Remote Access Technology

Posts: 399 · Modder Joined: 15 Sep 2004 Posts: 399

Hows it going.

As i'm still on and off as the IT Consultant for my Uncle's Finance Company, he wants me to investigate Remote Access Technology for his business.

Basically, his colleagues and himself wants to access his server in his office Remotely (ie, not in the office).

Just wondering if anyone here knows about this sort of Technology (Impact?)

They got a business to do them up a sort of outline on it, these people are:
www.hallcomp.com.au

The company were talking about using this sort of technology:
http://www.terminal-services.net/
or
http://www.citrix.com

Is this the right sort of people/technology he should be leaning towards or are there other methods that are better?

Also, is this sort of thing better off left to a professional business, or is it something relatively easy to setup?

Thanks for any insight or assistance in advance.

Cheers.

Posts: 3258 · Posted: Fri Nov 19, 2004 10:06 am Post subject:

While I have never personally worked with setting up something like this, my dad uses it all the time. The way I have heard most companies do it is VNC through VPN. VNC is a remote desktop program that will allow you to control a computer from across the internet. I leave my main computer on when I go away, and use my laptop to do things on my main computer (that way my laptop doesn't need copies of files, or need to be all that fast).

VPN stands for Virtual Private Network. I'm not sure exactly how they work, but the gist of it is, once you've logged in to the VPN server its just like having a wired connection right into that network. This allows you to look at computers on the network (servers, other peoples computers) as if you were physically there. As far as I know, they are not that hard to set up, however, I have never personally done it.

I think if you took your time to learn those two products, you could get away with a VPN and VNC setup without professional help.

Anything else I can help with?

Posts: 399 · Modder Joined: 15 Sep 2004 Posts: 399

Thanks for that.

Is there some sort of software that is best for this sort of thing? Or is it all hand coded?

Posts: 2723 · Posted: Fri Nov 19, 2004 7:13 pm Post subject:

Impact and I played around with VNC a while back, but there are many options.

Posts: 399 · Modder Joined: 15 Sep 2004 Posts: 399

Would you guys have some suggestions from your experience as to what is the best and most secure one to use?

Linkage if possible.

Posts: 134 · Sub-Modder Joined: 03 Jun 2004 Posts: 134

Like Haggs and Impact, I vote VNC as well. I've played around with it, it works well and is pretty reliable.

Posts: 1475 · Posted: Fri Nov 19, 2004 11:00 pm Post subject:

ive watched my dad use VNC a few times, i have no idea how to use it though, maybe cuz im still young.

Posts: 2723 · Posted: Fri Nov 19, 2004 11:51 pm Post subject:

We can teach you, young grasshopper.

Posts: 1475 · Posted: Fri Nov 19, 2004 11:54 pm Post subject:

righto, thanksgiving or winter break would be nice.

Posts: 2723 · Posted: Fri Nov 19, 2004 11:57 pm Post subject:

Just let me know, its not that big.

Posts: 399 · Modder Joined: 15 Sep 2004 Posts: 399

Ooo, Oooo, teach me!

Pullllease!?!? Don't go all 'Hans Solo' on me.

Posts: 2723 · Posted: Sat Nov 20, 2004 12:17 am Post subject:

What would going "Hans Solo" entail, exactly?

Posts: 399 · Modder Joined: 15 Sep 2004 Posts: 399

Go off without me (ie, by yourselves). Bit of a personal joke.

So yeah, possible to teach me, or point me in the right direction for VNC?

Posts: 2723 · Posted: Sat Nov 20, 2004 12:36 am Post subject:

you can start by searching for real vnc

Posts: 399 · Modder Joined: 15 Sep 2004 Posts: 399

Righto

Posts: 1475 · Posted: Sat Nov 20, 2004 1:07 pm Post subject:

at least im one step ahead of Warren, ive already got it installed from when my comp wasnt mine.

Posts: 3258 · Posted: Sat Nov 20, 2004 2:47 pm Post subject:

RealVNC is a main one, theres also many offshoots: TightVNC (my fav), UltraVNC, XVNC (used in TightVNC)... Many of them are opensource if you want to look through the code. As for security, most companies using VNC tunnel it through a VPN. VPN is encoded, encoding all the VNC traffic as well. VNC has a few weaknesses. When a brute-force password cracker is combined with a good IP-spoofer, it takes minutes to break the password.

Hence the VPN =P
Newer RealVNC's I _think_ are including encryption... I _think_.

Posts: 399 · Modder Joined: 15 Sep 2004 Posts: 399

Damn you Kompakt *Shakes Fist*

Ok, i'm grabbing RealVNC as we speak, or as I type this....

Wow, its a pretty small file. Thought it would be huge. Awesome.

Posts: 399 · Modder Joined: 15 Sep 2004 Posts: 399

I never thought I would say this, but....AWESOME!

This program is so cool. I set the server up on my computer (which is on dial-up). Then I put the Viewer on the old lady's laptop (My mother) who is on an ISDN connection (a totally different telephone line).

I'm like, Wow! This is Awesome, I can control my Computation Device from another computer. I was soo like "I'm definately a Hacker". Hahahaha.

I'm going to get my Uncle around to give him a 'Demo' of what it can do. This way I will get payed and not some Pro Tech.

Anyways, is there anything else I should know about because I feel as though i'm just scratching the surface. To convince my Uncle I think a bit more security might have to be involved.

I'll download those other VNC programs Impact listed whilst I await dictation from you supreme beings.

Posts: 1475 · Posted: Sat Nov 20, 2004 8:25 pm Post subject:

wow, VNC sounds really cool. Haggs, you can teach me how to use it part of thanksgiving and about half of winter break. would that be enough?