Ask Slashdot: Options For FOSS Remote Support Software? 247
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."
Re:Or, ssh? (Score:5, Funny)
Exactly. That's why I use rsh on all my servers.
It's faster and easier and no one on the internet is possible sniffing my packets.
Re:Simple solution (Score:3, Funny)
even simpler solution- ebay and a lot of hipsters websites routinely sell decent Polaroid Cameras. I've picked up regular ones and a few packages of film for pretty cheap.
Bought one for each family member.
When they have a problem, I have them snap a picture of their screen and put it in an addressed, stamped envelope and send it over to me. Then we work on the problem. If that computer is dead I have them take a picture of the power cord and the outlet the computer is supposed to be plugged into to make sure the cord is actually in the outlet.
Securing software, poking hole in firewalls, setting up a video chat and all that seems like a waste of time when you can actually SEE whats going on for yourself.