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Ask Slashdot: Options For FOSS Remote Support Software?

Posted by samzenpus on from the have-you-tried-restarting-it? dept.

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."

3 of 247 comments (clear)

  1. Re:You've really never heard of VNC? by mrclisdue · · Score: 5, Insightful

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

    Seriously.

    cheers,

  2. Re:teamviewer by vux984 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    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

  3. Re:Or, ssh? by RealGene · · Score: 5, Insightful
    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.

    --
    Mission: To provide products that consume time and energy as entertainingly as permitted by the laws of thermodynamics.