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Easy Remote Access?

Posted by Cliff on Wed Jan 26, 2005 01:51 AM
from the for-those-of-us-that-tech-support dept.
The Internet
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?"
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  • Tunnel X through ssh.
    • I always use SSH to get in, but I don't necessarily tunnel X. In my experience, VNC and RDP handle medium-bandwidth connections (upstream capped) connections better.
      • You SSH into your friends, clients, and family's machines? They ALL run SSH? Hrm. I can never get my mom run SSH on her windows 98 machine.

  • The old fashioned way... (Score:3, Funny)

    by tibike77 (611880) <tibikegamez.yahoo@com> on Wednesday January 26 2005, @02:01AM (#11477788) Journal
    ...use a (cell)phone and talk to the user in front of the other computer :P

    A joke ? In some cases, yes (I meant the other user, har har).
    Secure ? Depends on the user on the other end too ;)

  • Remote assistance (Score:3, Informative)

    by Dr.Opveter (806649) on Wednesday January 26 2005, @02:04AM (#11477800)
    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 (Score:5, Informative)

      by Cyberop5 (520141) * on Wednesday January 26 2005, @02:37AM (#11477920) Homepage Journal
      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.
      • 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
        • I use an SSH tunnel to push my RDP connection through my work's firewall so that I can access my work machine from home, and since I have a similar arrangement at home, (Linux-based firewall on a cheap Poweredge 350) I can pretty much do the same the other way as well.

          Let me tell you, that's a real life saver on occasion.

          Though, I'm curious-- does anyone know if Mac OS X supports RDP? Not as a client, I mean, but is there a RDP server built-in? I've been looking at the Mac Mini, and it'd be really nice to
          • Though, I'm curious-- does anyone know if Mac OS X supports RDP? Not as a client, I mean, but is there a RDP server built-in?

            Unfortunately, there's no RDP server available for the Mac (and I've looked pretty hard for one). I have a G3 that I use as an HD PVR, and I use VNC to access it -- like you, I'd much rather use RDP.

            • OS X has built in support for VNC.
              Amazing, but true.

              Go to Sharing in preferences and enable Apple Remote Desktop
              Choose "Access Privledges" and set the VNC may control screen with password.

              Then connect with a VNC client.
        • opening up the RDP service to the internet? i'm sure you could use ssh etc etc but what'd be really useful is being able to connect to an non-tech savvy users' pc without extra installs on their end...just opening up the ports for RDP on the firewall sounds pretty dangerous...
        • Forgive me for asking a complete noob question, but here goes...

          Does Terminal Services allow two separate users to run two separate sessions, or are the local and remote users stuck staring at the same screen?

          If the local and remote sessions are different, is the client and server both free, or do you have to pay M$ some $$$?

          If the local and remote sessions are the same, what is the cheapest (preferably free) alternative to allow local and remote users to work separately? Does VNC do this (I suspect not
            • Bummer. I only have XP pro. I was hoping that I could have myself and my wife work at the same time on the same computer (me on the machine, my wife on a thin client)

              Does anybody know the cheapest way to accomplish this (preferably free)?
              • 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!!!

  • Trust (Score:4, Insightful)

    by tonsofpcs (687961) <slashbackNO@SPAMtonsofpcs.com> on Wednesday January 26 2005, @02:14AM (#11477846) Homepage Journal
    I use VNC [realvnc.com]. 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.

  • 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?

  • RADMIN always works (Score:3, Interesting)

    by jptechnical (644454) on Wednesday January 26 2005, @02:52AM (#11477973) Homepage
    It isnt free but it ALWAYS works. You can even run it with only 2 files without an install. All you need is r_server.exe and adm(something).dll.

    Myself and some other IT workers (different companies) use it constantly. One of the nice features is you can connect through one computer with the open port and bounce to the others in the local lan.

    If you haven't tried it you should at least download and install it. It has a 30 day trial and is $35 per 2 computers. You can even install the serial number remotely... when expired it prompts you to enter the install key.

    It is so popular it has been featured in worms to make zombies. So when it asks for a password... you better use one! famatech.com [famatech.com]

    • I bought 5 copies of Radmin and used them for a while. However, I got nervous because Radmin would leave icons in the system tray when it was not supposed to be running.

      Famatech is a Russian company, apparently. What would keep them from installing a back door? Granted, Russians haven't been killing Iraqis, but Russia is a relatively unlawful country.

      A back door might be justified by management as a way of insuring that you are using legal copies. A back door might mean that Famatech had access to any
  • but no one seems to understand the question.

    I'll try to make this as easy to understand as possible. Imagine this scenario...

    Your |insert computer illiterate relation| needs help fixing something that VNC'ing into their box would easily fix. However, because you recommended that they put their windows box behind a firewall, which oddly enough they did, leaves you without the ability to easily connect to their machine without yet another couple steps, mainly setting up their firewall to allow you to conn

    • Re:Not many posts yet... (Score:2, Funny)

      by Anonymous Coward
      sounds like the guy who locked his keys and his family inside his car...
    • I understand the question, The reverse VNC deal meets the criterea you state. The only tricky part is having them install the server. If you preinstall VNC on the user's machine, then it's a piece of cake, for them: "Double-click on the VNC icon. Type this IP address" and you are done. The tricky stuff is on your end, under your control: forwarding the VNC port through your firewall and setting up the listening VNC client. That's pretty easy, too.

      What this lacks is security over the Internet. Adding an SS
  • I use Putty to make an SSH tunnel for VNC.
  • 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).

  • GoToMyPC (Score:3, Informative)

    by freitasm (444970) on Wednesday January 26 2005, @03:28AM (#11478099)
    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.

    • 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.

      Which they use to create the same result - a way an incoming connection can be established to your PC.

      The only difference is that instead of opening a port on your firewall that you can pick (allowing you to use a non-standard port to raise the bar above the heads of the script kiddies), you use somebody else's computer

  • Not free, but... (Score:3, Interesting)

    by jbarr (2233) on Wednesday January 26 2005, @04:27AM (#11478294) Homepage
    The Workstation edition of Remotely Anywhere [remotelyanywherre.com] is a VERY solid application. It costs about a hundred bucks, and is for Windows, but it offers excellent remote features including file transfer, remote computer management of resources and services, and full remote desktop control that in my opinion surpasses Microsoft Remote Desktop in speed and function. It uses either Active X, Java, or plain HTML for remoe access providing you maximum flexibility.

    It is highly configurable and full of "geekiness" that should please most Windows-based /.ers. It also doesn't blank the host screen or lock the keyboard by default, though it can.

    Also, it only works with one host per license, which can be expensive if you manage multiple hosts, but if you are looking for a remote access solution, this is a solid one. It's certainly not a cheap solution, but if you want rock-solid and secure access, Remotely Anywhere is worth a look.

    Not affiliated with the company, just using Remotely Anywhere and certaily enjoying it.
    • One thing that I just discovered is that it turns out that LogMeIn.com [logmein.com] is owned by 3am Labs [3amlabs.com] who also owns Remotely Anywhere [remotelyanywhere.com], so they are using the same technology. The free version of Logmein.com provides simple, secure remote connectivity to one host. The "pro" version (which costs a monthly fee) allows full remote control of one host as well as other nice features such as full file transfer capabilities, remote printing, and other features. You can add additional hosts for a reduced fee.

      My advice is that
  • Are any of these mentioned softwares suitable for slow dial-up modem connections that average about 3 KB/sec?

    I know text mode like SSH, telnet (insecured), etc. is fine, but how about GUI based?
  • 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

    • That is someone's personal scheme. It is not connected with Sourcforge, although there is a link to Sourceforge. It is not connected with UltraVNC, apparently.

      In this scheme, you give away the password to your UltraVNC sessions, and send the password over the Internet. If you change your IP address, you must go back to that website and disclose again how you plan to connect.
  • I have two One-way NAT firewalls and a way to get around them. Of course, this requires a machine with a public IP and ssh account to work...

    http://www.linuxlogin.com/linux/admin/sshtunnels. p hp [linuxlogin.com]

    I then use a cron script to check the tunnel at home, if it's down it reconnects so I can always get back into my network at home. I use ssh-keys with ssh-agent to keep my passphrase. The box can then login without a password.
    You can foward as many ports as you like and don't need to change your firewall r
  • 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
  • First, my universal advice: DON'T get in the habit of fixing remote systems for free. It is a huge time-sink & it would be better if you don't foster that dependence. I sometimes fix problems over email or in person for friends/family, but I also usually weasel some free beer out of the deal.

    That being said, many have to remotely administer machines for OTHER reasons. Oftentimes, a shell is all that is needed & having OpenSSH [openssh.com] is good enough. It is available for win32 [sourceforge.net] too. This can also be used

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