accessing my ubuntu computer remotely from a Windows PC

[Lee Braiden]

On Friday 22 July 2005 17:47, Jeff Co wrote:
> > You have two main options: a shell-based interface, like SSH, or a remote
> > desktop solution like VNC, or FreeNX. Both provide you with ways of doing
> > both, but have different resource requirements, so you'll want to pick
> > whatever suits your needs best.
>
> I think I'll stay away from just a text-based "command line/dos prompt"
> way. I'd like to do a GUI way. Between VNC and FreeNX, which (better) suits
> my needs?

FreeNX seems to be MUCH better, but I haven't had the time to check it out 
personally yet.  Definitely worth looking into.

As someone else mentioned, VNC should be encrypted over SSH, if your client 
doesn't include that feature. Also, you're looking for a variant called 
TightVNC, rather than plain old VNC.

> Again, my needs are accessing my home directory and my 
> home/pictures directory. Basically, I want access to my computer because I
> want to be able to show friends and family the pictures I have taken.
>
> Is one easier to install than the other, for both client (Win PC) software
> and server (Ubuntu PC) software?
> Is one more popular, or more newbie-friendly than the other?

FreeNX is new, but seems to be gaining ground quickly.  Have a search for 
clients, and see what's available, and what you're happy using.

> Do you mean that using a password is not enough security? Is there another
> "level" of security?

Yes!  Encryption, firewalls, keypairs, etc.  Read up on the subjects.  
Hopefully you'll be doing that anyway, as part of learning to use SSH etc. 
before you start running it.

> At this time, I don't know the client PC's IP address, but I can ask and
> find out if it will help. Will it help if i find out that client PC's IP
> address?

Yes.  Your firewall should block all remote connections to the SSH or VNC 
server, except for stuff coming from that IP.  But you STILL need passwords, 
encryption, etc.

> To confirm, you mean, "Don't remotely reboot the server machine", yes? If
> so, I'm curious: why would this cut out the connection?

Because if you're connected to that machine, and that machine powers-down, 
you're no longer connected to anything ;)

> The server 
> PC(Ubuntu) doesn't have any firewall. Perhaps the client PC doesn't either,
> but I'm not sure.

Put one on both.

-- 
Lee Braiden
http://www.DigitalUnleashed.com
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