all the guides i've run into so far are for running a vnc
server on a linux box and accessing it from a windows box.
i want to do the opposite.

i have a windows box at work that needs to run windows for
some software we use. when i start a piece of work on that
xp machine, though, it often runs for days before it finishes.
i'd like to be able to check in on it from home periodically
to make sure things are continuing to work properly. i run
mandriva 2007 at home.

can anyone point me to a guide as to how to set it up so i
can do this - xp as the server, mdv as the client? i'd also
like to tunnel using ssh in this scenario.

thanks,
BabaG

rdesktop

I use this internally on my network to monitor apps that stay running on my windows server
basically
enable remote desktop on your windows box
install rdesktop on you linux box
point to windows box
done

this is assuming of course that you have everything on your office network configured to allow remote access from outside the network

--EDIT--
you won't be able to tunnel thru ssh this way
so you may also want to check out TightVNC they have a windows VNC server (I've never tested this option only used the viewer)