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Easy Remote Access?

Posted by Cliff on from the for-those-of-us-that-tech-support dept.

TinyApps asks: "How do Slashdot readers make remote connections through firewalls and NAT routers when assisting friends/family/customers? Reverse VNC connection are relatively easy to setup, but there is also the free LogMeIn and WebEx's new free service that startstarted, this week. Do you all have any other ideas?"

13 of 99 comments (clear)

  1. Remote assistance by Dr.Opveter · · Score: 3, Informative

    On XP Remote assistance works well, you instruct them to go Start -> Help & Support -> Ask for assistance.
    On other windows platforms i've been able to help people out with Netmeeting as well.
    Otherwise VNC works fine..

    --
    Sample this!
    1. Re:Remote assistance by Cyberop5 · · Score: 4, Informative

      If you have Windows XP Professional, Microsoft Terminal Services is awesome, even over some slower connections. You can map the drives and printers to the computer you're on you can access any of your local files remotely or print remote files to a closer printer.

      You can activate it by enabling remote desktop from the System Properties dialog and adding whichever users you want to be able to use it. It uses port 3389 so you'll need to open it with whatever firewall you're using. Any windows XP machine has the client by default. Simply go to start, run, and type mstsc. Linux has a client called rdesktop, although its not as great as Microsoft's last I checked. Other Windows versions can run the client off the XP install CD or downloadable from microsoft. I keep a copy on my thumb drive.

      Also, netmeeting is still avaible on windows XP by running the program conf.exe. It'll start the netmeeting wizard then launch the program subsequently.

      --
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    2. Re:Remote assistance by Dr.Opveter · · Score: 2, Informative

      You're quite right about the Terminal Services. I use them to admin some of my own Windows XP machines all the time. It does indeed feel speedy even on dial-up connections usually.

      So if your friend/family/customer runs Windows XP Professional and you foresee future remote access to the machine will be needed, set up the Terminal Services for them. You don't even have to run it over port 3389 if that's a problem, you can configure it to run on any free port (except i think port 21 didn't work well for some reason, port 22, or a really high port number if you're worried about portscanners, works fine.
      Many people in the friends/family cateogry have XP Home though, so then Remote Assistance or Netmeeting works like a charm.

      --
      Sample this!
    3. Re:Remote assistance by DA-MAN · · Score: 2, Informative

      Go here:
      http://sig9.com/articles/concurrent-remote- desktop

      Get this file:
      http://sig9.com/files/termserv.zip

      Multiple Users for free on XP Pro!!!

      --
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      Dog House Forum
  2. Run VNC over a VPN. (Acronyms!) by Futurepower(R) · · Score: 3, Informative


    Set up a VPN, which you need anyway to automate the transfer of files and do automated registry maintenance on Windows computers.

    Then run VNC, such as TightVNC or UltraVNC over the VPN. If the VPN is secure, and remote network is not suspect, then VNC over the VPN is secure.

    Beware, however, of Netgear's VPN routers. In my experience they are quirky and the technical support is very, very poor.

    I have questions myself. What is the best way to form a VPN? What is the best VNC?

  3. How to do it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    1) Compile up a custom UltraVNC server that reads the initial settings (which should be pretty much disabling all listening and ability to accept connections, etc) out of an ini so that it does not prompt the user for a bunch of confusing settings and instead immediately throws up the 'add new client' dialog box (with the form prefilled of course). Also, your custom compile should use the RC4 crypto plugin with some pregenerated keys. It's a little insecure but better than nothing. Bonus points to regenerate the keys on a per-week/day/user basis.

    2) Package the whole thing up into one exe with pebundle and upx it for size.

    3) Send to your users!

  4. MS Remote Desktop does not allow logging out? by Futurepower(R) · · Score: 2, Informative


    Another point: I understand that Microsoft's Remote Desktop does not allow you to log in as another user. Logging out breaks the RD connection. So, you can't log in as administrator, but must ask someone at the remote computer to do that, meaning they must sit there in boredom while you work.

    VNC does not have that limitation.

  5. Re:Trust by addaon · · Score: 1, Informative

    Works well, not good. And indeed it does.

    --

    I've had this sig for three days.
  6. SSH is your friend by agm · · Score: 2, Informative

    All of my remote access needs are satisfied using ssh. I use NXClient for GUI stuff (when a GUI is needed) and plain old ssh when a GUI is not needed (like when doing a remote "emerge world").

    NXClient will do remote X (with or without a remote desktop), RDP, VNC all wit hvery good performance (as long as the latency of the link is low enough).

  7. GoToMyPC by freitasm · · Score: 2, Informative

    Everyone talking about Remote Desktop, Terminal Services, VNC - but these solutions require a port open on the server and firewall.

    LogMeIn and GoToMyPC only need an outgoing connection.

    I use GoToMyPC, and with a keyphrase plus a one time password automatically generated.

  8. Re:Trust by X0563511 · · Score: 2, Informative

    Theres a big problem with VNC on windows.

    The password is encrypted in the registry, but the problem is the key is always constant - you can simply do a google search and find the source.

    Browse to the key, type it into the program, and it spits the VNC password out.

    I don't think versions for other OSes have this issue, but i have tested it both with tightVNC and the latest VNC that you pay for.

    All i need is read access to the registry and i got you. When your sitting down at the machine in question (and you know all the others would use the same password) its not hard to nab it.

    So, if you use VNC at work on windows machines, look into this problem ASAP.

    --
    For large sets, this will be our guide even unto death, for the LORD will work for each type of data it is applied to...
  9. UltraVNC - SC by nafrance · · Score: 2, Informative

    I had been searching for this for a long time myself, and found...
    http://gotovnc.dynalias.com/

    Totally recommended. Rudi there has made a package of UltraVNC that is a single exe, no-install system.

    Basically, you download a zip file with some configs and bitmaps in, and customise them.
    I got a free dyndns alias to use for this purpose.
    Then you upload the files, and you get back a 160KB .exe that you can send you your client/brother/friend etc.

    They run it, and it establishes a reverse-vnc connection to the server you specify. You have to be running vncviewer in listen mode, natch.

    It works a treat, and even has optional encryption and file transfer. A brilliant tool.

    I christened mine 'lifejacket' ;)

  10. Re:Since we're being picky... by bryanp · · Score: 2, Informative

    Is 'well' better than 'good'?

    'Well' is grammatically correct in that sentence. Good is not.

    --
    "An unarmed man can only flee from evil, and evil is not overcome by fleeing from it." Col. Jeff Cooper