Remote Computer Administration
 

Any suggestions for a program to connect to my branch office computers ? I'd like to be able to check and run Windows Update, A/V updates, look at files, etc.

Thanks

VNC Viewer is free and works well. You can also configure Netmeeting, as well as Remote Desktop with Windows.

VNC Viewer works great if there are no firewalls between you and the host computer. I have it on all of my computers and it saves me a ton of stair climbing when I have to fix something on one of them.

Re: Remote Computer Administration
 

2k server?

install terminal server in admin mode.

xp workstation/server, enable the rdp client

2k workstation, you'll have add some software.

VNC is da bomb. I administer UNIX servers from a Windblows workstation using the same GUI as I use when at the server. Saves me from being locked in the server room all day. Check out Real VNC, Tight VNC, Tridia VNC, Ultr@ VNC; all are freeware and maintained by open source crowd. You can even run ‘em thru SSH if you need to.

The mother church is here: www.realvnc.com

Believe it or don’t, I also have VNC on my PDA, allowing me to do limited server maintenance wirelessly while stuck in some pointless meeting or other. Is that geek chic or what?

I agree VNC is very very cool.
Plus it's free!! Well sort of.

Allthoguh I had to punch a hole in my firewall to allow it to administer my Windows 2003 server.

If it was a Linux server I could run it through SSH.

My other way to administering servers is to enable a VPN and then when I am connected use pcanywhere.

I suppose I could do the same thing for VNC and close the hole in my firewall.

VNC is barely more secure than telnet. Though the logon password is encrypted, the session isn't. The only way VNC should be used is over SSH (or similar method).