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You're describing UltraVNC Single Click: http://www.uvnc.com/products/u...

I used UltraVNC with Single Click to work on my 86 year old Mom's computer (400 miles away from me) for years before I discovered LogMeIn and it worked like a charm. My problem now is that if I want to connect to my various systems remotely I will have to have servers running on each of the systems, which I see as a security risk. An IT guy at work tells me that Logmein operated through port 80 and didn't require exposing additional open ports.

Can someone weigh in on the issue of Security of UltraVNC vs. LogMeIn?

I'm very surprised nobody has mentioned Chunkvnc. It's just like UltraVNC Single-Click - requires no client installation, it's just a single .exe file you download (I provide mine on my support site's front page), double-click, and read a number to the tech connecting to you. The back-end repeater runs on Linux and Windows. Only thing is you have to use UltraVNC viewer to connect, which I use via Wine in Debian. Would be very nice to see ID# support for Linux-based VNC viewers so I could ditch having to use Wine. Also, some antivirus programs detect it as a malicious attempt for someone to gain access to your computer (VNC is an 31337 h4x0r util dontchaknow), but it's easy enough to add an exception in most cases. Also, since it's based on uVNC you can do file transfers, which is awesome.

Oh yeah, and it's F/OSS and free ($$). Donations are accepted on Chunk's website, however. (No, I am not affiliated with the project other than a happy user for about 8 years now, first with uVNC-sc and now Chunk).

join.me, chrome remote desktop, screenleap, showmypc ...

This doesn't count the simple-to-set-up-yourself ones, like PC Helpware.

Single click solution? UltraVNC SC. All preconfigured and ready to go - you can skin it with a logo, and the GUI even has a list box where you can click on various names (if you've got more than one person doing phone support) - the config could steer traffic to separate ports in your firewall and different support people. VNC can be clunky on slow connections, but because this is a cousin of TightVNC I believe you can get them to install a display capture driver to optimise things. I've seen another similar one-click solution, but I can't remember it.

You're describing UltraVNC Single Click: http://www.uvnc.com/products/u...

Yes, it's called UltraVNC

UltraVNC Single Click is a small (Win) executable customized to connect the user to your address. You run VNC Viewer in "listen" mode. It's very simple to use, doesn't require installing, can be downloaded by the user or sent via email (if they can receive .exe files), works through user NAT. I've been using it for years, directed to my dynamic IP via dyndns. You can customize what the user client looks like. Don't know if it works with Win8 though, and it doesn't work for users running OSX or Linux.

UltraVNC Single Click. I have a binary in my public dropbox for all buddies to download and run. Just a matter of starting the listener in my side.
OK, windows-only, but you can make a OSX shell script to do the same thing there; at least you have a full-featured shell.
And for security, UVNC have a DSM plugin, if you don't really care about full compatibility

And my mom has no idea how to configure the firewall on her router or enable port forwarding. And neither do I since I have never seen her router

Vnc is useless if mom can't get it to work

UltraVNC has a "single click server". You configure (via UVNC's website) a custom server that is a single 166K executable file that requires no installation and is hardwired to connect to your computer, and (when the time comes) you run your VNC viewer in "listen" mode and have them doubleclick the icon. Since they're the ones initiating the connection, firewall shouldn't be a problem. Works great, you can email the file to them, so long as you can explain how to save an email attachment to their desktop. There are some restrictions (Win only, you need either a fixed IP or something like dyndns to specify your address, and they need to be able to receive an executable attachment), but it works really well. Dunno what to do about the OSX, though.

And my mom has no idea how to configure the firewall on her router or enable port forwarding. And neither do I since I have never seen her router

Vnc is useless if mom can't get it to work

UltraVNC has a "single click server". You configure (via UVNC's website) a custom server that is a single 166K executable file that requires no installation and is hardwired to connect to your computer, and (when the time comes) you run your VNC viewer in "listen" mode and have them doubleclick the icon. Since they're the ones initiating the connection, firewall shouldn't be a problem. Works great, you can email the file to them, so long as you can explain how to save an email attachment to their desktop. There are some restrictions (Win only, you need either a fixed IP or something like dyndns to specify your address, and they need to be able to receive an executable attachment), but it works really well. Dunno what to do about the OSX, though.

One step beyond this: Use Ultra VNC's Single Click mode (free). Set up the config file to automatically connect to your listening VNC port. I've fixed email in Paris, my sister (and her machine) in Tucson, and a niece in Sydney, Australia. All they do is download a 200KB EXE file from my website. I even have Office 1 and Office 2, so if I'm in my wife's office they just click on that. The whole thing takes less than ab out 30 minutes to setup and no one else ever has to deal with anything complicated.

I've been using Ultra VNC Single Click http://www.uvnc.com/pchelpware/sc/index.html for years. It only works with Windows, but it is small, open source, and relatively secure.

1 Your support client calls you
2 You open VNC in listen mode
3 Your support client runs a custom version of UltraVNC SC that is set to connect only to you.

Easy. Fast. Cheap. And it works.

I can't imagine troubleshooting over such a tiny image. This is much, much better: http://www.uvnc.com/addons/singleclick.html

VNC can be firewall friendly but not via the browser, I don't particularly think that is that important though. I'd rather quickly download a 300Kb viewer executable that battle with an ActiveX install or Firefox extension. After all, with that single exe you can

have firewall friendly reverse connections
You can create a single click exe
Run a repeater to traverse firewall issues
You can package it up tailor made for your own services
Run it over an SSH tunnel
mirror driver, encryption, java viewer and a bunch of other features make it IMHO a worthwhile addition to any tech support environment

and of course as you say, there's a VNC server for almost every device and OS

(P.S. While I obviously love VNC, we still pay for a single logmeinrescue license at our office for situations where we need to reboot & reconnect (Win32), reboot and reconnect in safe mode (Win32) or work quickly and easily on Symbian, Blackberry and Windows mobile devices)

VNC can be firewall friendly but not via the browser, I don't particularly think that is that important though. I'd rather quickly download a 300Kb viewer executable that battle with an ActiveX install or Firefox extension. After all, with that single exe you can

have firewall friendly reverse connections
You can create a single click exe
Run a repeater to traverse firewall issues
You can package it up tailor made for your own services
Run it over an SSH tunnel
mirror driver, encryption, java viewer and a bunch of other features make it IMHO a worthwhile addition to any tech support environment

and of course as you say, there's a VNC server for almost every device and OS

(P.S. While I obviously love VNC, we still pay for a single logmeinrescue license at our office for situations where we need to reboot & reconnect (Win32), reboot and reconnect in safe mode (Win32) or work quickly and easily on Symbian, Blackberry and Windows mobile devices)

The review states that VNC isn't firewall friendly but, apparently, the reviewer isn't aware of the single click versions of VNC. These versions run without any changes to the host firewall since the connection is initiated by the host. The single click version of UltraVNC is available at:
http://www.uvnc.com/addons/singleclick.html

I highly recommend using UltraVNC-SC. You configure it for your needs as a support person. The person you support has to run a small single EXE file, and you then have control over their machine. Quick and efficient access to someone's desktop to see what they see has made a vast improvement in my ability to support people for the past 5 years or so.

For commercial use, I use PCHelpware. http://www.uvnc.com/pchelpware/index.html

It works great in that I have clients download my custom copy from my website. It has my IP hard coded in the config. Once it is running, which usually takes 2 clicks on Windows security windows, they just hit connect and I am in.

You can edit the graphics, too. Mine has my company name, phone number, etc.

The only negative, it is somewhat of a hog (due to encryption, I think), but it works and I do not have too much trouble getting even the inept connected. Vista needs to have the UAC disabled, unless you keep the user on the line. The security windows do not show up due to MS restrictions. I have not tried other programs under Vista, so I am not sure if it is a universal problem

Okay seems like everyone and their brother has a different idea and since this interests me I tried to roll up as many of the interesting looking ones as possible into one posting :-) Did I miss any?

http://www.teamviewer.com/

https://secure.logmein.com/products/free/

http://www.copilot.com/

http://skype.com/

http://www.uvnc.com/addons/singleclick.html (reverse VNC)

http://www.crossloop.com/

http://www.mikogo.com/en/

http://showmypc.com/

https://www.ntrconnect.com/

http://www.zolved.com/remote_control

http://www.wippien.com/ (VPN)

http://code.google.com/p/gitso/ (reverse VNC)

As mentioned before UltraVNC one click is the best solution to this problem it requires no firewall config on their end, just email them the 161KB EXE and tell them to run it, cant get easyer!

It would be nice in the future if they'd make remote assistance work in the reverse direction...

Ultravnc sc works in the reverse direction - http://www.uvnc.com/addons/singleclick.html

Link - http://www.uvnc.com/addons/singleclick.html

Simply configure it through the supplied flat-file & package it into a single binary via the tools provided. No need to install - they just click on the binary & it starts up a VNC server, making a reverse connection to the listening client on your end.
I've already got it setup with various family members & have it pointed to one of my servers, which I can then tunnel the connection through wherever I am.

If you're also using the uVNC client, you can use things like File Transfer.
AFAIK, it supports all versions of Windows - I've got it on XP & Vista systems.

Our company uses ultravnc sc for this purpose. It is a contacting vnc server so there is no need for the user to open or route ports. http://www.uvnc.com/addons/singleclick.html

UltraVNC SC is what you need.
Check it out here!

If you're doing this over your residential connection or if you might be in different locations, set yourself up with a dynamic DNS service (such as www.dyndns.org) and create yourself a hostname on there. Build your VNC-SC download to point to that address.

I have mine set up on my family website where they can download it easily so I don't have to drive over to their house every time they can't print.

Another vote for UltraVNC SC. Works great, configure the executable to connect to you, and leave it on their desktop. They need help, you run your end, they double click and boom - you're on their machine. http://www.uvnc.com/addons/singleclick.html

Is anyone else struggling to find the actual article? My CPU and fans went crazy on the actual article.

If you ask me, open source projects need to do these to appeal to the outside world:

• Treat the project like an actual marketable product, look at UltraVNC homepage It's delicious, you'd almost expect that you would have to purchase it. The author is obviously passionate about all these features. The download page even has videos for parts of the product!
• Naturally, put lots of beautiful screenshots and videos
• Advertize open developer chats to get user feedback. Maybe a moderated IRC channel which could then be turned into an interview on the website.
• Create narrated videos with Wink. Take a look at some o
• Using Mozilla's Press Center as a guide, I found the following:
• • A dedicated press email address. You could set up an email address that autosubmits to your bug or issue tracker I reckon.
  • Links to all closely related communities, like Mozillazine, Foxiewire and For the Record. Anything that expresses 'community support' to a journalist will be juicy!
  • There's a list of rewards and awards down the right side. This kind of thing is quoted by magazines, stuff like 'worlds most secure browser', of course you need reviews first.
• User testimonials. Look at OpenVPN.
• Have a section called 'Community' and link to the IRC channel, mailing list and web forums.
• KDE has a section called 'KDE for your business'. It is explicitly trying to sell KDE to users by suggesting success stories of real people
• Impress businessy types makes me go cool.

If you want support from everyday people, you have to sell them the idea.

CORRECTION: Should have been UltraVNC.

I would strongly suggest installing UltraVNC (http://www.uvnc.com/). My wife and I just recently built a computer for her grandfather (81 and just got his first PC), WITH WindowsXP, because others in his assisted living complex can help, as well as my wife's parents. I've got his router configured to let me connect via https. Naturally, I've created a very secure password. But now, if he has a problem or doesn't know where to click he can call anyone and we can easily connect to help him... and not only to "fix" the problem, but also to SHOW him what he needs to do, or show him HOW to do something. It's a BIG HELP. But be prepared to receive calls... they WILL come :-). btw: Is it neccesary to drop in an ubuntu plug in EVERY windows topic? Perhaps it would simply be nice to use Windows because everyone else he/she knows would be able to help?

Whatever you do - Windows or Linux - set up RDP and/or Reverse VNC:
http://www.vncscan.com/vs/oneclickVNC.htm
http://www.uvnc.com/addons/singleclick.html

You will need a Hell Desk service and it will save you lots of petrol.

Please, tell me how I can write a batch file that will open port 5900 on a typical consumer router.

Why would you want to? If you need access to a customer's computer on a regular basis, use WebEx, GoToMyPC or something similar.

If you're too cheap to pay for it, then use VNC and create custom UltraVNC SC configurations and email them to the customer as needed.

Hell, I've even used Windows XP's Remote Assistance, and it worked fine for what I needed it for, though it was a little cumbersome.

Sounds to me like you're making things far more difficult than they need to be.

In a corporate support environment, worldwide, I prefer WebEx, and leave the cost to the accountants :)

Oh, and before someone jumps in to criticize, the previous is for ad hoc connections to arbitrary PCs that need to be supported, not servers. Remote server support is a different issue: At the very least you should be using a VPN connection... Anyway, at that point, opening ports on routers isn't an issue anymore.

Seems like overkill if he is just wanting to transfer his pictures and not get hassled. I am assuming you have a Windows box at home,yes? One that has a nice 24/7 Internet connection like cable/DSL? If that is the case then the answer is very simple:

1. Install the free UltraVNC on the machine at home,set your username and password,and if you want,install and use the optional encryption plugin that encrypts the entire stream.Install it on the laptop and test it,and if you don't want el border guards messing with it simply leave the installer in a folder somewhere on your laptop and uninstall after testing.2. When you get to where you are going,run the UltraVNC installer,give it the name/password of the machine you are connecting to and there you go! You now have a secure connection to your main machine at home. Simply transfer you pics and other data to the home machine before you leave and then uninstall UltraVNC and delete the pics. When you get home your pics will be sitting on your home box waiting on you to edit/print/whatever. Enjoy and have fun in Mexico!

We use UltraVNC over a VPN built into a hardware firewall. UltraVNC has "repeater" software that works around firewalls: "Repeater: With the help of the repeater you can use UltraVNC viewer behind a NAT router. NAT-to-NAT: The NAT to NAT connector allows for connections between UltraVNC viewer and server behind NAT routers without any router modification."

OpenVPN works around firewalls: "With OpenVPN, you can: * tunnel any IP subnetwork or virtual ethernet adapter over a single UDP or TCP port". I haven't used OpenVPN because the documentation was cryptic, but it looks like very good software. There is an OpenVPN How-To, but it seemed poorly written to me. OpenVPN 2.1_rc4, released on 2007-04-25 looks a little easier, but I didn't test it. The basic idea of OpenVPN software seems to be that, if you are a very advanced networking professional, you will be able to read the explanation.

UltraVnc SC, as someone said below: "UltraVNC SC is a mini (166k) UltraVNC Server that can be customized and preconfigured for download by a Customer. UltraVNC SC does not require installation and does not make use of the registry. The customer only has to download the little executable and Click to make a connection. The connection is initiated by the server, to allow easy access thru customers firewall."

It's crazy to use closed-source remote software, in my opinion. They say, in effect, "You can trust us, none of our employees built in a back door. Really. You can trust us also that our company hasn't been sold recently, or changed policies without notifying customers."

Joel on Software's Fog Creek remote software is a joke, in my opinion. Joel says, in effect, "Let us perform a billectomy on your wallet. Then you can use our software that built on open source software and was extended by some interns over one summer."

I think the same about encryption software. There is only one good option. The open source, excellent, cross-platform TrueCrypt.

I use ultravncsc http://www.uvnc.com/pchelpware/sc/index.html a contacting VNC server for remote support for my clients.

Create a distributable exe via http://www.uvnc.com/addons/singleclick.html You can set it for connection ports, etc .. all you need after that is any vnc that is running in listener mode. client runs the exe that was created, connects to the listener machine and displays the remote desk. Client closes exe at teh end of the session and session is teminated and can't be reinitiated from the listener end. Goes through firewalls, routers, etc .. Total cost = 0 .. No additional login info needed .. I used to have my clients config vnc server and make connections that way, this is much easier and more secure for them.

Or a video driver that includes OpenVNC support.

UltraVNC already has such a driver.

UltraVNC is wonderful. Even shares the clipboard and does file transfers. It would be fine if only one person needs to connect with a Windows computer at a time.

I know you can pick which port you want to use with the viewer. But no, I haven't used it in a scenario where I didn't control the firewall I was behind. UltraVNC does offer a repeater that is supposed to solve this problem, though YMMV.

Use UltraVNC-SC. It creates a stand-alone VNC server executable that is configured to connect back to YOUR static IP address (a reverse VNC connection basically). I have mine hosted at help.mydomain.com.au. I just tell anyone who I need to assist this name which they type in and run and voila, i'm controlling their desktop. No firewalls to configure (except yours) and no hassles on their end. Best of all it's free.

http://sc.uvnc.com/index.php?section=12

We're using ultraVNC here,has a few nice addons, apeares to be windows onle binaries, they also have a load of links to other VNCs

Check out single-click UltraVNC.

http://sc.uvnc.com/index.php?section=12

I've found that UltraVNC is the best VNC. Version 1.0.0 was released on 24 Jun 2005, but it is a quite advanced package. Be sure to install UltraVNC with the video driver, which is not included on Sourceforge.

AutoIt is by far the best open source software for automating Windows installs and other tasks in which the program pretends to be a user. There's an IDE with an Intellisense-like interface and a compiler.

I've heard that OpenVPN is the best software-based VPN, but I have not used it. There are hardware firewalls with VPNs; I suggest you stay away from Netgear's, which I have found to be quirky.

--
Bush lied, 100,000 died. J.C. said not to return violence with more violence.