Re: September Meeting Ideas

On Fri, Sep 05, 2008 at 08:51:31AM -0400, Patrick Thomasson wrote:
>
> On Sep 2, 2008, at 12:49 PM, Mike Erdely wrote:
>
>> Anyone have ideas for our meeting this month?
>>
>
> Is anyone using ssh with VNC or similar to provide remote computer help
> to friends and family (or customers)? I'd like to hear about something
> like that. I'm still using a commercial service, but I'd like to replace
> it with free, open-source tools.

I'm using exactly that and have used it for a long time.

All you need are:
 - Your computer: An ssh client
 - Your computer: A VNC client
 - An SSH server accessible by both of you.
 - Their computer: An ssh client
 - Their computer: A VNC Server

Scenario:
A client is working at home with his Windows computer. He needs help
and you want to remotely control their computer. Create a user on your
SSH server for them and give it some password. Tell the user the
password. Point them to download Putty and tightvnc. When installing
tightvnc, do not register it as a server and do not have it start. Have
then run Putty and set up an SSH -> Tunnels *Remote* tunnel. Enter 5901
as the source port and localhost:5900 as the destination. Don't forget
to have them click add. Then have them connect to your ssh server
(remember to change the password or delete the account when you're
done).

Next, have them start the TightVNC server. Don't set a password and
(Administration tab) allow loopback connections and allow only loopback
connections.

Next, you ssh to the server (assuming OS X or *nix), run
`ssh -L 5901:localhost:5901 you@yourserver`. Then launch your VNC
client (chicken of the vnc is good) and connect to localhost:1.

That's it.

For Mac OS X as "their computer", they create the remote ssh tunnel
using `ssh -R 5901:localhost:5900 them@yourserver` (same for *nix).
For the VNC server, you can use Vine Server (free OS X VNC Server). For
*nix, use x11vnc (`x11vnc -localhost -display 0`).

I think we could set up a quick demo at the next meeting if you want.

-ME

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