VPNs?

[fp_unit]

How would I go about setting up a VPN at my house? I want to be able to access my home network from school when I need to (quite often), and when I'm at friends houses, etc...

I have a linksys router, windows XP machine and a linux server, + my roommates computers.

[technobard]

The simplest and perhaps safest solution is to replace your router with one that supports VPN connections, and then use a compatible VPN client on your remote PC. There are linux solutions that are free, but I haven't personally tried any of them. They might require putting your linux machine in a DMZ, depending on your router, etc.

I use the Netgear ProSafe VPN Firewall FVS318. It was around $100 US a few months or so ago. Since you're a college student and money might be an issue , you could always do a google on linux VPN. I'm sure you'll find details on a free solution.