A guide to remote control programs. Remote access to a computer via the Internet

Remote computer control programs allow you to remotely control another computer over the Internet or on a local network. This is convenient when you need to help a not very experienced user, for example, a relative or friend who is poorly versed in a computer to do something on it, without leaving your comfortable chair and without wasting your nerves and time on telephone conversations. Such programs are also convenient to use for remote work, for example, from home to connect to the office and vice versa - to access your home PC, for system administration of a whole fleet of computers and servers.

Let's conduct a comparative analysis of remote control programs, highlight their advantages and disadvantages.

TeamViewer

One of the most popular programs for remote access, it can be quickly downloaded and installed or immediately launched without installation, even a not very experienced user can handle it. When launched, the program displays a window with an ID and password for accessing this computer, and TeamViewer also allows you to connect to another computer by specifying its ID and password.

Advantages:
The program has several basic modes of operation: remote control, file transfer, chat, demonstration of your desktop. The program allows you to configure round-the-clock access to the computer, which will be convenient for system administration. The speed of work is quite decent, there are versions for all mobile platforms, for various operating systems, which is very pleasing. A simple and straightforward interface, plus a number of additional utilities to expand the functionality of the program, will be useful for remote support services.

Disadvantages:
Although the program is free, but only for non-commercial use, and when working with it for more than 5 minutes, a number of difficulties arise, for example, TV can block a remote connection session, recognizing it as commercial use. For round-the-clock remote access or administration of several computers, a computer network, you will have to pay for additional program modules. The cost of the program is high.

Outcome:
This program is ideal for a one-time remote connection or using it for short periods of time. It is convenient to use from mobile platforms, but not to administer a large number of computers. You will have to pay extra for additional modules.

LiteManager

A simple, but quite powerful program in terms of capabilities, consists of two parts, the first is Server, which must be installed or run on a remote computer and Viewer, which allows you to control another computer. To work, the program requires a little more skills and experience from the manager, although working as a server is even easier than in TeamViewer, the server can be installed once and no more action is needed from the user, the ID will always be constant, you can even set it yourself manually, which very easy to remember. LiteManager Free version is free for personal and commercial use.

Advantages:
In addition to the main modes of remote access: remote control, file transfer, chat, task manager, registry editor, the program also has unique functions, for example: inventory, screen recording, remote installation. The program is free for use on 30 computers, it can be used for round-the-clock access without any additional modules. There are no restrictions on the working time. It is possible to set up your own server ID to set up corporate support. The program does not have any restrictions on the time of work and locks.

Disadvantages:
There is not enough client for mobile platforms or other systems, there are restrictions on 30 computers in the free version, to administer more you need to purchase a license. Some specific operating modes are available only in the Pro version.

Outcome:
Litemanager is suitable for providing remote support, for administering several dozen computers absolutely free of charge, for setting up your own remote support service. The cost of the program is the lowest in its segment and the license is not limited in time.

Ammy admin

The program is basically similar to TeamViewer, but with a simpler version. There are only basic modes of operation - viewing and control, file transfer, chat. The program can work without installation, free for non-commercial use.

Advantages:
A simple and lightweight program, you can work both on the Internet and in a local network, has minimal settings and does not require any special skills. Compared to TeamViewer, the licensing policy is milder.

Disadvantages:
A minimum of functions for remote control, it will be difficult to administer a large park of computers, with long-term use, more than 15 hours a month, the session may be limited or blocked, paid for commercial use,

Outcome:
This program is more suitable for a one-time connection to a computer and not very complex manipulations, for example, as an aid to an inexperienced user in setting up a computer.

RAdmin

One of the first remote control programs and known in its circle, I could not help but mention it, more intended for system administration, the main focus is on security. The program consists of two: a server component and a client component. It requires installation, it will not be easy for an inexperienced user to figure it out, the program is designed mainly to work by IP address, which is not very convenient for providing those. online support. The program is paid, but has a free trial period.

Advantages:
The program has a high speed of work, especially on a good network, thanks to the desktop capture video driver, increased reliability and security. Intel AMT technology is built in, which allows you to connect to the BIOS of a remote computer and configure it. Only the main modes of operation are implemented: remote control, file transfer, chat, etc.

Disadvantages:
There is almost no way to work without an IP address, i.e. connect by ID. There is no client for mobile systems. There is no free version, only a trial period of 30 days. Experienced user skills are required to operate the program. When connecting a video, the driver can disable the Aero graphic shell, sometimes the screen flickers.

Outcome:
The program is more suitable for system administrators to administer computers and servers in a local network. To work over the Internet, you may need to set up a VPN tunnel.

There are a lot of programs for organizing remote access. There are paid and free programs, there are programs for different operating systems. It is clear that in this article we will not be able to consider everything at once, but we will talk about the most interesting of them, and most importantly, we will understand what is more effective for a particular task.

Radmin (shareware)

About ten years ago, the most popular remote access program was Radmin, and it still exists (www.radmin.ru) - it has not gone anywhere during this time. Let's start our review with it.

The program consists of two parts: Server and Viewer. The first one runs on a remote computer (or remote computers), and the second one runs on your computer and is used to connect to the remote machines that you are about to configure. On the developer's site, you can download both the complete kit and individual components. There is also a portable version of the Viewer that works without installation, and the Radmin Server 3.5 NTI version is a special version without an icon in the tray, that is, the user of the remote computer will not know that Radmin is installed on it until you start controlling his computer.

I will note the key features: support for Windows 8 32/64 bit, support for switching user sessions in Windows XP / Vista / 7/8, compatibility with Wine (Radmin can organize remote access to a Linux PC via Wine), Telnet support, remote shutdown of the PC , a Radmin server scanner (allows you to find all the PCs you can manage on your network), file transfer between Server and Viewer.

Conclusions:

• The functionality of the program: here and its own authentication, and support for voice chat, and the ability to transfer files. Everything is very convenient.
• Due to the fact that Server is installed on the remote computer, the presence of the user is not required, as in other similar programs. For example, you can administer remote PCs of your colleagues when they are gone for lunch. In other similar programs, it is necessary either for the user to allow the connection, or for the user to provide you with a password that is generated automatically for each communication session.
• Low system requirements, the program does not load the processor at all, which is especially important for my old laptop with AMD process, which heats up like an iron - it acted as a "remote" computer.
• Just starting Server is not enough, you also need to configure it.
• Many users love TeamViewer not for its functionality, but for the fact that it does not require any special ports (it uses port 80 by default) and does not require a firewall to be configured. Radmin Server uses port 4899 and cannot be started without configuring a firewall.
• No mobile clients.
• Doesn't support other OS.

TeamViewer (freeware)

Now, probably, of the programs for remote access, TeamViewer is the most popular. You can download its full version from www.teamviewer.com/ru without paying a dime. The program is absolutely free for non-commercial use.

Rice. 4. TeamViewer started

TeamViewer is pleased with the support for Windows, OS X, Linux, which Radmin lacked so much. There are also mobile clients for Android, iPad / iPhone: you can control a remote computer from your iPhone. There is also a Portable version of the program for Windows, which is very useful for infrequent use of the program, and the Portable version can be run both on the "server" and on the "client", unlike Radmin, where you can run only the client (Viewer) without installation, and the "server" part must be installed.

After starting the program, you will see the main TeamViewer window and the Computers & Contacts window (Fig. 4). If you plan to help all your relatives and colleagues at once, you can click the "Register" button, create an account, and then in this window you will see all the numerous computers that you have configured.

Rice. 5. TeamViewer in action

Now let's figure out which is which. If you need to connect to your computer, then you must tell the remote side your ID (in this case 969 930 547) and password (8229). How to inform, already decide for yourself - you can copy and transfer these values ​​via Skype, ICQ, e-mail, SMS, or simply dictate by phone. This password is changed every time the program is started. If the program is installed on your computer, you can make a permanent personal password, but I do not recommend: the password can be compromised and then anyone can connect to your computer.

If you need to connect to a remote computer, then you need to enter the ID of the remote side (in this case 411108007) and click the "Connect to partner" button, after which the program will ask you to enter the password that you received from the remote side. That's all - in the window that appears, you can configure the remote computer (Fig. 5).

You've probably already noticed the main difference from Radmin: you need to transfer the password to the person who sets up the computer, and in Radmin the password is specified when creating a user account. In other words, you need the presence of the user at the computer. The question is, how can you organize a home office when you want to access your work computer from home, for example, at night. Everything is very simple. You need to organize the autostart of TeamViewer (for example, add it to the "Startup" group or register it in the registry in the Run key) and set the "Personal password". Please note that you cannot set a personal password if the program is not installed on your computer, but launched without installation.

There is another program you should know about: TeamViewer Host. It runs as a system service and is used for round-the-clock access to a remote computer, including logging in and out of the system. It turns out that TeamViewer Host allows you to organize a terminal server, and it supports an unlimited number of clients for one server (the number of clients is limited only by the computing capabilities of your computer). It should also be noted that installing TeamViewer Host requires administrator rights, which are not always available, so in most cases you will still use regular TeamViewer. However, if you only need to configure one computer (or just organize remote access to it, say from home), then TeamViewer Host is not needed. For the sake of fairness, it should be noted that if a regular TeamViewer (not Host) is running on computer A, then computers B, C, D (the number three is given as an example) can connect to it for joint administration. Another thing is that it is necessary to coordinate the actions of administrators, since the keyboard and mouse are common, but one can configure, the rest will observe.

Like Radmin, TeamViewer allows you to exchange files, voice and text messages, as well as reboot the computer remotely (the required command is in the Actions menu, see Fig. 5, just restarting the computer is not enough - then the TeamViewer communication session will not be established, restart the computer during its configuration is needed only through the "Actions" menu).

Conclusions:

• Simplicity (the program is simpler than Radmin - a huge advantage for untrained users who have to install it on a remote side).
• The program does not require installation at all: both on the client and on the server. Installation is optional.
• Works through port 80 (and some additional ports), so no firewall configuration is required.
• Availability of versions for other OS.
• Availability of mobile clients for Android, iOS and Windows Phone 8 (that is, you can control a remote computer directly from your iPad).
• Possibility of organizing interactive conferences (up to 25 participants).
• Doesn't require administrator rights for remote access.
• The processor loads much more than Radmin, my old laptop even overheated and turned off.
• Although there are mobile clients, they are not very convenient (however, it is better than nothing).

Royal TS (shareware)

Once there was such a program - mRemote. I don't know what happened there, but the mRemote project was closed, and the developers took and created another project - Royal TS. On the site you will find versions for Windows, OS X and iOS (can be run from iPhone and iPad).

In Royal TS, before creating a connection, you need to create a document, that is, one connection = one document. Royal TS documents are a very convenient thing, they can be transferred as ordinary files, for example, to another admin. He will be able to open such a document and immediately connect to a remote computer without the need to create a connection manually. The shareware version has a limit on the number of simultaneously open documents - ten. As for me, this is quite enough for non-commercial use of the program, so in practice you will not even notice that you are missing something (unless, of course, you are remotely administering a huge network of computers).

First of all, I must say that this program is fundamentally different from Radmin and TeamViewer. Both of these programs combine the functionality of both a server and a client (in the case of Radmin, the server and the client are different programs, in the case of TeamViewer, they are the same program). In other words, on one of the computers you can install Radmin Server or TeamViewer, and on the other you can use Radmin Viewer or TeamViewer, respectively, to connect to this remote computer. So, Royal TS is something like Radmin Viewer, that is, a program for connecting to a remote server, but you have to create a server on your own. How you do it is your problem. Royal TS will not help you create such a server, it will only let you connect to it.

Rice. 6. Royal TS for Windows

Among the protocols for connecting to a remote server that Royal TS supports: RDP, Telnet, SSH, Citrix, VNC. The RDP / Telnet / SSH and others servers themselves will have to be configured on their own.

On the one hand, this is beyond the scope of the article, on the other, it would be incomplete if I did not give an example of setting up at least one of the servers that Royal TS supports. SSH / Telnet servers, I think, will not be very interesting to the reader. I want something graphic. Suppose we have Linux (Ubuntu or its clone) and need to set up a VNC server. To do this, first install the VNC server with the command:

Sudo apt-get install vnc4server

After that, you need to run it - for the first time without parameters:

Sudo vnc4server

When running the sudo vnc4server command, you need to enter a password that will be used to connect to this VNC server. The password itself will be saved in $ HOME / .vnc / passwd. I won't say another word - there is man :). After the first start, you need to start vnc4server, specifying the screen number:

Sudo vnc4server: 3

Next, in Royal TS, you need to create a new document (on the File tab), then go to the Edit tab and click the VNC button. In the window that appears (Fig. 7), you need to enter the Display Name - in our case: 3, the IP address of the VNC server and specify the port number (usually 5900). The password will be asked when connecting to the server.

Rice. 7. VNC connection parameters

Conclusions:

• A universal client for connecting to a remote server using various protocols.
• There are versions for Windows, OS X and iOS.
• It is impossible to organize remote access only by means of Royal TS, additional programs are needed.
• Not suitable for remote configuration of computers of inexperienced users - they simply will not be able to configure the necessary remote access services.

Supremo: free and simple (freeware)

Let's analyze the situation. If you do not like TeamViewer or you cannot use it for some reason (including the need to purchase a license for commercial use), and Radmin is also not suitable for some reason, then you will have to look for analogues. Since the article deals with simple and free programs, the following program must be: a) free; b) simple. Such is the program Supremo, which can be downloaded from the site.

The program (fig. 8) is created "after the image and likeness" of TeamViewer. It does not require installation, its principle of operation is the same as that of TeamViewer, even it uses the same terminology (this is me regarding the partner ID and other labels in the program interface).

The customized computer and the support technician's computer must be running Windows only. Various editions of Windows are supported, including Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2. The official website has not yet said anything about support for Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012.

Rice. 8. Supremo program

The algorithm for using it is simple: you need to run the program on both computers, then ask the remote side for its ID and password, and then click the "Connect" button. Before this, the remote side must press the "Start" button, otherwise the connection will not be allowed. Perhaps this is the only difference from TeamViewer.

To make the overview more complete, let's go to the program settings (Tools -> Options). In the "Security" section (Fig. 9), you can configure the automatic launch of the program, specify a password for remote connections and specify which ID is allowed to connect to your computer.

Rice. 9. Supremo security parameters

In the "Connection" section (Fig. 10), you can specify the parameters of the proxy server, if it is present in your network.

Rice. 10. Supremo connection parameters

In addition to its direct purpose, namely, remote control of a computer, the program can be used to exchange files. To exchange files (which is possible in two directions - both downloading and uploading) just use drag & drop.

Conclusions:

• Easy to use.
• No installation required.
• File transfer capability.
• Chat capability.
• No firewall configuration required (HTTPS / SSL is used).
• No support for OS other than Windows.
• No mobile clients.

LogMeIn (freeware)

Let's consider another useful program - LogMeIn (fig. 11). The purpose of this program is the same as for all the others discussed in this article - remote access. On the logmein.com site you will find several similar products, but we are primarily interested in the LogMeIn Free product. Its capabilities are sufficient for most purposes: access to a computer running Windows or OS X, remote control and desktop viewing, copying and pasting data between computers, reboot function, chat, multi-monitor support, SSL / TLS intrusion detection, not requires configuring firewall settings, does not require remote computer administrator rights.

Personally, I liked the functions of copying and pasting data between computers, as well as the reboot function: in the process of setting up a computer, it sometimes requires a reboot, after which the remote access session will be automatically restored, which is very convenient.

Unlike the Free version, the Pro version supports transferring files between computers, HD video, dragging and dropping files between computers, and a few other features that are hardly worth paying almost 53 euros a year - that's how much the Pro version costs. A comparison of the two versions, as well as the OS X version, can be read at: https://secure.logmein.com/comparisonchart/comparisonFPP.aspx.

Rice. 11. LogMeIn main window

The way of working with this program is slightly different from TeamViewer and similar programs. Everything is a little more complicated, but, apparently, this is how the LogMeIn developers determine who uses the program and for what purposes. In the main window, select "from Mac or PC" and then you will see the sequence of actions that must be performed to provide another user with access to this computer (Fig. 12). Grandfather and grandmother will definitely get confused and not appreciated. You cannot do without registering at logmein.com, although it is free, but in terms of convenience, it is completely superfluous.

Rice. 12. How to connect to this PC

There is, however, an easier way - anonymous access through a browser. Quite an interesting feature that is not found in other similar programs. The bottom line is this: a user who wants you to configure his computer creates an invitation link, then sends it to you in any convenient way (by email, skype, and so on). An invitation link is valid for a certain time (the time is assigned by a remote user), even if someone spies on the link, he is unlikely to be able to use it after the expiration date.

Let's take a look at how to create an invitation and how to use it. The Desktop Sharing section displays the current prompts. By clicking the "Send invitation" button, you can generate that very link. The New Invitation Wizard lets you define the length of the invitation and how the invitation is sent (you can email the link, or you can just get the link and send it manually).

Rice. 13. Controlling a remote computer through a browser

Then this link must be sent to the person who will configure the computer. When he copies it to the browser and opens it, he will see a screen like the one shown in Fig. 13. To continue, click the "Continue" button. After that, the user who sent the link will receive two consecutive requests. The first request is a request to grant access to the guest, the second request is to grant access rights (Fig. 20). The guest can either fully control the computer, or only view the desktop without control.

Conclusions:

• Doesn't require administrator rights.
• No firewall configuration required.
• The ability to use a browser for remote control.
• Mobile clients.
• A somewhat unusual principle of operation.

Mosh (mobile shell): a good alternative for SSH

Mosh can also be used to remotely access the console (that is, you can remotely execute commands and see their result). The main advantage of Mosh over SSH is the possibility of roaming, that is, changing the network on the client machine, which is useful on the road when the network can change (now it is cellular, in a few minutes - Wi-Fi, while the IP changes, but the connection remains). Frequent traveling admins will appreciate this. But there is one big drawback: Mosh will not connect to a regular SSH server, that is, you will have to install Mosh on the server. But Mosh does not work as a daemon, like SSH, but as a regular program, that is, you do not need root access to run it. Mosh is available for many Linux and BSD distributions, OS X, iOS (as part of the popular iSSH client), and Android.

UltraVNC / RealVNC

VNC (Virtual Network Computing) is a system for remote access to a computer desktop using the RFB (Remote FrameBuffer) protocol. Earlier it was shown how to organize a VNC server in Linux, in Windows such a server can be created using the UltraVNC or RealVNC programs. UltraVNC is similar to RealVNC, but has additional features such as encryption of the connection between the client and the server, the Java Viewer module (access to a remote PC through a Java-enabled browser), and others. Although RealVNC has a VNC Viewer plugin for Google Chrome, so there is no need for a Java Viewer. As noted, programs are very similar in many ways, so in this article we will only cover UltraVNC.

When installing UltraVNC, it is possible to install both a VNC server and a VNC client. On your computer, if you do not need remote access to it, you do not need to install the VNC server. When installing a VNC server, it will be possible to configure it to run as a system service, but this requires admin rights. The RFB protocol that VNC uses typically uses ports 5900-5906. Therefore, to connect via VNC, you need to configure a firewall, otherwise it will "chop" the connection.

The UltraVNC Viewer program is used to connect to the VNC server. The program is universal and you can use it to connect to any VNC server, not just the one running UltraVNC Server. Similarly, you can connect to the server created by the UltraVNC Server program with the RoyalTS program or any other VNC client.

A few words about how it all works. First, launch the UltraVNC Edit Settings program and on the Security tab set the password for accessing the VNC server, then you need to launch the UltraVNC Server program. Then, on another computer, launch UltraVNC Viewer (Fig. 14) and enter the IP of the computer on which the VNC server is installed, and press the Connect button.

Rice. 14. UltraVNC Viewer

Conclusions:

• You need admin rights, you need to configure the firewall.
• The same protocol can be used to control Windows, OS X and Linux, but these are not advantages of a specific program, but of VNC itself.

SSH access

SSH remains a classic of remote access. It would seem, what else can you think of here? Well, for example, what if you have many remote machines? Register aliases for each? There are special utilities that allow you to quickly switch between machines. One such manager in Linux is the Gnome Connection Manager. The program is very convenient, we strongly recommend it. On Windows, AutoPuTTY is used for this purpose, a wrapper for the popular SSH / Telnet client PuTTY, which can be downloaded from http://www.r4dius.net/autoputty/. There is a similar SSH connection manager for OS X-Shuttle. For mobile platforms, you can use mobile SSH clients - Prompt (iOS) and ConnectBot (Android). You can easily find links and screenshots on the web.

Ammyy Admin (freeware)

Ammyy Admin is another program for remote desktop access. The good thing about the program is that it is absolutely free, completely undemanding to resources (the executable file generally occupies a ridiculous 700 KB), allows you to organize both regular remote access to the desktop and a connection in the style of a remote office, does not require installing and changing firewall settings. You can familiarize yourself with the rest of the program's features on the developers website.

AnywhereTS (freeware)

Allows you to convert computers to thin clients. The main purpose of this program is by no means remote access for technical support reasons, as in all previously described programs, although it can also be used for this. AnywareTS allows you to give a second life to old computers that will be used as thin clients - to connect to a server that will run programs that are physically impossible to run on old PCs. You can find detailed information about this program on the developers website.

Remote access in Windows 8

This review would not be complete if we did not consider the capabilities of the OS itself. On the "server" (that is, on the computer to which remote access is planned), you need to do the following:

• Run SystemPropertiesRemote.exe.
• Enable the "Allow Remote Assistance connections to this computer" check box.
• Turn on the "Allow remote connections to this computer" radio button and click the "Apply" button.
• If you are using power-saving mode, you need to configure your computer so that it never goes into sleep mode.

On your computer, use the Remote Desktop Connection application to connect to a remote computer.

Rice. 15. Allowing remote access

Google Hangouts: screen sharing and video conferencing

As a last resort, you can use a new service from Google - Hangouts... It allows you to set up video calls during which users can share their screen with each other. If you wish, you can familiarize yourself with this service yourself.

Instead of a conclusion

There are a lot of programs for remote access. As I've hopefully shown, the most common tool isn't always the most effective. It is necessary to build on the conditions of a specific task, target platforms and other factors. Hopefully now I have finally cleared up the whole picture of remote access in your head. All suggestions and wishes can be sent to [email protected]

Free solutions

Remote control involves connecting to another computer to gain access and control resources. Thanks to this feature, the user can solve many additional tasks remotely: consultations, diagnostics, computer monitoring. Thus, tasks are simplified that are often impossible or irrational to perform at a distance.

The review will consider 10 solutions (6 free and 4 paid) for remote management. The main attention will be paid to the following features of the software of the selected category:

• Package contents: what components are included in the distribution kit, types of installation on the host and client computers
• Connection modes: supported protocols, work with RDP (see below)
• Presentation functions: I mean the possibility of audio and video accompaniment, screen capture, the presence of additional tools ("pointer", "drawing board", etc.)
• Security: supported encryption technologies, storage of confidential data, types of authorization on local and remote computers, availability of necessary settings
• Platform support: mobile platforms and OS, availability of an online version.

The standard features of Windows will not be ignored, namely the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP), which will be discussed first. At the end of the review, there is a comparison table with detailed information on the availability of the necessary functions in the mentioned applications.

RDP - Windows Remote Desktop Protocol

Starting with Windows NT, there is support for the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP). Accordingly, Windows 7 offers the user RDP 7 (an update for Windows XP is also available), Windows 8 - RDP 8 (also available for Windows 7 SP1). The capabilities of the current version, RDP 8, and will be discussed.

Connection to a remote worker is carried out using the mstsc.exe application, after entering the name of the remote computer. Connection parameters are also available in this dialog.

In the "Display" tab, you can specify the resolution of the remote desktop (with the ability to enable full-screen mode), color depth (up to 32 bits).

In the "Local resources" section, you can select the audio playback mode (on a remote or current computer), enable audio recording from the remote desktop. Also in this section you can configure access to the printer, local disk, floppy drive, PnP devices, ports.

The quality of data transmission is regulated in the "Interaction" tab. You can not only select a connection profile, but also independently define display parameters: desktop background, anti-aliasing, visual effects, image caching. All of these options affect the data transfer rate for remote access and can significantly optimize network traffic.

Security settings are available through the "System" component ("System Properties" in the Control Panel). In the "Remote Access" tab, you can allow Remote Assistance connections as well as remote connections to your computer. Authentication is done at the network level. It is also allowed to restrict access by specifying the list of allowed remote desktop users yourself.

Thus, the state of Windows provides basic tools for working with the RDP protocol. But, as expected, advanced security settings, support for mobile platforms, presentation functions are not offered to the user.

Teamviewer

TeamViewer is perhaps the most famous free remote control program. The toolkit allows you to establish remote access to your home computer, manage your desktop from various platforms and devices, and administer Windows servers. In addition, the developers highlight the corporate capabilities of TeamViewer: the program can be used to organize conferences, consultations and help colleagues at work.

TeamViewer is available for Windows, Linux, Mac platforms (with limitations), remote access from OS-based devices is possible. TeamViewer client in the full version of the distribution (All-in-One), as a system service (TeamViewer Host), in portable format, on a terminal server and other options. The TeamViewer QuickSupport module should be highlighted, which does not require installation and is optimal for urgent tasks.

In the full version of the program, the client and operator parts are available. The TeamViewer interface is represented by a main window with two tabs - Remote Control and Conference.

Remote control

The user receives a unique ID to identify the computer on the network, and a temporary password. Also, using the partner ID (optional - the IP address) and knowing its password, you can establish a connection to the remote device.

Three connection modes are available:

• Remote Control: Remotely control the device or collaborate on the same computer
  All actions are performed on another computer through the remote control window. In this case, it is possible to change the resolution and scaling, switching between active monitors and other options.
• File transfer: sharing files during a session
  To exchange data, TeamViewer uses a two-pane file manager, in which host and client resources and basic file operations for working with them are available, such as creating folders, deleting, copying, etc.
• VPN: virtual network mode
  You can set up a virtual private network between computers to share devices (printers, removable media, etc.).

Conferences

In this TeamViewer tab, you can create a blitz conference or connect to an existing one. Among the available tools are voice and video communication, screen sharing, session recording with the ability to convert to AVI. Whiteboard is used as a canvas for drawing, sketching, commenting.

One of the indisputable features of TeamViewer is the Computers & Contacts list, which provides quick access to devices. In addition, here you can monitor the network status of computers, exchange messages (there are group chat capabilities). Looking ahead, it should be noted that not every participant in the review offers an address book for quick connection to other devices.

For security purposes, the program uses encryption of sessions (AES 256 bit) and traffic (RSA key exchange). Files transferred during a session are signed by VeriSign and the end user must agree to receive them. Through the TeamViewer settings, it is possible to restrict access: setting access to all operations only after confirmation or denying outgoing sessions.

Summary

TeamViewer is a universal solution with a choice of remote control method. Thanks to the widely presented multimedia functions, convenient organization of contacts, the program is optimal for conferences.

[+] Wide functionality of the free version
[+] Tools for conferences
[+] Security
[+] Presentation opportunities
[-] Restriction of the remote session (5 minutes in the free version)

Ammyy Admin

Ammyy Admin does not require installation and combines a simple interface and flexible functionality. The program is free, has no restrictions for home use. Distributed for Windows, Linux / FreeBSD platforms, mobile devices are not supported.

The client and operator modules are available in the main window. The user receives an ID, which is generated with reference to the equipment. Optionally, when connecting, you can use IP.

The client part can be activated or stopped, thereby setting a ban on connections; by default Ammyy Admin works in standby mode. You can track the connection status using the indicators, the decoding of which is in.

There is an address book, contacts can be combined into groups, change the order of contacts, manually add new addresses. The network status of computers, however, cannot be monitored.

The main connection modes are Desktop (remote desktop), File manager (File manager) and Microsoft RDP. RDP allows you to connect to a remote desktop, standard Windows functions are provided.

Of the other modes, Voice Chat and Speed ​​Test remain. Obviously, multimedia capabilities are not presented here as fully as in TeamViewer: Ammyy Admin is not positioned as a kind of corporate solution. It is worth noting the screen sharing function, which, in combination with voice chat, makes Ammyy Admin a program suitable for remote assistance.

Going to "Ammyy → Settings → Operator", you can specify the RDP parameters, select the type of encryption and codec profiles, thereby reducing the load on the network. More importantly, the Network tab allows you to configure the Ammyy Admin connection, manually specify the routers, enable or disable data transmission over the Ammyy Worldwide Network.

The file manager is a two-panel one, through which standard file operations between the client and the operator are available.

In the access rights settings ("Client → Access Rights"), separate parameters can be set for each ID. Authentication mode (connection to a PC) is available to choose from: by Hardware ID, password or user permission. Thus, you can minimally protect your computer from unauthorized remote connections.

Summary

The main advantages of Ammyy Admin are speed of work, simple and fast interface, relative independence from Ammyy servers and free. This is probably not the best solution for teamwork, but for individual use, with several computers at your disposal, it is quite.

[+] Speed
[+] Easy to customize
[+] RDP support
[-] No support for mobile devices

Supremo Remote Desktop

Supremo Remote Desktop is a handy portable tool for remote control, remote assistance to other users. Works under Windows XP and above, mobile devices are not supported.

The program runs without installation, to get started, the host and client must download Supremo Remote Desktop from the developer's site. Traditionally, two modes of operation are supported: using a computer as an access point and connecting to a remote device. In the first case, access is opened by clicking the Start button. In the Your credentials section, the data required for connection are available: ID and password generated at the beginning of the session. The client requests authorization at login (Ask authorization option), thereby preventing unauthorized access to the computer.

To connect to the host, use the Your partner field, you can also select an address from the Address Book. The list of active connections is displayed in the Connections section of the main program window.

During transmission, the HTTPS (SSL) protocol is used, the data is encrypted. Security settings are weakly disclosed: you can set a password for starting the program, specify the IDs allowed for the connection.

Other tools available in Supremo Remote Desktop include multiple user connections to one machine. To transfer files, a manager is used, which is similar to the classic two-panel; upload and download of files is available. No presentation or multimedia features are provided. This certainly limits the use of Supremo as a remote assistant.

Summary

Supremo Remote Desktop is an easy-to-use program with a standard set of remote control tools. It can be noticed by users who do not need multimedia functions.

[+] No router configuration required
[+] Simple interface
[-] Few settings
[-] Slow drawing of the screen

mRemoteNG

Speaking about universal tools that allow you to work with several protocols at the same time, it is worth mentioning mRemoteNG. The program opens access to VNC, ICA, SSH, Telnet, RAW, Rlogin and HTTP / S, there is also RDP support. It is distributed in a portable and standard version of the installer for the Windows platform.

The interface of mRemoteNG is presented in several sections, there are panels, tabularity - as a result, the user can easily customize the appearance of the program in his own way. The main options are available in the "Configuration" section. Here you can specify the protocol required for connection and related parameters: connection settings, protocol, gateway, appearance, resources, and others. The "Configuration" displays the connection status of the host.

The connection to the devices is carried out through the quick connection panel - here it is easy to create several configurations, which, in the case of many protocols, is very convenient. Connections can be grouped and configurations are easy to import / export.

File transfer is carried out via the SSH protocol - which is not very familiar for an ordinary user and at the same time, more reliable in terms of security. Additional features include a port scanner, and external tools can be added to the list.

The indistinctness of mRemoteNG is striking. This manifests itself in an unusual interface: it is not so convenient to use and configure with each specific protocol. In the connection configuration, many parameters are reduced beyond recognition - this can be attributed to the quality of localization. When you try to find a description of functions, the documentation is silent, its sections are empty.

Summary

A notable feature of mRemoteNG is the integration of popular protocols into a single graphical shell. By configuring multiple connections, there is no need for multiple specialized solutions. This plus to some extent compensates for the non-intuitiveness of the program and the lack of documentation.

[-] Non-intuitiveness
[+] Support for multiple protocols
[+] SSH File Transfer
[-] Lack of documentation

TightVNC

Home page: http://www.tightvnc.com/

TightVNC Software develops several products: TightProjector, RFB Player, VNC Reflector and TightVNC. TightVNC is a remote control program that can be used to solve computer problems, for educational purposes, and for administration.

TightVNC is a cross-platform solution. For Linux, however, at the time of this writing, only the old version of the program is available, Mac OS is not supported. However, there is a Java platform version of TightVNC, which allows for remote control via a web server. On the Windows platform, TightVNC is installed as a regular application or as a system service. The "quiet" mode is supported, it is quite easy to transfer the configuration to other computers or remotely update the servers.

The TightVNC toolkit is divided into two modules: WinVNC, which is the server side installed on the remote machine, and the Viewer application, which is used to view the contents of the remote server's screen. In the Viewer connection settings, the VNS server address and baud rate are set.

It should be noted that TightVNC does not generate an access password; you need to define it yourself in the settings. You can find out the connection status by displaying the icon in the notification area: if at least one user is connected to the computer, the icon colors change.

The developers hint that data transmission via VNC, despite the original DES-password protection, is imperfect. For security reasons, it is recommended to use SSH tunneling. At the same time, TightVNC settings can reduce the chance of unauthorized access to zero. In future versions of the program, it is also planned to introduce more reliable methods of protection.

Summary

TightVNC surprises with a large number of settings related to connection, security. This is a good choice for an administrator, but in terms of transfer to the server and further maintenance, it is not the best option for an inexperienced user.

[+] Flexible configuration
[+] Java version
[-] Non-operational setting
[-] Non-intuitive interface

Remote utilities

Remote Utilities is a solution, according to the developer, intended for small and medium-sized businesses. Remote control is possible directly, via a local network or the Internet. The toolbox does not require any firewall adjustments or preconfigurations.

The complex works only under Windows, for Linux it is proposed to install the Wine emulator - but only for working with RUT-Viewer. There is no mobile version.

Remote Utilities consists of three modules: the viewer is installed on the local computer, the host is installed on the remote computer, and the agent is a module for supporting users. The agent, it should be noted, is optimal for quickly establishing communication between the client and the host. Remote installation as well as upgrading is easy thanks to the Remote installation tool.

Connection in one of the above modes is performed using the New connection dialog (Connection → Add Computer), you can specify an IP address, Internet ID or DNS as an access point. The connected computer is added to the address book list, from which the necessary devices are subsequently selected.

Standard remote control tools are provided, such as remote device manager, registry viewer, terminal and file manager. Two-pane manager, with the ability to copy and move data, launch and open applications and documents on a remote host. Also in the presence of support for terminals, power control.

Text chat is pretty straightforward, but keep in mind that Remote Utilities also offers audio / video chats to users. It is worth mentioning the ability to capture video and adjust the transmission quality - from 24-bit color to optimized "picture" for a network with limited transmission (in addition, there is a Network usage mode parameter in the Properties settings of the remote computer). In a word, there are those features that have been repeatedly listed in similar programs with RDP support.

Remote Utilities offers 3 types of authorization, AES encryption with a 256-bit key, a 2048-bit public key. Incoming connections are filtered by IP; you can also create a list of trusted users with different access rights. Security subsystem is optional: you can choose RUT or WinNT. Both modes allow you to flexibly configure access to certain functions for each user; there are no significant differences between them.

Summary

A simple set of utilities for remote connection, without choosing a connection protocol, but very clear in installation and configuration. Essentially, there is a lack of cross-platform and user-friendly interface for simultaneous work with multiple devices.

[+] Remote installation and update in remote mode
[+] Availability of basic settings for RDP
[+] Work on local and Internet networks
[+] Free (for non-commercial use)

Good day!

In today's article, I would like to focus on remote control of a computer running Windows 7, 8, 8.1. In general, such a task can arise in a variety of circumstances: for example, to help relatives or friends set up a computer if they are poorly versed in it; organize remote assistance at the firm (enterprise, department) so that it is possible to quickly solve user problems or simply follow them (so that they do not play and do not go to "contacts" during working hours), etc.

Dozens of programs can be used to remotely control a computer (or maybe hundreds, such programs appear as "mushrooms after rain"). In this article, we will focus on some of the best. So, let's begin…

T eam Viewer

It is one of the best PC remote control software. Moreover, it has a number of advantages in relation to similar programs:

It is free for non-commercial use;

Allows you to share files;

Has a high degree of protection;

Computer control will be carried out as if you yourself are sitting at it!

When installing the program, you can specify what you will do with it: install to control this computer, or both manage and allow you to connect. It is also necessary to indicate what will be the use of the program: commercial / non-commercial.

After installing and launching Team Viewer, you can get started.

To connect to another computer need to:

Install and run utilities on both computers;

Enter the ID of the computer to which you want to connect (usually 9 digits);

Then enter the password for access (4 digits).

If the data is entered correctly, you will see the "desktop" of the remote computer. Now you can work with it as if it were your "desktop".

The Team Viewer window is the desktop of the remote PC.

R admin

One of the best programs for administering computers in a local network and for providing assistance and support to users of this network. The program is paid, but there is a test period of 30 days. At this time, by the way, the program works without restrictions in any functions.

The principle of operation in it is similar to that of Team Viewer. Radmin consists of two modules:

Radmin Viewer is a free module that can be used to manage computers on which the server version of the module is installed (see below);

Radmin Server is a paid module installed on the PC to be controlled.

A mmyy Admin

A relatively new program (but has already managed to get acquainted with it and start using it by about 40,000 people around the world) for remote control of computers.

Main advantages:

Free for non-commercial use;

Easy setup and use even for novice users;

High degree of security of the transmitted data;

Compatible with all popular Windows XP, 7, 8;

Works with the installed Firewall, through a proxy.

Remote computer connection window. Ammyy Admin

R MS - Remote Access

A good and free program (for non-commercial use) for remote computer administration. Even novice PC users can use it.

Main advantages:

Firewalls, NAT, firewalls will no longer prevent you from connecting to your PC;

High speed of the program;

There is a version for Android (now you can control your computer from any phone).

A eroAdmin

Site.