Remote desktop software/server

Mike Katz

22 Sep 2005 22 Sep '05

21:41

Does anyone know of any remote desktop software, similar to gotomypc, that I could host on my own server? What we are basically looking for is a free/inexpensive solution that requires very little setup on the side of the PC to be controlled, so that we can do remote support from any location. Ideally somethng that doesnt require firewall configuration. UltraVNC has a pretty good single click config, that does what we want on the user end, but from our side we still need to config the firewall. Is there such a beast in the OSS/Linux world? TIA Michael Katz

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Anders Johansson

22 Sep 22 Sep

22:03

New subject: [SLE] Remote desktop software/server

On Thursday 22 September 2005 23:41, Mike Katz wrote:

...

Does anyone know of any remote desktop software, similar to gotomypc, that I could host on my own server? What we are basically looking for is a free/inexpensive solution that requires very little setup on the side of the PC to be controlled, so that we can do remote support from any location. Ideally somethng that doesnt require firewall configuration. UltraVNC has a pretty good single click config, that does what we want on the user end, but from our side we still need to config the firewall. Is there such a beast in the OSS/Linux world?

If you want to avoid firewall configuration entirely, then the connection has to come from the PC that is to be controlled. There is no way you are going to get an incoming connection through a firewall without explicit configuration. Given this, and given that the server hosting this would have to be outside the firewall so the remote supporter can connect to it, there is a not too difficult and low cost version of this On each PC that is to have this, initiate an ssh connection to your server that sets up a reverse tunnel to the VNC port. You can give each PC its own port on the server. Then when you want to connect, you use your VNC client to connect to the relevant port on the server, which will pipe you through the firewall to the PC requiring support. I hope I don't need to tell you what a security fallacy it is to allow this or any other service (including gotomypc, which does more or less the same thing) to traverse your firewall like this. The security of the internal network is moved from the firewall (easily maintained and monitored) to the passwords of the tunnels going over it (nightmare)

Mike Katz

23:41

New subject: [SLE] Remote desktop software/server

Anders Johansson wrote:

...

If you want to avoid firewall configuration entirely, then the connection has to come from the PC that is to be controlled. There is no way you are going to get an incoming connection through a firewall without explicit configuration.

Given this, and given that the server hosting this would have to be outside the firewall so the remote supporter can connect to it, there is a not too difficult and low cost version of this

On each PC that is to have this, initiate an ssh connection to your server that sets up a reverse tunnel to the VNC port. You can give each PC its own port on the server. Then when you want to connect, you use your VNC client to connect to the relevant port on the server, which will pipe you through the firewall to the PC requiring support.

I hope I don't need to tell you what a security fallacy it is to allow this or any other service (including gotomypc, which does more or less the same thing) to traverse your firewall like this. The security of the internal network is moved from the firewall (easily maintained and monitored) to the passwords of the tunnels going over it (nightmare)

The idea was to have a server located somewhere to avoid having to configure many firewalls. Also, it would be impracticle to setup each workstation we would want to access. We are a small outsourced IT company that deals with small businesses. The idea is to have an applet the end user can download and connect to the server then a tech could connect from the field if necessary. Im am personnaly not a fan of gotomypc, and use VNC when I can. Right now we are just looking at differnt solutions. I appreciate the input. Thanks Mike

Anders Johansson

23 Sep 23 Sep

00:47

New subject: [SLE] Remote desktop software/server

On Friday 23 September 2005 01:41, Mike Katz wrote:

...

The idea was to have a server located somewhere to avoid having to configure many firewalls. Also, it would be impracticle to setup each workstation we would want to access. We are a small outsourced IT company that deals with small businesses. The idea is to have an applet the end user can download and connect to the server then a tech could connect from the field if necessary.

And this appliet couldn't run "ssh -R" because.......?

Mike Katz

01:36

New subject: [SLE] Remote desktop software/server

Anders Johansson wrote:

...

On Friday 23 September 2005 01:41, Mike Katz wrote:

...
The idea was to have a server located somewhere to avoid having to configure many firewalls. Also, it would be impracticle to setup each workstation we would want to access. We are a small outsourced IT company that deals with small businesses. The idea is to have an applet the end user can download and connect to the server then a tech could connect from the field if necessary.

And this appliet couldn't run "ssh -R" because.......?

Other than me probably not being able to get it set up on my own in a timely manner, probably no reason.

Sunny

14:35

New subject: [SLE] Remote desktop software/server

On 9/22/05, Mike Katz wrote:

...

Other than me probably not being able to get it set up on my own in a timely manner, probably no reason.

You mat take a look at copilot.com. They are paid service, and their current offer is only for windows. But as far as the client software they provide is VNC based, and they promise to provide the sources of the modifications they made, maybe it'll be not so hard to modify it to use their servers from linux. As it looks like, Joel's team is responsive to user request and they may help you out with a solution. -- -- Svetoslav Milenov (Sunny)

Peter Van Lone

22 Sep 22 Sep

22:14

New subject: [SLE] Remote desktop software/server

On 9/22/05, Mike Katz wrote:

...

Does anyone know of any remote desktop software, similar to gotomypc, that I could host on my own server? What we are basically looking for is a free/inexpensive solution that requires very little setup on the side of the PC to be controlled, so that we can do remote support from any location. Ideally somethng that doesnt require firewall configuration. UltraVNC has a pretty good single click config, that does what we want on the user end, but from our side we still need to config the firewall. Is there such a beast in the OSS/Linux world?

you don't run your own server, but it is very like gotomypc and it's free (or, there is a free option that works quite well). I can't vouch for the company, or anything ... but it's something to look into: https://secure.logmein.com/go.asp?page=home Peter

Mike Katz

23:41

New subject: [SLE] Remote desktop software/server

Peter Van Lone wrote:

...

On 9/22/05, Mike Katz wrote:

...
Does anyone know of any remote desktop software, similar to gotomypc, that I could host on my own server? What we are basically looking for is a free/inexpensive solution that requires very little setup on the side of the PC to be controlled, so that we can do remote support from any location. Ideally somethng that doesnt require firewall configuration. UltraVNC has a pretty good single click config, that does what we want on the user end, but from our side we still need to config the firewall. Is there such a beast in the OSS/Linux world?

you don't run your own server, but it is very like gotomypc and it's free (or, there is a free option that works quite well).

I can't vouch for the company, or anything ... but it's something to look into:

https://secure.logmein.com/go.asp?page=home

Peter

Thanks Peter, I will check it out. Mike

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participants (4)

Anders Johansson
Mike Katz
Peter Van Lone
Sunny