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nickbuolFlag for United States of America

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Need remote control options for Windows 2000 Clients.

We have a need at our helpdesk to remotely control end users' Windows 2000 computers.  I know that there are a lot of products out there, but we are looking for something that can specifically do the following:

1) Take full remote control of the PC
2) Get approval from the end user to allow a particular remote control session (so that the helpdesk can't just control any PC at will)
3) Log somewhere besides the local HelpDesk PC who has been controlled.  This is for auditing purposes.

Right now, they are using Dameware Mini Remote.  This lets the do remote control, even can be set to force the end user to approve the session, but I don't see where it logs any session information.

Of course, cost is a factor as about 2 people would be doing the controlling, but they will be working on about 100 PCs, so buying something like PCAnywhere would be too expensive.
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arbert

Microsoft SMS....

Brett
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Adam_Cahill
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My DameWare logs each connection to the event viewer.

, The following user has connected via remote control.


Date: 03/18/03 12:54:55
Computer Name: ULL
User ID: mark
Logon As ID:
Domain:
OS Product ID: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
OS Registered Owner: xxxxxxxxxx
OS Registered Organization: xxxxxxxx
Host Name from Peer: ull
IP Addresse(s) from Peer: 192.168.1.100
Host:
IP Address: 192.168.1.100
Protocol Version - DWRCC.EXE: 3.670000-0.000000
Protocol Version - DWRCS.EXE: 3.670000-0.000000
Product Version - DWRCS.EXE: 3.69.0.1
Authentication Type: NT Challenge/Response
Last Error Code: 0
Last Error Code (WSA): 0
Absolute timeout setting: 0 minutes
Connect/Logon timeout setting: 90000 miliseconds
Access Check: Administrators
There are a lot of solutions out there, many of them free.  If you are looking for FREE AND LOGGING, try NetMeeting (already installed), and set the security logging on the computers to record its use.

(Brett's Suggestion) SMS is a better move if FREE is not an issue, as it gives you other administrative abilities like software inventory and deployment, and may even cost you less than the net cost of PCAnywhere if you already have a server you can throw at it.

HTH
-Steven Yarnot (an SMS administrator for a large corporation)
http://yarnosg.home.insightbb.com
We use VNC, works great, 3 helpdesk techs, 1500 machines. Try these links

http://www.tridiavnc.com/

http://www.tightvnc.com/

Good luck and keep us posted.

Dawne :)
My DameWare logs each connection to the event viewer.

, The following user has connected via remote control.


Date: 03/18/03 12:54:55
Computer Name: ULL
User ID: mark
Logon As ID:
Domain:
OS Product ID: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
OS Registered Owner: xxxxxxxxxx
OS Registered Organization: xxxxxxxx
Host Name from Peer: ull
IP Addresse(s) from Peer: 192.168.1.100
Host:
IP Address: 192.168.1.100
Protocol Version - DWRCC.EXE: 3.670000-0.000000
Protocol Version - DWRCS.EXE: 3.670000-0.000000
Product Version - DWRCS.EXE: 3.69.0.1
Authentication Type: NT Challenge/Response
Last Error Code: 0
Last Error Code (WSA): 0
Absolute timeout setting: 0 minutes
Connect/Logon timeout setting: 90000 miliseconds
Access Check: Administrators
You could either try VNC which is free (but logging isn't great) or have a look into a product called Remote Anywhere
You should really try Remote adaministrator.
This software allows full control, view only and can ask user for permission and has support for log files and to event viewer.Also you can use access list and even hide the icon from the taskbar if need be.Used alot of other applications myself including vnc but this software is by far the fastest i have ever seen and has built in encryption.I use this program to administer about 40 computers on my local network.It is just as fast when I control computers remotely accross the wan. I got about 5 admin freinds using this.Good luck.
http://www.radmin.com/
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Besides VNC, the other options cost too much for what we need, and for the frequecy of use.  Being able to use what we already have installed was the best way as far as I was concerned.  Thanks!