remote desktop alternatives

[swiggy]

i recently have been become extremely fed up with remote desktop; whether its firewalls or dynamic IPs or something I have just had it up to here with the program. what remote access software do you guys reccomend/use?

 

[Bradtechonline]

There are some Citrix alternatives, and VNC. I run Neoware Thinclients using RDP, and can understand some of your frustrations. There were installed before, nobody really likes them. I cannot get the USB ports to work on them unless I spend $100's on upgrading the WIndows CE on them.

It's cheaper to buy a $450.00 Acer, and deep freeze it.

 

[networkman]

We use the GoverLAN product at my workplace extensively. 🙂

 

[JDMnAR1]

We use DameWare - there is a 30-day eval you can download and try out.

 

[cleverhandle]

Originally posted by: swiggy
i recently have been become extremely fed up with remote desktop; whether its firewalls or dynamic IPs or something I have just had it up to here with the program. what remote access software do you guys reccomend/use?

Honestly, it sounds like you'll have exactly the same problems with any remote access software you use. They all use TCP/IP as a transport, and you're going to hit exactly the same issues regarding firewalls and dynamic IP's. This sounds like a networking problem, not a software problem.

 

[stash]

Yeah RDP'ing to a dynamic IP is always going to be an issue, unless you use some of DNS updating program.

 

[JackMDS]

This is a good remote settings. Ultr@VNC (Remote Control for your Network/Interent) - Installation, and Settings

Option 3 here explains how to use Dynamic DNS, http://www.ezlan.net/myip.html

:sun:

 

[ktwebb]

I haven't found a better terminal server/console client than Remote Desktop to date. VNC, Dameware, etc.. use them all in some capacity. none are as responsive as RD. And as mentioned, your don't magically get past changing IP issues going with something else. Nor port forwarding. Just have to forward different ports. Sounds like you would be better off posing your dilemma along those lines and receiving some advice than replacing your TS client software.

Either that or switch to something like logmein or gotomypc. Web/Internet based remote computer access. This removes the problems you've described so far.

 

[cmetz]

swiggy, UltraVNC with the accelerated display driver.

 

[swiggy]

Originally posted by: ktwebb
Either that or switch to something like logmein or gotomypc. Web/Internet based remote computer access. This removes the problems you've described so far.

That was actually recommended to me by someone on another forum. I think I'll go this route. Thanks a ton

 

[spike spiegal]

Yeah RDP'ing to a dynamic IP is always going to be an issue, unless you use some of DNS updating program.

And the mentioned alternatives in this thread somehow are immune to it? They use some special, DNS free IP tunneling algorithm or something? Maybe a version of NetBEUI that broadcasts itself all over the free internet?

RDP has always been the most efficient protocol I've used on Windows, and is certainly superior to VNC. If you honestly can't handle redirecting port 3389, then find a different hobby. I can't see any firewall that's mucking up RDP traffic as being friendlier to some of these alternative either.

FYI - Citrix *requires* RDP be present.

 

[Brazen]

We had been using RealVNC for years, but I'm in the process of switching to UltraVNC. The both have their uses, depending on the situation. For instance when I get a call from a user having problems with their computer, I use VNC so I can work with the user watching. On our Windows servers, though, I usually use RDP so the console is still free to use. I do still have vnc on the console though, cuz there have been situations were a program didn't want to run correctly over rdp.

 

[cleverhandle]

Originally posted by: spike spiegal

Originally posted by: stash

Yeah RDP'ing to a dynamic IP is always going to be an issue, unless you use some of DNS updating program.

And the mentioned alternatives in this thread somehow are immune to it? They use some special, DNS free IP tunneling algorithm or something? Maybe a version of NetBEUI that broadcasts itself all over the free internet?

RDP has always been the most efficient protocol I've used on Windows, and is certainly superior to VNC. If you honestly can't handle redirecting port 3389, then find a different hobby. I can't see any firewall that's mucking up RDP traffic as being friendlier to some of these alternative either.

Um, yeah... he knew that, spike. Maybe you should lay off the attitude until you've been here long enough to recognize the people that know their stuff.

 

[RebateMonger]

In a business setting, of course, SBS 2003's Remote Web Workplace works great. It gets automatically gets around the firewall, Ports, and IP address issues. Employees logging into the Secure RWW Website see a list of every PC on the Domain and choose which one they want to log onto.

RWW uses a higher-security version of RDP (over Port 4125 and supposedly NOT vulnerable to MITM attack) to get into the Domain, and then uses standard RDP over Port 3389 inside of the Domain. There's no need to deal with Ports or IPs at all. They are automatically handled for the entire office.

It's really too bad the Microsoft doesn't offer something like RWW for offices using Standard Windows Server 2003.