For several years, Microsoft has offered a
protocol called RDP that
allows users to remotely access and control their computers. The
RDP protocol has constantly improved over time and the current version,
5.2, supports:
If you have Windows 2000 or Windows XP, it is easy
to remotely control
your computer. I frequently use my laptop to remotely control my
main system. The screen on my laptop looks just like the screen
on my desktop. When I download mail, I am actually downloading mail on
my main computer. The performance is the same as if I were
sitting at my server. It is very useful to be able to access my main
computer without having to stay in front of the computer all the time.
RDP is an excellent way to control Microsoft based PCs but RDP is not a
protocol that supports anything to anything. Another protocol is
available known as VNC (Virtual Network Computer). VNC allows
users to control anything from anything. You can install VNC
server on your PC and then use a VNC viewer on a Macintosh, Linux
workstation or even a PDA or smart phone. In fact, VNC integrates
a Java client so that by going to port 5800, a VNC client is
automatically downloaded and runs on any Java enabled device. Another
reason why VNC might be needed is for organisations that still have
systems running on Windows 98 as Windows 98 doesn’t support
RDP.
The best VNC implementation I have tested on
Windows is
UltraVnc.
UltaVnc includes several features such as integrated chat, Java Client,
encryption plug-in and options for high performance tuning.
I have a HP IPAQ 6365. This is a combination PDA and phone that
integrates GPRS and WIFI. When I am on the road, it is possible
for me to receive my local e-mail on the device. However, if I leave my
mail client running on my main PC, then the mail will go to my PC and I
am not able to download to my webpad.
I now use
.Net
VNC. .Net VNC runs on Windows, Pocket PCs and Smart
Phones. .Net VNC support advanced features such as:
- Full screen mode
- Client-side scaling
- Server-side scaling and single window mode
- Screen Rotation
- Hi-Res support for VGA Pocket PCs and QVGA Smartphones
Using .Net VNC on my IPAQ, I can take control of my desktop. I
can shut down my e-mail client or perform virtually any other function
on my PC remotely.
Once you have VNC server set up on your main system, you can then
access you system over the Internet. If you don’t have a
fixed IP address, you can use a dynamic IP address that you can obtain
from a variety of website, such as
www.no-ip.com.
There are a variety of pay services that allow you to remotely take
control of your PC. Most of them look amazingly similar to VNC.
One of these services,
Logmein offers
a free as well as a Professional version. I have tested Logmein
and found it to be very easy to set up.
To use Logmein, you install a client on your PC and then you can access
your client from any Java enabled browser. You simply go to
Logmein’s main webpage, log in, and then wait as you
computer’s screen is remotely displayed inside your
browser. Testing Logmein from a rather slow remote location, I
found Logmein usable. It was quite handy to respond to e-mails,
having access to all my main files as well as my address books, even
while I was travelling.