Remote access tools

Dirkpitt289 · 09-10-2006, 06:58 AM

What tools for remote access have you used and found to work well?

I've found PC Anywhere is useless outside of a network, I've also had zero sucess with Windows XPs remote access (Don't know anyonw who has had sucess).

I've found logmein.com works well (at leaste for the 30 day free trial). I haven't tried it since it expired, which I understand you can do with limitations such as file transfers.

crazijoe · 09-10-2006, 10:55 AM

I use both Windows Remote Desktop Connection and SonicWall VPN.

VincentWong · 09-11-2006, 01:09 PM

Check out RealVNC. It is free and I believe alot of current Remote control apps are based of the same protocol. If you want some compression added, check out TightVNC. All the VNC based tools can be tunneled through SSH to add a layer of security. This might make sense if you are trying to keep costs down since licenses can add up quickly.

infused · 09-11-2006, 02:00 PM

I use Windows Remote Desktop... works very well, better than vnc on slow connections. On fast connections I perfer using UltraVNC.

**Cellus** · 09-13-2006, 10:35 AM

I've had tremendous success using Remote Desktop - I'm guessing your firewall/router needs to forward port 3389 (the RDP port). Terminal Services in a multi-user environment is also superb.

I should note there are weaknesses with VNC security, so you should always tunnel it like using SSH. Personally I like Remote Desktop/Terminal Services.

There is a good freeware (for the Community Edition) VPN program called SSL Explorer you should take a look at:

http://www.3sp.com/showSslExplorerCommunity.do

Addendum: As another look-see, OpenVPN is another choice you can examine. It takes a lot of configuration and detail, but it is open-source (if you are an open-source junkie).

http://openvpn.net

crazijoe · 09-13-2006, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cellus

I've had tremendous success using Remote Desktop - I'm guessing your firewall/router needs to forward port 3389 (the RDP port).

Word of advice on this, It would best to change your listening port since everyone knows that default is 3389. All anyone needs is your public IP and they have access to your computer.

VincentWong · 09-14-2006, 04:51 PM

To address the security concerns with VNC, here is a link that I found very helpful http://www.shebeen.com/vnc_ssh/.

If you need to connect to several computers behind a firewall, this setup is perfect since you don't have to forward each port to the destination computer.

Vincent

**Cellus** · 09-15-2006, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazijoe

Word of advice on this, It would best to change your listening port since everyone knows that default is 3389. All anyone needs is your public IP and they have access to your computer.

Excellent point. This is sound advice that should be used for almost any service rendered, as it deters casual ping sweeps and so forth.

~~Meztiso~~ · 09-17-2006, 10:36 AM

I play with UltraVNC. Can't say how it performs in a "professional" capacity as I do not have much experience. But I keep it in my 'back pocket" in case someone would like to allow me to have the ability to fix their computer remotely.

I've used it a few times. It came recommended to me by someone else that uses it. The feature I like best is the file downloading, as it allows me to "dump" diagnostic programs to the Client computer quickly & easily.

09-10-2006, 06:58 AM	#1 (permalink)
Dirkpitt289 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: East Coast Posts: 27 OS: XP Pro	Remote access tools What tools for remote access have you used and found to work well? I've found PC Anywhere is useless outside of a network, I've also had zero sucess with Windows XPs remote access (Don't know anyonw who has had sucess). I've found logmein.com works well (at leaste for the 30 day free trial). I haven't tried it since it expired, which I understand you can do with limitations such as file transfers. __________________ Dirkpitt289

09-10-2006, 10:55 AM	#2 (permalink)
crazijoe Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Omaha, The Center of the Universe Posts: 7,632 OS: WinXP, Win2K3 My System	I use both Windows Remote Desktop Connection and SonicWall VPN. __________________ Microsoft MCSA + Messaging, MVP, A+, Network+ http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b3...other/Help.jpg Do you want a real Republican? HDD diagnostic tools / HDD data recovery software

09-13-2006, 10:35 AM	#5 (permalink)
Cellus Moderator Networking Team Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 2,664 OS: Windows Vista Business SP1, Windows XP Professional SP3 My System	I've had tremendous success using Remote Desktop - I'm guessing your firewall/router needs to forward port 3389 (the RDP port). Terminal Services in a multi-user environment is also superb. I should note there are weaknesses with VNC security, so you should always tunnel it like using SSH. Personally I like Remote Desktop/Terminal Services. There is a good freeware (for the Community Edition) VPN program called SSL Explorer you should take a look at: http://www.3sp.com/showSslExplorerCommunity.do Addendum: As another look-see, OpenVPN is another choice you can examine. It takes a lot of configuration and detail, but it is open-source (if you are an open-source junkie). http://openvpn.net __________________ TSF Networking Team HijackThis 5 Step Process Donate! Last edited by Cellus; 09-13-2006 at 10:39 AM.

09-17-2006, 10:36 AM	#9 (permalink)
~~Meztiso~~ Register user Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 341 OS: WinXP Home	UltraVNC I play with UltraVNC. Can't say how it performs in a "professional" capacity as I do not have much experience. But I keep it in my 'back pocket" in case someone would like to allow me to have the ability to fix their computer remotely. I've used it a few times. It came recommended to me by someone else that uses it. The feature I like best is the file downloading, as it allows me to "dump" diagnostic programs to the Client computer quickly & easily.

09-11-2006, 01:09 PM	#3 (permalink)
VincentWong Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 39 OS: xp	Check out RealVNC. It is free and I believe alot of current Remote control apps are based of the same protocol. If you want some compression added, check out TightVNC. All the VNC based tools can be tunneled through SSH to add a layer of security. This might make sense if you are trying to keep costs down since licenses can add up quickly.

09-11-2006, 02:00 PM	#4 (permalink)
infused Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 19 OS: WinXP	I use Windows Remote Desktop... works very well, better than vnc on slow connections. On fast connections I perfer using UltraVNC.

09-14-2006, 04:51 PM	#7 (permalink)
VincentWong Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 39 OS: xp	To address the security concerns with VNC, here is a link that I found very helpful http://www.shebeen.com/vnc_ssh/. If you need to connect to several computers behind a firewall, this setup is perfect since you don't have to forward each port to the destination computer. Vincent