrator this is pretty easy to setup. Transfers are not as quick, but it is probably more secure, even using a PSK provided you use one of greater than (say) 12 characters.

One thing to remember is that if you wish to remote login to home from a work network, most outgoing ports are generally blocked. If they aren't, they should be

In reply to a post by john2007:

Has anyone used fugu/openssh? http://rsug.itd.umich.edu/software/fugu/

Been using it for years as a simple SFTP client. Works fine on PPC and Intel for me accessing a range of SSH servers.

In reply to a post by AlanH:

If AFP is enabled in Sharing, then you should be all set for plain Finder-to-Finder access using a remote Mac.

Right, that works a treat, thanks .

Next question

My iTunes library on the iMac is set as shared, how can I persuade the remote MacBook to access it over 'tinternet?

(Music only, my "home" upload speed wouldn't cope with video )

Port number 3689 is used for iTunes sharing according to a quick Google search, but I don't know whether forwarding that port through your router is sufficient.

Thanks Alan, I'll give that a try next time I'm at home and can get at the router.

Trouble is, I only find out what I can't do remotely when I'm not at home and can't immediately check suggestions out. I suppose the next thing is to investigate remote login to the router... that's easy on a fixed remote IP but I'm on a dynamic one here