[ubuntu-us-mi] remote support

[Tony Bemus]

Robert,  There is an account "support" on the server,  There is no shell 
access,  in the passwd file I put /bin/false for the shell.  so they 
only have access to forward ports and no shell access.  I can disconnect 
them by either ctrl+c when I'm controlling their desktop or I can kill 
their ssh process on the server.

 The one down fall is that with this design I can only use one person 
per that script.  If I wanted to help multiple people then they all 
would have to have their own ports in the script.

I got the idea from a commercial product called Kaseya,  it is windows 
based but the windows client connected to a server and my computer 
connected to the server then I was able to control their desktop.

Tony

Robert Citek wrote:
> This sounds like a really nice feature of ssh.   So I'm curious about
> some details.  Does this mean that support has an account on
> bemus.homelinux.com?  How do you prevent a remote user from gaining
> shell access?  Or is that not an issue?  How do you disconnect them
> from your machine when you are finished so that you can help the next
> person?
>
> Regards,
> - Robert
>
> On Wed, Jun 24, 2009 at 4:10 PM, Tony Bemus <tony at bemushosting.com> wrote:
>   
>> I wrote a simple script that does port forwarding and it forwards the
>> VNC port to a server.  I have a script that the user runs then I connect
>> to my server on that port and I can use VNC to control their desktop.
>>
>> User:
>> ssh -X -p 3389 -N -R 5900:localhost:5900  support at bemus.homelinux.com
>>
>> SSH will prompt them for a password,  then I can connect providing they
>> have remote desktop turned on.
>>
>> Tony Bemus
>>
>>
>> Wolfger wrote:
>>     
>>> "reverse SSH"? You, sir, are either pulling my leg or over my head.
>>>
>>>
>>> On Wed, Jun 24, 2009 at 1:34 PM, Brad McMahon<bradmcmahon at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>       
>>>> Wolfger
>>>> I suggest you setup a reverse ssh connection at login and an NX server on
>>>> their box.
>>>>
>>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>> On Jun 24, 2009, at 9:49 AM, Todd DeLand <todd.deland at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> I am a lurker as well, Chelsey :)
>>>> The included Remote Desktop tools in Gnome seem to work pretty well for me.
>>>> It really is just VNC.
>>>> Make sure you poke a hole in her router and forward the port to her machine
>>>> though so you can connect from outside of her network (I hope she is behind
>>>> a router).
>>>> Is it hot today or what?
>>>> Todd
>>>>
>>>> On Wed, Jun 24, 2009 at 12:43 PM, Chelsey Twigg <darth.indy at gmail.com>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>         
>>>>> I haven't ever used it, but I found this article:
>>>>> http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/ubuntu/kubuntu/enable-remote-desktop-vnc-on-kubuntu/
>>>>>
>>>>> I'm usually a GNOME person m'self, so I've not had any experience with any
>>>>> KDE differences. I am, however, free tech support to all family and friends
>>>>> that use Ubuntu, and most of them live out-of-state
>>>>>
>>>>> Also, for smaller problems that you know can be solved by a command or
>>>>> two, if you're able to IM with her, it's really easy to just have her
>>>>> copy/paste the commands and run them. Once you get them past the initial
>>>>> fear of the command line, it makes things so much easier than remote
>>>>> desktop, or "OK, click here... Then there..." I've been putting together a
>>>>> bash script, actually, for friends to run on new installs, to install
>>>>> Medibuntu, updates, and favorite tools.
>>>>>
>>>>> Hope that helps!
>>>>>
>>>>> P.S. I've been lurking on the list for a few months but never chipped in.
>>>>> So hi everyone!
>>>>>
>>>>> On Wed, Jun 24, 2009 at 12:35 PM, Wolfger <wolfger at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>           
>>>>>> Hey guys and gals. I've recently inducted a non-computer-geek into the
>>>>>> realm of Ubuntu users. She doesn't live too far away, which is why I
>>>>>> agreed to give her tech support gratis (hey... I *really* wanted to
>>>>>> rid the world of another virus-laden XP box!), but it would be much
>>>>>> easier if I could give support from the convenience of my home.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> So... Does anybody here have experience setting this up? What tools
>>>>>> (preferably on the KDE side) are good for this? How complicated will
>>>>>> it be to do?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> --
>>>>>> Wolfger
>>>>>> http://wolfger.wordpress.com/
>>>>>> http://twitter.com/wolfger
>>>>>> http://identi.ca/wolfger
>>>>>>
>>>>>> The world is a mess, and I just... need to rule it.
>>>>>>
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>>>>>>             
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>>>>         
>>>
>>>
>>>       
>> --
>> Tony Bemus
>> Bemus Hosting
>> Web Hosting and Design
>> http://www.bemushosting.com
>>
>>
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>>     
>
>   

-- 
Tony Bemus
Bemus Hosting
Web Hosting and Design
http://www.bemushosting.com