fixing distant computer via remote control

[Colin Law]

On 21 November 2011 02:21, Liam Proven <lproven at gmail.com> wrote:
> On 21 November 2011 01:48, NoOp <glgxg at sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>> On 11/20/2011 11:38 AM, Liam Proven wrote:
>>> On 20 November 2011 17:23, Bill Stanley <bstanle at wowway.com> wrote:
>>>> I am considering my options on fixing another computer via remote control.
>>>>  The computer I want to fix is in a different house in my neighborhood.  We
>>>> both use Ubuntu Linux version 10.10,(GNOME Desktop) so operating system
>>>> differences shouldn't be a problem. We both use the same ISP, but obviously
>>>> we do not share the same local network (different ISP accounts).
>>>>
>>>> I have been spending a lot of time going over to my neighbor to fix
>>>> relatively simple things.  Winter is coming and I really don't want to leave
>>>> my house for something that is relatively minor.  Some fixes take only a few
>>>> minutes.  My neighbor tries to describe the problem but a verbal description
>>>> is lacking.  What must be done so I can access my neighbors computer via my
>>>> computer.  I would like a GUI application so it would be like I was actually
>>>> there.
>>>
>>> What J D Lamb has suggested will indeed work, but it is moderately
>>> technical to achieve if you don't know your way around things like
>>> OpenSSH servers and router configuration.
>>>
>>> It's not FOSS, but TeamViewer is free for non-commercial use & I
>>> believe it will do what you need:
>>> http://www.teamviewer.com/en/index.aspx
>>>
>>
>> Why would you find that necessary when vino/vinegre is already included
>> and installed in 10.10?
>
> AFAIK that requires router reconfiguration. Teamviewer does not:
> requests are proxied across TV's servers. No user list information or
> anything else is stored there, TTBOMK, not for private users, anyway.

In addition TeamViewer has a Windows client, so if you are unfortunate
enough to have to support users who have to use Windows then this
route works for them also.

That is not to say that I think TeamViewer is always the best
solution, it is just very easy as it avoids messing about with the
router.  For those with a high level of support I use x11vnc that I
can run remotely via ssh as I find it gives better screen quality and
can be activated with no action on their part.

Colin

Colin