Easy Remote Access?

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?"

Comments

Remote assistance

[Dr.Opveter]

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..

Re:Remote assistance

[Cyberop5]

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.

Trust

[tonsofpcs]

I use VNC. I do not trust those companies that offer the service of allowing you to log into your own pc remotely, using a password that is stored in their database. But hey, I'm paranoid in that I don't like big corporations having a way to get into my pc.

Run VNC over a VPN. (Acronyms!)

[Futurepower(R)]

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?

Free remote admin tools

[stinkydog]

I have my family connect their Windows machines directly to the Internet and to not bother with those pesky security updates. Within an hour, the internet installs all the remote access tools I need. Ftp servers, irc bots and keystroke loggers are just some of the handy tools that come through this way. I have to go, I just got an email about Snow White and I can't wait to check out the attachment.

SD