Remote Computing
June 15th, 2004
Have you ever wished you could access your home computer from work? Ever needed help troubleshooting a computer problem? Ever wanted to work on more than one computer at a time without switching seats? These are common computing problems all with one answer: remote computing.
Remote computing is surprisingly simple. Because most computers these days are connected to the same Internet, it is possible to control your computer at home from Uganda, Siberia, or even from work.
My favorite tool to use for remote computing is VNC. It’s fast, easy to use, and most importantly, it’s free.
I use VNC to control my Linux server I keep downstairs from my Windows XP laptop. VNC works between the two different operating systems without a hitch. VNC will allow simulaneous connections (unlike the Remote Desktop feature of Windows XP), so one user can see what the remote user is doing, which makes it great for showing Grandpa how to fix his printer settings. However, VNC isn’t perfect (yet). VNC doesn’t allow for file transfer (from the remote computer to the local one, or vice-versa), and you can’t copy and paste between remote and local computers either. A chat feature would also be nice, but I have seen users open Notepad and type notes back and forth — just make sure to play nicely and take turns.
I have heard of an open source project called Ultr@VNC which addresses some of the weaknesses of VNC, so if file transfer, copy and paste, and chat are important to you, it may be a good option for you.
Entry Filed under: Software
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