Office PC Remote Control

Wombat

Hi all.

I'm wondering if anyone has a tried and tested free solution to connecting remotely to a computer at the office from a home computer?

What is needed is remote control of the office computer from home whilst someone else carries on working on the office computer, ability to transfer files between the 2 machines securely and possibly a chat facility (although this isn't necessary).

I've been playing around with Tight VNC wrapped within Hamachi VPN for encryption of data. However Hamachi only seems to want to connect via a relay in the free version at 8KB/sec. This makes it practically unusable.

To save me from trying out endless combinations, has anyone done this simply, reliably and at no cost?

Thanks in advance.

albertross_2

http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleID=608

some routers can act as a vpn endpoint dg834G etc, if you have one at each end, you could make a permanent vpn tunnel, or use a software vpn client at the home end.

or use https://secure.logmein.com/home.asp?lang=en etc.

or you could use ssh for security, putty, openvpn etc.

http://openvpn.net/

http://www.dailycupoftech.com/2007/05/25/remotely-accessing-computers/

Wombat

Thanks albertross.

There's only a router at the home end, not in the office.

LogMeIn is Hamachi - just different names, but, as I say, it will only connect at a slow speed in the free version.

Haven't seen the Daily Cup Of Tech though. Off to read now. Thanks.

albertross_2

logmein bough hamachi a few months ago, but they were different concepts originally, haven't checked their integration recently though.

what is at the office end then, if no router?

Wombat

At the office end the PC is attached to the phoneline (and hence Broadband connection) via an internal Broadband modem.

I've had a look at the Daily Cup Of Tech site and that seems excellent, particularly the link here:

http://members.shaw.ca/nicholas.fong/vnc/

I'll study it more closely later and give it a whirl.

Thank you.

albertross_2

A router at work would give you lots more security, and if you go for a vpn end tunnel type, would help your vpn issue.

£40-50 though..

Toxteth_OGrady

If it's a 1-to-1 with somebody at both machines, try https://www.crossloop.com. Very easy to use an it's very effective.

:cool:

TOG

Wombat

Thanks, both, for your suggestions. I'm just looking at the links from Albertross and the Crossloop program.

I'm pretty sure that between those I should be able to concoct something. :beer:

albertross_2

crossloop is simple and easy, but I have always found it very slow (when compared to unencrypted VNC/remote desktop over a vpn), and the initial connection can take ages.

Wombat

albertross wrote: »

crossloop is simple and easy, but I have always found it very slow (when compared to unencrypted VNC/remote desktop over a vpn), and the initial connection can take ages.

Yes, I've had a look at crossloop and it's not quite what I want as it requires a person both ends of the link.I think VPN/VNC is the way to go so that the person at home can connect to the office PC whether there is someone in the office or not and there's no need for someone to pass a code to the one wanting to connect - all done by preset password.There's an excellent walkthrough on the link albertross posted, so I'll try that on Monday when the office is open again.Thanks again.