Can I operate 3 computers from 1?

[Barny]

if this has been hashed out before, please enlighten and forgive me.
I have a home network with 3 computers connected. Is there software available that would allow me to sit at 1 of the computers and operate the others as though I were sitting at their locally attached keyboards and monitors?
Basically, I'd like to jump between them and monitor/control what they're doing. i.e. burning a CD on one, surfing the internet on another, etc.
I know I can do all these things simultaneously on one machine but if it's possible, I'd like to run all 3 of them at the same time just for kicks.

 

[Ladi]

Remote control apps such as pcAnywhere, VNC, and several others will let you do that.
[edit]VNC is a *FREE* solution, though slow (over slow links) as many have said. It is acceptable to use over a fast LAN or fast connection, however[/edit]

~Ladi

 

[CBuxton]

If they are close together you can buy a KVM switch, and will let you share the keyboard, video, and mouse with all three. Advantage is that you have control over the system even while it is booting.

 

[Supergax]

Another advantage to kvm, well, more of a disadvantage to VNC & pcAnywhere is that they both are slow. VNC only does 256 colors, and the little dot for the remote arrow lags behind the real arrow. pcAnywhere seems much faster, is much more robust (you can run it as a service, lock keyboard on the remote machien, lock machine when done with session, colors up to 32-bit, etc.). Yet both of them are slow, anything with even midly intense graphics (ie. a picture) can become a pia with either program.

 

[Looney]

VNC and PCAnywhere are VERY slow like Supergax said... if you expect to be able to use those computers as if you were sitting in front of them, you're SOL... hell, i would rather use Backorifice for that rather than those software... And if you want to experiment with that, BO is free, whereas VNC and PCAnywhere will cost you, because i highly doubt you'll find that efficient or feasible.

 

[Supergax]

VNC is free. pcAnywhere will cost you, well, of course, unless you somehow come upon a copy

 

[zuffy]

Try Microsoft Netmeeting.. it's free and also as good as pcAnywhere. I use Netmeeting at work and home... it's great. If you are limited in bandwidth, then pcAnywhere is a better option. Of course, as mentioned from a few above, KMV is the best solution if the computers are within a reasonable distance (less than 20 feets). They do have KMV's that can go very long distance but just the KMV itself will cost big bucks and the cables won't be cheaper either.

 

[IsOs]

Barny,

How far are the computers apart? As said earlier, KVM switch is practical for close, within 12 feet radius.

Are the computers already network? What type of networking? Are they all runnign the same OS? These are considerations when taking the software route.

I use both. I have two computers both part of a network that share one monitor and wireless keyboard and mouse. Also, both are PCAnywhere host. Sometimes, I use PCAnywhere so I can see the other computer concurent with the one I'm working with. But when I need to interact faster, like playing games, I switch using KVM.

 

[R0b0tN1k]

If money isn't a problem, you can get KVM's with extedners that will let you control the computer from 1000 ft away over a single run of cat5. It's definitely cool stuff, but very expensive.