VNC: It's Real Remote Control

Virtual Network Computing (VNC) is the process of remotely controlling one computer from another. It takes the Windows Remote Desktop one step further. If you have more than one computer in your network it is well worth using.

To use VNC, you install a host on each machine, which starts with Windows and quietly sits in the tray. A viewer is installed on whatever machines you will be actually sitting in front of. When you fire up the viewer and give it the IP address of the machine you want to control, it connects and a window showing the desktop of the remote pops up. From that point you can run the remote machine like you were sitting in front of it.

I use this from home to access the big machine in the store where my email program resides. It lets me read my mail while I am sitting and sipping my morning coffee at the table.

I also use it for showing other people on my network how to do things like install programs or burn cd's since letting them watch their machine go through the required motions is a lot faster than trying to talk then through various processes.

For more information, Wikipedia has a mildly technical explanation of the VNC process here.

RealVNC is one of my most valued programs, but is not freeware. UltraVNC and TightVNC are equally good and are free. The three programs offer about the same degree on functionality.

TeamViewer, also free, is similar in operation but does not require any host programs to be installed. Technically, it is a VPN (Virtual Private Network) package for remote control, desktop sharing, and file transfer between computers.

It is probably the simplest and easiest remote control program to use. All that you have to do is download a small program that does not even require installation in your host computer. Once you run it, it will create a server and will give you a ID and a password.

With this combination you can access your computer from anywhere with the same program, again with no need of installing it. Once the remote user enters the data the session will be automatically created and the remote control will be possible. This kind of remote connection can be used to transfer files with great ease and speed, and it functions perfectly behind a firewall.

As TeamViewer requires only Flash and a web browser, no other utilities need to be installed. Had it been available when I first ran a network, I probably would not have used any version of VNC.

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