Remote computer control software

[gal]

Anyone have any recomendations here? I've been using pcanywhere for a while, but I think the admins have closed some ports at work cause it doesn't work anymore.

Gotomypc claims to be an easy solution behind firewalls. Anyone tried this one?

[Crack]

Dameware is a good program http://www.dameware.com/ , and there is an MMC snap-in called SMS that works great but you have to have pretty good bandwidth to make it usefull, and I am talking OC-3 here. You must have admin rights on the network to make either of these work though... shouldn't be that hard right?
~Crack

[Peetster]

VNC is the best out there. Single port for you security minded folks. Force 8 bit color for slow networks. Here's a nice clone: http://www.tightvnc.com/ of the original effort: http://www.realvnc.com/

[mystix]

there is also one called radmin

[ratbastid]

I have a client who uses Gotomypc to distribute computing services to his customer service reps, who work from home. In his house he has a file server and half a dozen client boxes. Each of his reps sit at their own computers at their homes with Gotomypc running, actually using one of the machines at their boss's house. Then the phone company is set up to round-robin his 800 number across all his employee's home numbers during business hours. Presto--instant distributed workforce.

The only part that doesn't scale is that stack of computers he has to manage in his office.

[Blistex]

I use Remote administrator to mess with my landlord's PC. You can have it run in the open or hidden if you want. It can also be set up one way so only one computer can control, or 2 ways so that either PC can control the other.

It's lacking in a few options, but better than nothing.

[gal]

Thanks folks. I've tried radmin and realvnc, but neither can connect to my office pc. I guess I have to try finding a free port which is not blocked by the firewall. I'm a bit reluctant to use gotomypc since they ask for a credit card number just to download the demo..

[Latch]

Something else you could try would be to run your program through "SocksCap". What it does is take all your requests and route them through your firewall's SOCKS server (they usually have one.. do you know it?).

Check it out:
http://www.socks.permeo.com/Download...load/index.asp

[JohnnyRoyale]

It is possible that all inbound ports to your system are blocked, so that you can't get to your machine from outside at all...If I was a typical admin, i'd set the network up that way, since there's no real reson to connect to your system from the outside.
Having said that, if you ask the admins real nice (say, with some free candy attached), they might consider opening a port for you.

[neoinoakleys]

I use Remotely Anywhere...I just love that tool. It is TOTALLY web enabled, so no "client" software to load on other pcs to access your own. Try it...and let me know what you think....

[rubicon]

The best VNC you can get for Windows:

-- UltraVNC
-- TightVNC

For Mac:

-- Chicken of the VNC

In all honesty, VNC isn't terribly fast over the 'net but it's good locally. I often have screen redraw issues with every version I've used. However, it's free, works, and keeps getting better. The file transfer features of UltraVNC are great.

Be sure to forward ports 5800 and 5900 to your machine.

For Windows, one of the best you can use Remote Desktop Connection (i.e.: Terminal Server). A single-user version is built into XP. It's very fast over all sorts of connections - the fastest IMO. It works very well with the Mac OS X version of RDC as well. Be sure to open port 3389.

I use GoToMyPC often for clients. It works flawlessly behind a firewall and is fast but at times can lag just a bit. It can transfer files too. Only problem is the price.

Here's my reco:

-- Gotomypc to avoid firewall issues, $$$
-- RDC for speed, $0
-- VNC for wide compatibility, $0

You can run RDC and VNC viewers on handhelds as well. Not terribly practical but maybe in a pinch.

There are other products but you'll need to deal with the firewall.