Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with VNC

Anything better than VNC for OSX?

jimjam — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 00:55:59 -0800

UltraVNC on Vista connecting to OSX is very very slow - is there anything faster? I'm connecting a fast Vista box (i7) to a Mac Mini (intel something) via 100mbit ethernet using UltraVNC.

However many things are very slow - dragging windows around, minimizing windows, etc - around 1-2 FPS.

Is there anything faster? I'm used to RDP on windows, which is a different protocol I know, which is blazing fast.

Forwarding X sucks - I need the full desktop. NX doesn't appear to exist for OSX.

Are there any options, or am I stuck with VNC?

VPN needed for VNC?

cahlers — Fri, 01 May 2009 08:56:23 -0800

I'd like to set up VNC on two macs not on the same network using Chicken of the VNC or similar software. Do I need VPN? I plan to use SSH Tunneling.

Enterprise KVM-over-IP that doesn't suck?

larsks — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 07:20:20 -0800

Looking for a good KVM-over-IP solution, specifically one that allows me to use a standard RDP client for access to hosts rather than a proprietary solution. We currently have an IBM Remote Console Manager (warning: PDF). Advantages: supports up to 256 servers (with only 1U of space required for the KVM), uses CAT5 wiring, supports USB and PS/2. Disadvantages: remote access requires a proprietary application that is TERRIBLE, thus eliminating most of the advantages of a remote KVM solution.

I am looking for a solution that will allow us to use (ideally) RDP (aka Microsoft Remote Desktop) or (less ideally, because of no support for remote storage) VNC to access remote consoles. Extra bonus (a) if the device provides USB mass storage emulation for network access to client-side storage devices and (b) if it allows multiple remote users to connect simultaneously. It really needs to use CAT5 wiring (because I do not want to rewrite the datacenter for it).

I don't know if such a beast exists. The primary goal here is convenient, cross-platform (Windows, OS X, Linux) access without requiring proprietary applications or browser plugins. I'm open to alternative suggestions if you're using something you're especially happy with.

Thanks for your help!

Mac to Mac vpn

IdiBot — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 10:35:06 -0800

I connect to my PowerMac G5 (running OS 10.4.11) at work over a corporate vpn using a Macbook Pro (running OS 10.5.5). I do this using VPN (Vine Server and Vine Viewer), but I have to remain logged into my work computer in order to establish a connection. Is there a way to leave my work computer at a login screen (not logged in) and still keep Vine running so I can connect, then login to OS X? I currently have Vine set up to prompt me for a password, but anybody could still sit down at my work computer and use it because I have to remain logged into OS X.

Remote Management vs. Screensharing vs. VNC on OS X

caek — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 06:53:59 -0800

In OS X Leopard, what is the difference between enabling the Screen Sharing and Remote Management options in Sharing Preferences? Assuming I can figure out firewall/port issues, will enabling Remote Management on my work Mac enable me to establish a VNC connection using a generic VNC client like Chicken of the VNC or do I have to use Remote Desktop? What authorization is required? Can I set it up so it requires my usual Mac username and password rather than some other password? Do I have other options if I want people using Linux and Windows to remotely manage their Macs at work when they are not logged in at the terminal?

I need a specific type of VNC client

omnipotentq — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 10:13:13 -0800

I need to find a (preferably) open-source/free VNC client that meets a specific requirement of mine. I run an IT business and I'm rapidly taking on remote clients. I used PCAnywhere for some of them (who are willing to pay for a license) but for those who aren't willing to pay, I'd love to have a VNC solution that's cheap and easy.

I've used (and still use, occasionally) RealVNC Free, but that doesn't meet my main requirement, which is:

I want the user to be able to "request" help from me with the VNC client, and everything will be automatically taken care of connection-wise, so that I don't have to reconfigure port forwarding on routers and install dynamic DNS software type stuff on their end.

So, a chain of events might be as follows: User has a problem. User calls me, describes problem, I tell them I'll take care of it remotely. I tell them to launch the VNC program (either after downloading it or it's already been installed), then either through them typing in a code or pressing a few buttons, it connects to the viewer/client on my end (I don't mind configuring router stuff on my end; I just don't want to repeatedly do it for customers) and then I'm able to connect and control their computer.

Something free/open-source would be great, otherwise, I suppose I'll have to just invest in something proprietary. Also, if it's something they can just download whenever they need to and run the exe, I'm fine with that, too.

Does anyone know of anything like this, or is there something similar that I could modify easily? I can program, just not very much, but I'd be willing to learn some in order to get this.

Thanks in advance!

Connecting to the Internet from Asia, via the UK?

uk_giffo — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 03:17:01 -0800

I have some Internet work that depends on me accessing the Internet from the UK as it involves location-specific search engine results. That's no problem whilst I'm here in London but shortly I'll be making a trip to Asia and would like to carry on working while there. What are my options? The obvious one is to use a proxy server specified in my Firefox settings, but the problem with this is that the web interface I need to use is quite jazzy, with Javascript and Ajax and so on, and I've had trouble getting these proxies to work with anything but the most basic HTML-only sites. That was just using those free proxies though, perhaps I'd be better off with a premium one?

Another alternative is to leave a computer here in the UK and connect in remotely to it with VNC or something like that. The problem with that is that I only have one computer, my laptop, and it'll be with me in Asia. Is it possible to rent a UK-based virtual (or real) machine of some kind that will allow me to VNC in and launch a browser window from there?

Anyone have any other ideas? Am I overlooking an obvious solution?

I know I'm an IT guy... why can't I figure this out?

fvox13 — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 15:14:14 -0800

Any suggestions for remote-controlling a computer when it's behind a NAT/firewall that I can't open a port on? Alternatively, how can I make Gmail work for this client? One of the clients we do a website for is really struggling with getting Gmail Apps for Domains working. I have confirmed that it works for POP access because I can do it from *our* office, but whenever she (their secretary) tries to input the correct settings, she's unable to make it work on their end (she gets timeout errors and a few others...). I have spent 3 hours on the phone with her today, and I'd like to be able to call her back tomorrow and spend about 15 minutes and make it work!

This particular client is using Outlook 2002 on Windows XP. We already applied the latest Microsoft Office service pack. Still no go. They refuse to just use the gmail web interface.

I'm thinking that if I can just remote desktop or vnc over to their computers, I'd be able to double check things, but they're behind some kind of a router, and the people who work there know NOTHING about it, so I can't just have them do a remote assistance invitation, because it comes through with a 192.168.x.x address.

Any suggestions on how I can make VNC / Remote Desktop work through their router? I would just go over there, but they're nowhere close to us...

Barring that, any ideas on why Gmail won't work? We tried the Gmail Pop Troubleshooter thingy and it didn't find any problems.

Moving company overseas, any software to help with online communication like Video & live Screen casting for online meetings.

spinko — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 06:15:20 -0800

Moving company overseas, any software to help with online communication like Video & live Screen casting for online meetings. I'm moving out of the UK in a few months, got rid of the staff and office to save money. Moving to Spain...

I have a few concerns regarding communication. Anyone know any professional software to ensure great communication for both me and my customers.

Phone numbers:
All going into Skype Pro

Video conferencing:
Video chat in Skype seems very clear for 1 to 1 video meetings. Anything else?

Screen casting live:
Im a designer, would like to show customers in real time if we are talking about tweaking a design. So far VNC, give them access to my screen when im working.

Anyone suggest anything else or better software. Will pay if needed as it needs to be professional.

Oh yeah, im on a Mac.

How do I control my media center remotely?

geoff. — Sat, 31 May 2008 09:59:27 -0800

How do I control a media center pc from a laptop? The catch: I want to make my terminal session run as if I was logged in at the console. This is to control a media center from afar. Right now I'm running Microsoft Vista Ultimate. I realize that I can add a patch to enable concurrent sessions, but that just starts another session. I want control the console session, so that the audio and video plays through my HDTV and my receivers. Right now I'm using a wireless mouse and keyboard, but it'd be so much easier if I could just use my laptop to terminal in.

I'm not wedded to Vista, and am looking at XBMC on OS X, but I'm having a hard time figuring out how to do this. The end result is I want the video/audio to be selected from a terminal session and output to my DVI/optical out on the headless machine (or a web browser like a SlimServer setup ... in fact I loved the ability to select songs and albums from a web browser and have them output through my Roku and receiver).

FYI I found that media centers, as a whole, disappoint. It is much easier to navigate the file directory and play something in VLC. This is hard on the eyes when you're 10ft away.

Help Desk Remote Support Software Experiences

enfa — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 07:56:15 -0800

Experiences with remote desktop software for help desk troubleshooting? I've used a few variations of VNC, and Remote Desktop, but our organization that supports a 20k+ users base running every networkable OS is looking for something with a little more ooomph. The nice wikipedia comparison chart has been helpful. I'm looking into NTRGlobal at the moment - care to share your experiences with this or related software? Ideally, the perfect software would:

Work on XP and Vista - OS X would be a nice bonus

Have built in encryption that wouldn't require a separate firewall

Be crazy simple to install on the client end (and be easy to uninstall, too)

Allow the client to see what is going on while the tech is working

Allow the client to easily disconnect the session at any time

Require the client to initiate or at least confirm the connection is OK before the technician can connect

Log the technician's session for later playback

Be nimble enough to work through assorted firewalls

Make it very difficult for anyone other than the intended technician to connect to the client's machine

Keep our security department from yelling at us

Thoughts? What has worked for you?

VGA to Ethernet device?

yellowbkpk — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 12:24:05 -0800

Where can I find a standalone device that has a female DB-15 VGA port on one side and a female Cat-5 on the other, with a VNC server in between? I work away from the office a lot, and I have yet to find a simple software solution for sharing screens over the net. I've tried oneclick VNC, NetMeeting, and the company's "solution."

Therefore, I'd like try and find a hardware doohickey that takes the VGA signal given to it, shoves it into a VNC server, and out the Cat-5 port on the other side. Has anyone heard of something like this? I suppose it doesn't have to be VNC.

If such a thing doesn't exist, how hard do you suppose it would be to make one? Think I could decode the VGA signal with a Gumstix-grade CPU?

How to send the "Windows Key" over VNC from from Mac to PC?

sockpup — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 17:19:56 -0800

How to send the "Windows Key" over VNC from from Mac to PC? PC: Windows XPP running UltraVNC
Mac: 20" Intel iMac running Chicken of the VNC or JollysFastVNC on Tiger.

Control and alt work as expected but a "command + key" combination just produces "key" (for example pressing "command + e" in notepad prints an "e" to the screen but doesn't launch explorer).

I'm willing to play around with different servers/clients to make this work but I prefer JollysFastVNC because it scales the PC window to fit the mac's wide screen resolution without scrollbars.

I've tried Remote Desktop as well. "Command + key" combinations produce nothing.

VNC on FC4 problem... Can't find libstdc++ dependency!

defenestration — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 13:57:42 -0800

LinuxNewbieFilter: I'm using Fedora Core 4 on a server. I'm SSH'd in. I'm attempting to install VNC (vnc-server). It appears that I'm entering everything in correctly but it can't find the content (specifically the libstdc++ component) to install. None of the mirrors are working either. Help! I'm typing:

yum -y install vnc-server

It starts up correctly, but when it goes to install the libstdc++ dependency, it runs into a problem.

http://download.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/core/updates/4/i386/libstdc%2B%2B-4.0.2-8.fc4.i386.rpm: [Errno 4] IOError: HTTP Error 404: Date: Sat, 01 Dec 2007 21:47:40 GMT
Server: Apache/2.0.54 (Debian GNU/Linux) mod_fastcgi/2.4.2
Content-Length: 6113
Content-Type: text/html
Via: 1.0 www.mirrorservice.org
Connection: close
Trying other mirror.

Then it tries a bunch of mirrors that don't work, either.

Eventually it says:

Error: failure: libstdc++-4.0.2-8.fc4.i386.rpm from updates-released: [Errno 256] No more mirrors to try.

What can I do? Can I add more mirrors manually? Can I manually download and setup that dependency? I'm lost here...

A VNC-like program that can scale high resolutions?

aerotive — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 02:38:56 -0800

I use VNC on computer A, 1680x1050 resolution, to control computer B, 1920x1080 resolution. This results in a lot of scrolling. Anyone know of a better solution that's also free or very cheap? Since computer A runs at a lower resolution than B, I get horizontal and vertical toolbars that are really time-consuming to deal with.

Are there any alternatives similar to VNC that could scale the resolution down to something more usable? Or a VNC variant that could do this?

Computer A is Vista, B is XP.

The sharing of the files; make it so.

TomMelee — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 04:31:14 -0800

Small office Networking, hardware/software recommendations please. Sort of long, sorry! Summary: one central office, one satellite office, one satellite retail location. Central office and satellite office are in the same building in different rooms, store is located across town. All are wired for/with broadband. Total of 4 computers, 2 in main office, one in satellite, one in my store.

I've already got filesharing for the computers in the same building, as they're part of the same subnet that's no issue. They print to each others printers, drag and move files, etc. Now here's the question:

One computer is leaving and another needs to take its place. We run a piece of custom MS Access based software that will ONLY work on an XP Pro install (or vista), NOT XP Home.

Two of the three remaining computers have XP Home, but I have upgrade discs for them. My laptop (the store computer) is Vista Business Basic. The new computer...what should it be? Vista Business Basic? Ultimate? Hrm?

It will host the main database, the rest of us will log in remotely, which leads me to the second part of my question.

I've used VNC but never VPN, and have no idea how to do it. I'm sure I can figure it out. However, will the new computer suffer usability issues if people connect to it remotely while he's trying to work? VPN doesn't take over the screen like VNC does, does it?

I'm assuming I'll have to make a rule @ the router to allow remote connections on port X to that system as well, and that's not an issue. I guess...just tell me what I need to know.

Do we need *another* box to act as a server? This database is used infrequently (maybe 5-10 times a week), and it's not particularly resource intensive. It DOES need to be hosted in one place and accessed remotely though, as its got basically all information for the entire NPO.

We *could* likely put together a low-powered machine to host the stuff that I could put @ my store to save space at the office...what is anyones opinion on minimum specs?

Remote background GUI login to OSX?

arathorn — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 12:07:39 -0800

Remote background GUI login to OSX? I'm wanting to be able to login in to the OS X GUI remotely, in the background, i.e. without interrupting anyone that is currently sitting in front of the machine. I guess basically I'm looking for an equivalent to MS TerminalServices on OSX.

Apple Remote Desktop or VNC don't cut it -- they can only let me view/control the console session. I realize I can get a remote ssh login, but I need to be able to get a full, standard GUI login.

Anyone know if this is possible? Thanks

How to do concurrent multi-user OSX?

philomathoholic — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 18:41:37 -0800

How do I go about logging in, remotely and with something like VNC, to Mac OSX, while also (at the same time) using the computer locally as a different user? Is this possible? Is there a different way to do this? (I already have ssh all set up, if that'll help.)

Is it my issue or the ISP?

braintoast — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 07:46:13 -0800

I'm baffled. What could prevent a VNC connection between 2 DSL connections with the same ISP when a connection from a different ISP works just fine? I have an office computer that's running a VNC server. It's sitting on a DSL connection with a fixed IP. I can connect to it with a viewer from *my* home (a different ISP). But, I can't connect from either my brother or parents' connections (the same ISP as the office machine).

My ISP at home is a big cable provider. The ISP in question is a small town telco providing DSL. I've been trying to troubleshoot with one of the network engineers there, but they clearly don't deal with this sort of thing often. They're totally helpful, but they're stupmed.

So I'm summoning the collective networking knowlege of the mefites.

How to run a single computer from two desks?

boreddusty — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 06:52:40 -0800

What is the best way to allow a user to access a computer from two different locations in one office? One of my users is getting a new desk for customer consultation, but their computer will stay at their current desk. What is the best way to allow the user to have the same setup, use the same programs, etc (basically run the same machine from two different locations >50ft apart). The computer is a Windows 2000 box on a Server 2003 domain.

Remote Desktop keeps freezing from home to work only

the_binary_blues — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 08:48:38 -0800

Problem: Remote Desktop freezes after the login screen and refuses to allow client to connect to the server computer. This problem only occurs from the home ip to the work ip but not from any other ip address to work. I have a client that has dell p4 Windows XP pro SP2 server on a static DSL IP that they remote access using windows remote desktop from home on their Sony VAIO Intel Centrino Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 and time warner cable high speed. IT has worked for 2 years and it quit working monday. Here is the problem they can no longer remotely access the server from home it will work for any other connection including a twc one but not from home. At home they can remote to test servers I setup at alternate ip addresses but not to test servers at the work ip or even the work server.

Things I have tried:
1. reset of all equipment on both ends
2. Verification of the correct configurations on the routers
3. Checked the MTU settings on both routers 1492
4. Turned off themes and bitmap caching in remote desktop
5. changed the screen resolution to be 800x600 at 256 bit color on the laptop and in remotoe desktop and made the remote server match
6. turnned of the firewalls on the dell and disable norton 2006 on the laptop and all of its features. nothing.
7. DId the obligatory scans for spyware and viruses using hitman pro for spyware and running all of those tools in paid mode. Scaned for Viruses with AVG, Avast and Antivir
8. checked on MS technet they said I needed to upgrade to the newest version of terminal services. I did it did not help.
9. I changed the MTU on both sides to 1492 since that is the suggest from SBC for PPOE dsl connection prior it was 1500 in both locations
10. I installed tightvnc and they still cannot get home access for the computer it will connect, prompt for a password and freeze after 1/2 of the screen is loaded and die which is better than remote desktop that wont even load the screen

::EDIT:: I just tried putting the server in the dmz on the router still no good. I genuinely believe it has something to do with somehting one of the isp's has changed. Nothing new has been installed on the computers in ages other than windows updates.

I found this article and I have a almost the same problem but I cannot get his results
Remote Desktop
http://www.quest4.org/etc/rda-blackscreen(no_login).htm

I just don't know what else to do I am working the search engines and not really finding much helpful

Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated its killing me here

vnc woes

sailormouth — Fri, 11 May 2007 12:30:33 -0800

VNC question not answered in any of the other questions tagged VNC. My work has recently moved us from solaris boxes to linux. For vpn we use citrix which kicks me to a CDE. I was told to try vnc so that I would have my KDE and I could also pickup my existing session from home.
I did everything and I can connect from home (vncserver on linux, vncviewer on XP SP2). The problem is picking up my active session from home. From home everything I am doing is on pts/2 while everything I left running at work is on pts/1.
Today a co-worker said I have to start vncserver, and then open vncviewer on my linux machine. From that point anything I do in that desktop I will see from home when I connect (I set the desktop # in my alias commandline to start vncserver). Is that really the only way I can pickup my session? If so I have an additional hiccup of different monitor sizes between work and home. Work is 2 20" monitors while home is a 19" and 17". I set the geometry (in the alias) to fit my home setup, so if I try to work in the vncviewer at work (so that I can pickup from home) I have an unusable screen size.
I have looked throughout realvnc.com and have not found relevent info, nor from google. I have no option in using a viewer other than the realvnc viewer I access through work from home.

Remote access mac to mac

cahlers — Sun, 25 Feb 2007 09:48:01 -0800

I'm looking for some help accessing my home mac from my work mac. Both machines are running OS 10.4. My home mac is behind a D-Link 624 router, using verizon FIOS. I'd like to stay away from using Terminal, if possible. Although a graphical interface is not absolutely necessary, it would be fine to use VNC, as long as this is not slower than not using it. But I'm also fine with using the "Apple-K" function in the menu bar and having my home mac appear as a networked drive on my work desktop. I've looked into several tutorials, but all leave some questions, mostly surrounding port forwarding. I've set up an account with DynDNS, but it's unclear to me how to use this account, as I'm not sure how to assign the domain I've created an IP address. The only IP I see for my computer is one distributed by my router.

I know that there's a public IP assigned by my ISP (verizon FIOS), and my private IP, which can change every so often under DHCP. However, on the DynDNS site it looks like the verizon IP, starting with a 7, changes every so often too. Not sure how to deal with this either...

If I go the VNC route, I've looked into Vine Server and Chicken of the VNC. I also know about SSH Tunnel Manager.

I'd appreciate any help in getting everything working well together. As mentioned previously, I think my biggest problem is getting port forwarding to work, and dealing with dynamic IP addressing, ie using the DynDNS software.

Thanks for your help.

Wire my granny!

Scram — Wed, 03 Jan 2007 09:09:32 -0800

What are some wonderful things with which to fill granny's new iMac? My grandmother, who is 89 and has very low tech skills, has agreed to get a computer and try to use it. We've selected the new iMac because video conferencing and VNC will be a big part of our master plan for offering constant tech support from 60 miles away.

We're using parental controls to create a grandma account that can only access a limited range of applications: Safari, iPhoto, iTunes, Skype (for calls to cousins in Irael), Mail, iDVD and a couple of board games that came with the system (for mouse practice). She will only be able to get emails from people whose addresses have been pre-approved, which I hope will eliminate spam and phishing entirely (though I expect her coffee clatch pals will be a hotbed of urban legend forwards).

I've already gone to the Internet Archive and downloaded scads of episodes of her favorite radio dramas (Lux Radio Theater and The Goldbergs) and put them into iTunes, and subscribed to a podcast of radio mysteries. I filled iPhoto with my wedding photos. I built her a google homepage with local and national news and weather, her horoscope, local time, health news and a separate tab for Middle East news.

Now I'm wondering what other goodies she might enjoy, either as part of her system or sites that she could visit regularly. I'm especially looking for a very user-friendly desktop based news aggregator (bloglines is probably too confusing) that could be installed and customized.

Also, does anyone have experience creating an account for a dynamic IP address, so I can keep track of it remotely, without having to call and ask her to read the microscopic widget on her dashboard?

If anyone has set up computers for older folks and can recommend sites and programs that have been especially interesting or helpful to improving their online experience, I'd appreciate any suggestions. I'm hoping that if what we install for her next week is simple to use and fun that she'll stick with it and be glad she made the effort. Many thanks for any ideas you can share.

Help! It's dark! I can't VNC!

bartleby — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 11:51:32 -0800

VNC gets me a black screen. Help me connect ! I have several computers in another office which is under construction. I've got the server and the desktops set up in a safe location there so I can do whatever software and configuration tweaks remotely while the office is being set up, rather than as a crash project right before they open.

I installed most of the software, etc. and the computers and the server all run fine at the remote site, connect to our network, etc. Remote access to the server works fine.

I installed VNC on the desktops in order to do my remote access. But I must have missed a setting or something somewhere when setting up the PCs (power management?), because I can access them through VNC, but all I get is a black screen. I think I've seen this before - a machine had gone into hibernate? standby? mode and all someone had to do was press a key on the actual machine to "wake" it so that I could log in.

Sound familiar?

Since it would take 3 hours to go there and hit the spacebar then come back, is there another way to wake these PCs remotely? And if/when I do have to go down there, what's the proper setting so I never get this can-access-but-not-wake-PC problem again?