Remote access for tech support

[richtopher]

hey guys, been lurkin for a while and decided to post. My friend and I (who are both fairly computer literate but much more business-oriented) are thinking of starting a tech support firm for our area. We think we want to use a remote access program to help our potential clients, and we were wondering if you had any reccomendations.

Odds are we're going to be helping people who don't know an IP address from a hole in the ground (so to speak) so anything with the lowest learning curve customer-side would be good. price isn't really an option (thankfully we have a good amount of capital to start this)

thanks!

 

[nweaver]

without an IP...gotomyPC or something similar (have 2-3 logins with rotating passwords you give the customer over the phone when they need you to connect)

for pure remote access, I'm partial to UltraVNC, but you have to have the routers all setup

 

[JackMDS]

Welcome to AnandTech Network Forum.
Two popular solutions are.

Windows XP Pro Native Remote Desktop. http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/expert/northrup_03may16.mspx

Or UltraVNC, Ultr@VNC (Remote Control for your Network/Internet) - Installation, and Settings

:sun:

 

[DaiShan]

Originally posted by: JackMDS
Welcome to AnandTech Network Forum.
Two popular solutions are.

Windows XP Pro Native Remote Desktop. http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/expert/northrup_03may16.mspx

Or UltraVNC, Ultr@VNC (Remote Control for your Network/Internet) - Installation, and Settings

:sun:

Skip the configuration and use UltraVNC single click. You configure it once to connect to your server and hand it out to clients. It traverses their network and connects to your server, then uninstalls intself when it's closed.

 

[Cloud Strife]

Logmein.com doesn't require your client to foward any ports unlike Remote Desktop Protocol. There's a subscription fee though.

https://secure.logmeinrescue.com/HelpDesk/Home.aspx

 

[blemoine]

webex
go to webex.com that is a really good techsupport tool. all of our software vendors use it to make remote connections into our network. i think it is a little expensive but its seems to be worth every penny.

 

[richtopher]

hey guys thanks for the kind words and suggestions, and thanks for the welcome

I'm thinkin we're going to go for either openVNC or logmein. I'll let you know what happens!

 

[ktwebb]

Originally posted by: Cloud Strife
Logmein.com doesn't require your client to foward any ports unlike Remote Desktop Protocol. There's a subscription fee though.

<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="https://secure.logmeinrescue.com/HelpDesk/Home.aspx">https://secure.logmeinrescue.com/HelpDesk/Home.aspx</a>

There's a free version. Been using it for months for my side work cutomers. If it were for a legitimate business I'd probably go the paid client route but you could try the free version out for free first if you like.

 

[cmetz]

richtopher, also check out Fog Creek Copilot. Never used it myself, but it looks to be done by clueful folks.

Webex is garbage.