J.D. Fox Micro Resource CenterLinksRemote Access ToolsThese are links to software components you can use to gain access to another computer on your network or over the Internet, by a direct connection, or vice-versa. You should only install this software upon direction of your authorized technical support agent, or for a specific purpose if you know what you are doing. For one, these programs probably will require additional configuration of your network firewall or router for connections to work properly. Secondly, if your network system is not configured properly, then installing these applications may open your computer to anonymous access by random attackers over the Internet. Note: If you are working on a business network, please see your IT systems manager for authorization before attempting to download and install software. VNC Below you will find links to two separate developers of software that support the Virtual Network Computing (VNC) standard. VNC enables raw screen sharing and remote control of the mouse and keyboard. In that respect, it's really good for remote technical support or tutoring. Because VNC is a standard system, you can connect from one computer to another using VNC software from different publishers. To connect, you must install VNC server software on the remote computer you want to control, and the VNC client (also called a VNC viewer) on the computer you are using to make the connection. Both distributions below offer both the client and server, usually in the same installation package, giving you the option to choose what you want to install (client only, server only, or both). RealVNC RealVNC is the most venerable and versatile of the commonly used VNC software. It is published by the inventors of the VNC protocol, based in the U.K. For Windows computers, the Free Edition of RealVNC runs on Windows XP, Windows 2000, and Windows Server 2003, but does not run on Windows 7, Windows Vista, or Windows Server 2008. To use a free version of VNC on these newer versions of Windows, you must use TightVNC (below). Or, you can purchase RealVNC Personal edition. For UNIX/Linux, you can use the Free Edition, or the Enterprise Edition (paid). The paid Personal Edition is not supported. The Apple Mac is only supported by the Enterprise Edition (paid), running OS X operating system version 10.4 through 10.7. See below for more options for the Mac. For all platforms, the Free Edition lacks encryption, window scaling, remote printing, chat, integrated address book, or file transfer. You should therefore only use the Free Edition to connect remotely over the Internet if you have a separate method of encrypting your connection. The paid editions (Personal and Enterprise) both support all of the above features. There is also now an edition for iOS (version 4.0 or later), which is what runs on the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch, and an edition for Android-based phones. Use the links below to reach the download page. The first three links start with a form asking you for personal information. You do not have to fill out the form. You can just click Proceed to download. But, RealVNC is a legitimate company, and there is no reason to believe they would abuse your information if you choose to share it with them. TightVNC TightVNC is free and runs on all current versions of Windows (including Windows 7), as well as UNIX and Linux. Apple Mac computers and mobile phones are not natively supported. TightVNC currently lacks integrated encryption. The project is supported by a Russian company named GlavSoft. GlavSoft just released a completely revamped version on April 26, 2012, to improve the user experience, performance, and stability. Built-in VNC server for Mac OS X Starting with OS X 10.4, Mac computers have VNC server software already. Below are some links to a well-done blog posting showing how to enable it. Apple Remote Desktop (VNC client for Mac) Apple offers a paid product called Apple Remote Desktop (ARD), which is actually a VNC client compatible with other VNC-based products, such as the ones listed above. It supports additional features such as directory listings of the remote computers, scripting, and remote software installation and file copy (to Apple computers). Please note that in the ARD world, "client computer" refers to a remote computer running VNC server, while the computer running ARD (the VNC client), is called the "admin computer". Microsoft Remote Desktop / Terminal Services The Microsoft Remote Desktop system uses Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP), which is an alternative method of connecting to a Windows-based computer remotely. It seems similar to VNC, but it is not compatible. RDP requires you to log on to the remote computer in a separate Windows user session, meaning anyone sitting in front of the remote computer will not be able to see what you are doing (as they can with VNC). RDP is also known as Terminal Services. With RDP, multiple users can connect at the same time to a computer running Windows Server. In fact, someone can be logged in and sitting in front of the server itself, while someone else is working in a separate remote session on that server, running different programs, etc. But, with a Windows workstation (such as Windows 7, Windows Vista, or Windows XP), only one user can be logged on a time. To read the J.D. Fox Micro article about logging in to Windows, which includes managing multiple users and Remote Desktop, click here (opens in a new window). RDP is less suitable than VNC for remote technical assistance and user support, but it offers a more secure, functional, manageable, and robust method for a user to connect to his or her own computer at the office from a remote location. Remote Desktop server and client software is included with Windows. But, to connect to a computer remotely, an administrator has to manually enable the target computer to allow Remote Desktop connections. Each successive version of Windows supports enhanced security and functionality for RDP. You can download an upgrade to the Remote Desktop client software from Microsoft using the links below, for connecting from a computer running an older version of Windows to one running a newer version. Windows XP Service Pack 2 Windows XP Service Pack 3 Windows Vista, with no Service Packs No separate download available; Windows Vista Service Pack 1 and 2 You can connect to a Windows-based computer via Remote Desktop from an Apple Mac as well, using a free download from Microsoft. Mac OS X version 10.5.8 or later Mac OS X version 10.2.8 or later PuTTY While formally still in beta, PuTTY is the most common SSH client for Windows. It also supports asynchronous communications, and is recommended by Microsoft as a replacement for HyperTerminal (which is no longer included with Windows). It has also been recommended by Cisco for connecting to Cisco security devices via SSH from a Windows-based computer. PuTTY was developed by Simon Tatham, and is available free for download on his personal website. PuTTY is not for ordinary users. If you do not already know what SSH is, you do not need PuTTY. The page linked below contains the PuTTY SSH/Telnet/console client itself, plus several related programs such as PSCP and Plink. |
