Trihimbulus
asked on
Remote Troubleshooting
Hey guys,
I am in Virginia our office in California is having some issues with a couple of servers and workstations. Rather than fly me out there, I proposed that I try and find some remote connectivity software that will allow me to take control and troubleshoot from my work PC. I am on a limited budget - so is there any freeware utilities that I can find that will allow me to remotley connect to Windows 2000 and XP clients- but don't really want to use remote desktop connection- want an all inclusive solution.
I need something that will allow me to to either connect over HTTP Web Browser or Client/Server app. Need a free or open source solution....
I am in Virginia our office in California is having some issues with a couple of servers and workstations. Rather than fly me out there, I proposed that I try and find some remote connectivity software that will allow me to take control and troubleshoot from my work PC. I am on a limited budget - so is there any freeware utilities that I can find that will allow me to remotley connect to Windows 2000 and XP clients- but don't really want to use remote desktop connection- want an all inclusive solution.
I need something that will allow me to to either connect over HTTP Web Browser or Client/Server app. Need a free or open source solution....
VNC is what you want http://www.realvnc.com/ It's opensource.
There are several different VNC flavors
http://www.tightvnc.com/ might be good in your case.
There are several different VNC flavors
http://www.tightvnc.com/ might be good in your case.
Dameware is a great solution (not freeware but a 30 day free trial will demonstrate the value). Also, Dameware (www.dameware.com) will not solve the NAT'ing issues -- neither will any of the VNC (realvnc, tightvnc, etc).
I would recommend setting up some sort of VPN connection with the California office and the then Damewaring to the PC in question.
The one of the best advantages of Dameware over VNC is that VNC requires preconfigured client software to be installed on the client machine. Dameware "pushes" the client to the PC, assuming you have appropriate permissions to do so.
I would recommend setting up some sort of VPN connection with the California office and the then Damewaring to the PC in question.
The one of the best advantages of Dameware over VNC is that VNC requires preconfigured client software to be installed on the client machine. Dameware "pushes" the client to the PC, assuming you have appropriate permissions to do so.
Dameware is good but the OP asked for free. A similar free "push" feature for VNC is available with Gencontol. But you do need to have admin rights http://www.gensortium.com/products/gencontrol.html
Have all your CA workstations VPN to your WIN2K server in VA. It's built in to WIN2K server & FREE. Open ports 1723 on your firewall device to allow the incoming connections.
Each CA workstation will then have 2 IP addresses... one for the local CA LAN and one for the VA LAN.
Then you can use VNC or DAMEWARE and connect to the local IP addresses.
Each CA workstation will then have 2 IP addresses... one for the local CA LAN and one for the VA LAN.
Then you can use VNC or DAMEWARE and connect to the local IP addresses.
The other issue one needs to be aware of when using VNC is that it breaks the Microsoft EULA.
http://www.infoworld.com/articles/op/xml/02/03/18/020318oplivingston.html
http://www.infoworld.com/articles/op/xml/02/03/18/020318oplivingston.html
I'm sure someone somewhere working at Microsoft uses VNC or PCanywhere or Dameware on a very regular basis.
Not to worry on the EULA... its just legal mumbo jumbo.
Not to worry on the EULA... its just legal mumbo jumbo.
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