Ask Slashdot: Options For FOSS Remote Support Software?

Albanach writes "I'm sure I'm not alone in being asked to help friends and family with computer issues. These folk typically run Windows (everything from XP onward) or OS X (typically 10.4 onward). Naturally, desktop sharing is often much easier than trying to talk the other end through various steps. I've found free sites like join.me but they don't work with OS X 10.4, neither does the Chrome plugin. I'd also prefer not to compromise security by using a third party in the middle of the connection. Is there a good, free solution I can run on my linux box that supports old and new clients that run Windows, OS X and possibly linux? I'd love it if the users could simply bring their systems up to date, but that doesn't solve the third party issue and it's not easy when it requires a non-trivial RAM upgrade on a Mac Mini."

Comments

Re:You've really never heard of VNC?

[mrclisdue]

No offense intended, but I'm having a hard time understanding why anyone would be asking the submitter for computer advice.

Seriously.

cheers,

Re:Or, ssh?

[RealGene]

Since VNC is notoriously insecure, it's good practice to only run it over ssh on an untrusted network.
So, the answer is both.

Re:teamviewer

[vux984]

the guy asking help told this is a downside.

The guy asking for help hasn't spent 4 hrs walking grandma through downloading and configuring VNC over the phone so that he can get through the firewall to actually help her.

TeamViewer is a good solution

Doesn't exist

[Cosmos_7]

What you're looking for doesn't exist. VNC is great, but without the middleman you're never going to have ease-of-use for the people you're trying to help... they're going to give up trying to get port-forwards set up on their router long before you actually get in to help them.

Logmein / Teamviewer / etc is what is needed, and just plain works. If you have to choose one, it should be Teamviewer... can run client and support on all three specified platforms, and the QuickSupport option on Windows is a godsend - nothing like telling a client / grandma / whoever to simply download and run a small executable to let you in and help them.

Re:Or, ssh?

[RealGene]

Have you ever tried to help an 80+ year-old relative with their computer?

"Just start the VNC server, auntie."
"Is that the 'start' button thingy?"
"No, just click on the icon that says 'VNC'."
"All I see is the email from cousin Ruby."
"Ok, close the email first."
"Do I turn off the computer? That's what I do when I'm done reading my mail..."
(continues for 35 minutes)

The point being, the folks who need the help can't be relied upon to start/stop a VNC server, or carry out any other task
that isn't part of their normal routine. And leaving a VNC server running, with circa-1985 eight-character password, on a standard port,
is a security risk.