Remote Control: Which?

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Ok, I have not kept track with Remote Control software in a while. Now I have several to choose from. I need some advice.

I have used DameWare, VNC, Windows NetMeeting and PCAnywhere in the past.

Here’s my problem.

I have a Father-in-law that is always having problems and I get frustrated over the phone trying to help him.

What is the best solution for a Remote Control Software in your opinion?

ME:

DSL Router with a mix of Wired and Wireless and Windows XP/2000

HIM:
DSL Router wired using Windows2000

I have access to PCAnywhere and Dameware. NetMeeting comes free.

I just need some clarification on how to connect and usability.

Thanks

Chris

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Chris, VNC is also free. The original VNC team now has the software at http://www.realvnc.com[/url%5D.

Joe

--Joe

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Chris, VNC is also free. The original VNC team now has the software at http://www.realvnc.com[/url%5D.

Joe

--Joe

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I’m using VNC, mainly over a LAN, and have found it to be a) simple and easy to use acceptably secure and c) dead easy to install and setup.

HTH.

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That works great on a LAN. But what about across the DSL/Cable connections. My problem is that I have to be able to connect to the other pc which is behind a built-in firewall of a DSL router. Where do you designate which ports to open etc. As I understand it, you have to open a port throught the DSL/Cable Routers so that it can accept a VNC or DameWare or PCAnywhere remote connection.

Thanks

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From the FAQ at the link above: [indent]

---

Opening Ports – The simplest way to allow VNC connections in through your firewall is to configure your firewalling software to allow connections to the VNC ports. If N is the display number of a particular VNC server then it will accept connections on port 5900+N. Configuring your firewall to allow connections to this port will allow VNC to work. If you wish to use the in-built web server and Java VNC Viewer then you will also need to allow connections to port 5800+N. Unfortunately, because VNC traffic is not encrypted, this approach weakens the security provided by your firewall, and so is not advisable.

---

[/indent]

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Thanks for the info.

So if I open the ports for VNC, and the VNC client is running on the Remote end, it will know where it is even thought it is running a local IP?

Lets say: the Router IP is 206.124.88.67
And the DHCP has given the Remote pc this IP: 192.168.1.5

the VNCVIEWER will be able to remote into the Router and then find the computer running the local IP and connect?

Thanks

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I think you’ll need to check up on the documentation for both the router and whichever software you use. Usually (and in my case) the router will have a “forwarding” section in its configuration screens. There is where you would put the local IP number to which you want incoming traffic on port xxxx forwarded.

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Just remember that there are hackers which regularly scan for active (listening) VNC servers / PC Anywhere / etc., and that your father-in-law would want to either (a) only turn on the service right before you connect, and turn it off immediately afterward, or ( set up a VPN to enable secure connection over the internet.

Also, to add to your list, there’s a program called Radmin which is pretty good, cheap ($35 or so), and it comes with a free trial. But it is still susceptible to hacker scanning as are the other programs.

Hope this helps,

Charlie T.

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Good point about the hackers, I always assume everyone is paranoid about them, just like me!

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Good point about the hackers, I always assume everyone is paranoid about them, just like me!

Reply | Quote

Just remember that there are hackers which regularly scan for active (listening) VNC servers / PC Anywhere / etc., and that your father-in-law would want to either (a) only turn on the service right before you connect, and turn it off immediately afterward, or ( set up a VPN to enable secure connection over the internet.

Also, to add to your list, there’s a program called Radmin which is pretty good, cheap ($35 or so), and it comes with a free trial. But it is still susceptible to hacker scanning as are the other programs.

Hope this helps,

Charlie T.

Reply | Quote

I think you’ll need to check up on the documentation for both the router and whichever software you use. Usually (and in my case) the router will have a “forwarding” section in its configuration screens. There is where you would put the local IP number to which you want incoming traffic on port xxxx forwarded.

Reply | Quote

Thanks for the info.

So if I open the ports for VNC, and the VNC client is running on the Remote end, it will know where it is even thought it is running a local IP?

Lets say: the Router IP is 206.124.88.67
And the DHCP has given the Remote pc this IP: 192.168.1.5

the VNCVIEWER will be able to remote into the Router and then find the computer running the local IP and connect?

Thanks

Reply | Quote

From the FAQ at the link above: [indent]

---

Opening Ports – The simplest way to allow VNC connections in through your firewall is to configure your firewalling software to allow connections to the VNC ports. If N is the display number of a particular VNC server then it will accept connections on port 5900+N. Configuring your firewall to allow connections to this port will allow VNC to work. If you wish to use the in-built web server and Java VNC Viewer then you will also need to allow connections to port 5800+N. Unfortunately, because VNC traffic is not encrypted, this approach weakens the security provided by your firewall, and so is not advisable.

---

[/indent]

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That works great on a LAN. But what about across the DSL/Cable connections. My problem is that I have to be able to connect to the other pc which is behind a built-in firewall of a DSL router. Where do you designate which ports to open etc. As I understand it, you have to open a port throught the DSL/Cable Routers so that it can accept a VNC or DameWare or PCAnywhere remote connection.

Thanks

Reply | Quote

I’m using VNC, mainly over a LAN, and have found it to be a) simple and easy to use acceptably secure and c) dead easy to install and setup.

HTH.

Reply | Quote