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Remote Desktop

M

Modular

Diamond Member
I'm looking for a program that will allow me to remotely view the desktop of my HTPC. I also wouldn't mind if it could allow me to access the files on the HTPC so they could be viewed from any PC in my house.

I have heard of TightVNC and I just looked into Windows Remote Desktop, but I'm mostly worried about security. I don't want the remote desktop program to open my PC's and network up to easy attacks.

I don't really need to be able to access my network/HTPC from outside of my home either, so if there is a remote desktop application which can operate only inside my network that would be an option I would be willing to try as well.

Thanks for any help.
 
If you are running XP Professional or MCE, the built-in Remote Desktop application would work fine. It's quite secure on its own. And as long as you don't forward TCP Port 3389 from the Internet to your network (through your router), nobody is going to be able to remote into your PC from the Internet.

As Jack mentions, VNC will also work, but if you want to encrypt the traffic, you need the Encryption Module. Windows Remote Desktop automatically encrypts everything. But, frankly, based upon your description of your needs, ANYTHING would be secure enough, as long as you don't open up your router to Remote Desktop traffic.

As always, whenever you allow remote access to a PC, be sure to use strong passwords.
 
Thanks for the help so far. I have some new questions:

Jack: Of those plug-ins that you linked to, do I want all three or only the first one? (Edit: I just read it's the first one)

Rebate: How can I be sure that port 3389 is not forwarded. I got the router from my father-in-law and I did reset it before I used it, but I always like to physically check to make sure things like this are on the up-and-up.

Also, the HTPC (the one I want to connect to) is running XP Pro, while the other computer (the one I will be connecting with) runs XP Home. Does Home have this functionality?

I guess if I use ultr@VNC I won't have to worry about theXP compatibility between Pro and Home...
 
Originally posted by: Modular
Click to expand...
It really sounds like any remote control protocol is going to be fine for you. As stated, as long as you have a hardware firewall/router, nothing it going to be able to connect into your network.

Rebate: How can I be sure that port 3389 is not forwarded. I got the router from my father-in-law and I did reset it before I used it, but I always like to physically check to make sure things like this are on the up-and-up.
Click to expand...
If you didn't set it up to forward port 3389 (and it must be forwarded to a specific IP address, then port 3389 is not forwarded. If you do decide you want to access your computer from outside your home network, you will have to forward the appropriate port to that computer (eg. forward port 5900 for UltraVNC, or any *VNC for that matter). When accessing your home computer from outside is where you will have a benefit with the UltraVNC encryption plugin.

I guess if I use ultr@VNC I won't have to worry about theXP compatibility between Pro and Home...
Click to expand...

UltraVNC works great. The encryption plugin works great. It also has a bunch of other neat little features.
 
If you decide to use Windows Remote Desktop, you only need XP Professional (or MCE) on the computer THAT YOU ARE TRYING TO ACCESS REMOTELY. For example. if you have a single XP Pro or MCE computer, you can remote into the computer using MS's client software from XP Pro, from XP Home, from Windows 2000, or even from Windows 98.
 
Great responses guys. Thanks for all the help and sorry for my total newbishness. I'm just really getting into the whole networking, VPN, sharing, HTPC thing (been a PC gamer for a few years) and I have lots of questions. Thanks for the help again.
 
Originally posted by: Brazen
It means a waist of time. OpenSSH is great for encrypting traffic, but more trouble than just using the encryption plugin to UltraVNC.[/L]
Click to expand...
It is not more trouble, it is Much More Trouble, with No advantage to UltraVNC per-se. If you need SSH tunneling and have it install, you might as well use it but just for VNC alone, Nah.

:sun:
 
Originally posted by: JackMDS
Originally posted by: Brazen
It means a waist of time. OpenSSH is great for encrypting traffic, but more trouble than just using the encryption plugin to UltraVNC.[/L]
Click to expand...
It is not more trouble, it is Much More Trouble, with No advantage to UltraVNC per-se. If you need SSH tunneling and have it install, you might as well use it but just for VNC alone, Nah.

:sun:
Click to expand...

I would disagree....as I can forward those ports using SSH, and as much as I like VNC, I don't trust it NEARLY as much as I trust OpenSSH....not even close, not even in the same zip code.

This setup allows you to open ONE port in your firewall, with a very secure service listening, as opposed to opening one to a service that is NOT as secure. UltraVNC missed the last vunlerability (was realVNC iirc), but it does not have the track history of openSSH.


I tunnel EVERYTHING through openSSH, RDP, HTTP, FTP, SNMP, Telnet, etc. It's my poor man's VPN 😀
 
Originally posted by: nweaver
Originally posted by: JackMDS
Originally posted by: Brazen
It means a waist of time. OpenSSH is great for encrypting traffic, but more trouble than just using the encryption plugin to UltraVNC.[/L]
Click to expand...
It is not more trouble, it is Much More Trouble, with No advantage to UltraVNC per-se. If you need SSH tunneling and have it install, you might as well use it but just for VNC alone, Nah.

:sun:
Click to expand...

I would disagree....
Click to expand...

Yeah, it's great once you get OpenSSH server running on your Windows box, and you have the steps down for creating the tunnel. But those are no simple tasks, especially for someone green enough to not even know his router would block incoming remote desktop connections.
 
Originally posted by: Brazen
Originally posted by: nweaver
Originally posted by: JackMDS
Originally posted by: Brazen
It means a waist of time. OpenSSH is great for encrypting traffic, but more trouble than just using the encryption plugin to UltraVNC.[/L]
Click to expand...
It is not more trouble, it is Much More Trouble, with No advantage to UltraVNC per-se. If you need SSH tunneling and have it install, you might as well use it but just for VNC alone, Nah.

:sun:
Click to expand...

I would disagree....
Click to expand...

Yeah, it's great once you get OpenSSH server running on your Windows box, and you have the steps down for creating the tunnel. But those are no simple tasks, especially for someone green enough to not even know his router would block incoming remote desktop connections.
Click to expand...

lol...openSSH on windows...

I just set up a linux box (and if you can't install Ubuntu and get ssh working, then it's time to put the mouse down) and forward ports to my linux boxes. So in my lab, I open port 22XX (never leave default) to a single IP, and have all the access I need, an dfull security (I move ports, and only allow key authentication, and have only a few user accounts)
 
Originally posted by: nweaver

lol...openSSH on windows...

I just set up a linux box (and if you can't install Ubuntu and get ssh working, then it's time to put the mouse down) and forward ports to my linux boxes. So in my lab, I open port 22XX (never leave default) to a single IP, and have all the access I need, an dfull security (I move ports, and only allow key authentication, and have only a few user accounts)
Click to expand...

Which brings in more complications for the OP. Maybe he doesn't have a spare box to put linux on? And OpenSSH WILL run on Windows, btw.
 
I'm not ready to get into Linux just for this. I'll just use the ultr@VNC program. I've been playing with the remote desktop function in Windows and it's working well too.

I'd love to try Linux, just to see what all the fuss is about, etc. But as a full-time student taking 18 credit-hours and working part time, I have other, more pressing obligations.

: ()



<----Not ready to put the mouse down quite yet...
 
Maybe one of these days I'll figure out why some people use a slow and clunky remote control program like VNC compared to built in RDP on XP Pro.
 
Originally posted by: spikespiegal
Maybe one of these days I'll figure out why some people use a slow and clunky remote control program like VNC compared to built in RDP on XP Pro.
Click to expand...

because they need multiple people to observer the session...
because it has better built in tools (such as file transfer, etc)
because it's a standard in the IT Policies


there are many reasons why someone might do this.
 
Modular, only you knows your needs, and your own agenda (if you have one).

In this specific situation, both solutions are available for free.

Ultr@VNC with encryption takes 20 minutes to set and Run.

Remote Desktop can take less the 20 Min, or much more, depending on how you set the security aspects.

I actually use both while choosing to activate the one that fits the specific situation that I am involved with at the time.

Just try it, and see which one fits your needs, rather than other people Agendas.

:sun:
 
Originally posted by: nweaver
Originally posted by: spikespiegal
Maybe one of these days I'll figure out why some people use a slow and clunky remote control program like VNC compared to built in RDP on XP Pro.
Click to expand...

because they need multiple people to observer the session...
because it has better built in tools (such as file transfer, etc)
because it's a standard in the IT Policies


there are many reasons why someone might do this.
Click to expand...


You can map your local drives/printers/serial ports across RDP. Granted its a little slow initially connecting.

RDP and SMS is standard IT Policy here. VNC would be an extra program to install and configure.

But yes, RDP can't do multiple viewers 🙁. Damn MS.
 
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