Free Remote PC Access service

[Dragonbate]

Tight VNC- This is the coolest thing and it was really simple. I'm posting this from my main rig remotely from my laptop. Thanks.

 

[MunkeeBoy]

I assume both tight vnc and ultravnc both have some sort of easy to use encryption? Also, is it possible to access a computer remotely via vnc if the serving computer is behind a nat firewall? I currently have Ultravnc installed to admin my computers from within my lan, but have never figured out a way to log into my computers from outside of my router.

 

[AndyD2k]

Am i right in thinking that none of the vnc options have encryption? I'm pretty sure I've read that somewhere and it's the reason why I've never bothered with it.

This service is interesting but my question is whether any commuication goes through webex? just not sure if i would like to be connecting to my pc if the company can see what I'm doing.

 

[cremefilled]

As far as using VNC behind a router, you need to use port forwarding. VNC uses port 5900 by default, but in "properties" you can change this, usually incrementing by one. So you could have 5900, 5901, 5902 forwarded to computers 1, 2 & 3.

When you connect, you can append the port number to the IP address.
E.g., connect to
68.102.38.229:5901
for computer #2 in the above hypothetical.

The UltraVNC developer site has information about encryption.

 

[robby69]

Ouch!, alot of "paranoia" here at anandtech...:Q
of course I see the same thing over at FW, where I usually "hang out"
Download it & see for yourself that a "newbie's" opinion can be right on.

 

[vk8]

I've yet to find a good remote desktop program to use just at home. I have tried realvnc, tightvnc and pcanywhere and it is all laggy as well, and this is over a gigabit connection with no encryption.

 

[wbresson]

Originally posted by: vk8
I've yet to find a good remote desktop program to use just at home. I have tried realvnc, tightvnc and pcanywhere and it is all laggy as well, and this is over a gigabit connection with no encryption.

not going over the internet ? use remote desktop

 

[cremefilled]

vk8, I don't know what applications you are trying to run via remote, but try to connect using 256 color mode. This makes the biggest difference. With either Remote Desktop or a VNC program, set the client to connect with the preset "56K modem" settings. This will adjust the settings for you automatically.

If that doesn't work, something is definitely wrong with your network. Btw, network lag is more important than network bandwidth, so the gigabit speed isn't necessary -- but on a LAN, lag should be almost nonexistent.

 

[vk8]

I've tried 256 color mode, but with the vnc programs it never sticks and always bumps it up. lag has never been an issue and get 36MB/s transfer rates when copying files around. I use the machine to do video editing (encoding) and burning so that my main computer isn't being tied up, so it isn't a lot of real heavy movement. It is funny since here at work over just normal 10/100 things go quite quickly using pcanywhere.

Originally posted by: cremefilled
vk8, I don't know what applications you are trying to run via remote, but try to connect using 256 color mode. This makes the biggest difference. With either Remote Desktop or a VNC program, set the client to connect with the preset "56K modem" settings. This will adjust the settings for you automatically.

If that doesn't work, something is definitely wrong with your network. Btw, network lag is more important than network bandwidth, so the gigabit speed isn't necessary -- but on a LAN, lag should be almost nonexistent.

 

[slothman]

Well I think I might know what he's talking about if he's using the latest UltraVNC. Version 19.5 is REAL SLOW compared to version 18. The only problem I had with 18 is it doesn't remember my custom settings for some odd reason. If I can just fix that it'd be perfect.

 

[manno]

Originally posted by: vk8
I've yet to find a good remote desktop program to use just at home. I have tried realvnc, tightvnc and pcanywhere and it is all laggy as well, and this is over a gigabit connection with no encryption.

I just used tightVNC over a 10, yes TEN Mb/s hub, and it was snappy as could be. I'm using the tightvnc-1.3dev6, and the dfmirage driver, maybe that's why, both the program, and driver are a snap to install, and available from their website's downlaod page here

I have no idea why you found it to be so slow, though I do find that processor speed plays a failry large factor, I'm using ZlibHex(mix) encoding, at full color, and custom compresion level 6. When I connect to our local P4 1800 Mhz sever over a 100 Mb/s connection I notice it's a lot slower, than when I connect to our Athlon XP 3200+ over a 10 Mb/s hub.

 

[vk8]

The server is a bit slower than the main machine, plus I had to cut the ram in half. I think I might actually try hooking it up to my lan and seeing how it works on normal 10/100 instead of the crossover setup. Didn't know about the drivers part, will have to look into that.

I just used tightVNC over a 10, yes TEN Mb/s hub, and it was snappy as could be. I'm using the tightvnc-1.3dev6, and the dfmirage driver, maybe that's why, both the program, and driver are a snap to install, and available from their website's downlaod page here

I have no idea why you found it to be so slow, though I do find that processor speed plays a failry large factor, I'm using ZlibHex(mix) encoding, at full color, and custom compresion level 6. When I connect to our local P4 1800 Mhz sever over a 100 Mb/s connection I notice it's a lot slower, than when I connect to our Athlon XP 3200+ over a 10 Mb/s hub.

 

[dhoytw]

Originally posted by: jsys1
Just heard about this, came out late last month...

MyWebEx PC

It's basically a free version of GoToMyPC.

I would stick with UltraVNC I don't think this is the greatest thing.

 

[BaNzaiDags]

IF someone wants to put there own product on blast using anandtech... as far as im concerned as long as its a good deal... no hatin here.

 

[Robzila]

well I tried it out today, and so far it acts exactly like GoToMyPCwith the web interface etc. Beats the hell out of the outrageous prices that Citrix charges for GoToMyPC.

 

[Quasmo]

Originally posted by: jsys1
Just heard about this, came out late last month...

MyWebEx PC

It's basically a free version of GoToMyPC.

I ALREADY HAVE A GREAT FREE ONE. It's called Windows XP Pro.

 

[Quasmo]

Originally posted by: vk8
I've yet to find a good remote desktop program to use just at home. I have tried realvnc, tightvnc and pcanywhere and it is all laggy as well, and this is over a gigabit connection with no encryption.

try radmin. I LOVE IT! I use it on 3 of my PCs. My life would be hell with out it. I'd be on the phone with my PC illiterate mother all day. It encrypts everything, and is extremely quick. You can choose ports too. www.famatech.com

 

[sxr7171]

Originally posted by: robby69
Ouch!, alot of "paranoia" here at anandtech...:Q
of course I see the same thing over at FW, where I usually "hang out"
Download it & see for yourself that a "newbie's" opinion can be right on.

You realize that you are basically signing away your computer and all the data on it right? What kind of moron would do that without being at least somewhat concerned about the motives of the company offering this?

 

[robby69]

Originally posted by: sxr7171

Originally posted by: robby69
Ouch!, alot of "paranoia" here at anandtech...:Q
of course I see the same thing over at FW, where I usually "hang out"
Download it & see for yourself that a "newbie's" opinion can be right on./Q]

You realize that you are basically signing away your computer and all the data on it right? What kind of moron would do that without being at least somewhat concerned about the motives of the company offering this?

My point was everyone started here at anandtech with "zero" posts. Most deal sites I visit there seems to be a similar paranoia about "newbies" and their opinions. All it does in the end is make newcomers less likely to post a "hot deal"in the future.
BTW, the second security password is stored on your desktop. Only password that webex has access to is the first password that your logon with.
Sure, check out the company beforehand http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=WEBX&d=t
But what do I know, I am just a "moron":brokenheart:

 

[MrMaster]

Is there any program out there that I don't have to download and install to get remote access?

I'm on a work computer and I don't/shouldn't ionstall anything on it.

 

[KingPhil]

If you like VNC or TightVNC, you will LOVE ULTRAVNC.

UltraVNC has a built in FTP function making it very handy when remotely working on user PCs. Also it has a windows authentication pass thru requiring the person remoting in to have a local account allready established on the persons PC.

ULTRAVNC LINK!

I love this program!

 

[MrMaster]

Originally posted by: KingPhil
If you like VNC or TightVNC, you will LOVE ULTRAVNC.

UltraVNC has a built in FTP function making it very handy when remotely working on user PCs. Also it has a windows authentication pass thru requiring the person remoting in to have a local account allready established on the persons PC.

ULTRAVNC LINK!

I love this program!

Yeah, but don't you have to install it to get it to work?

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: MrMaster

Originally posted by: KingPhil
If you like VNC or TightVNC, you will LOVE ULTRAVNC.

UltraVNC has a built in FTP function making it very handy when remotely working on user PCs. Also it has a windows authentication pass thru requiring the person remoting in to have a local account allready established on the persons PC.

ULTRAVNC LINK!

I love this program!

Yeah, but don't you have to install it to get it to work?

No dummy...it uses java if you set it up correctly at home.

That said, one of the coolest is Remote Desktop via Active X. Fast like Remote desktop, and using an active X control, all you need is Internet Explorer

 

[loup garou]

We use the webex support system for end user support here at my office. The ActiveX client works great, but the Java client is sloooooooow (I'm actually using it right now).

Otherwise, pretty good product. Cool that they allow free private use.

 

[mscdex0]

Originally posted by: KingPhil
UltraVNC has a built in FTP function making it very handy when remotely working on user PCs.

TightVNC dev has had file transfer for awhile now as well.