Virtual Network Computing

home -|- networks

With the increasing ubiquitous-ness of internet, Virtual Network Computing (VNC) becomes a very viable option for many. You can set up your home computer to accept a VNC connection, and while on vacation, or at a friends house, you can use another computer, connected to internet, herein called the 'client', and log back into your home machine, herein called the 'host', over internet.

This is not for the queasy! ;=)) There is a great deal of painful detail involved in setting up the 'host' absolutely correctly - one wrong parameter and you will have no connection - and in the 'client', in fact in BOTH, there is a confusing plethora of software, from built in OS components, to lots of third party stuff. The 'host' must have software that acts as a VNC Server, and the 'client' must have a VNC Viewer.

2007.06.24 - CrossLoop - Simple Secure Screen Sharing - Having said the above I recently came across some VERY SIMPLE TO USE software that connects any two machines, cooperatively. By that I mean you must have a person sitting at the 'host' who gives you, via telephone, e-mail, skype, ..., a specific 'session number', which you enter in the 'client, and connect, ONLY with their explicit acceptance.

Link Description
Overview of VNC A Page giving a general overview of Virtual Network Computing, including setting up the Router, VNC Server and VNC Viewer.
Win-to-MAC Attempting a Windows XP remote (over internet) connection to a MAC OS X Server
UltraVNC Open source software, that includes a VNC Server and  VNC Viewer MS Windows machines.
MAC OS X Server Setting up a VNC Server on a MAC OS X Server.

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Sites Viewed / Reviewed

The following is a list of site, in more or less alphabetic order, visited while getting a Windows-TO-MAC VNC/VPN connection running ... many have some interesting details ;=))

http://bigpond.com/ large Australian ISP
http://bigpond.custhelp.com/../?p_faqid=5751 static IP for ADSL
http://compnetworking.about.com/.../aa020503a About wireless / networking
http://compnetworking.about.com/.../getrouteripaddr More about networking
http://crossloop.com/help.html EASY TO USE - Simple Secure Screen Sharing - Connect 2 computers without any network settings. Uses TightVNC. It only takes a few minutes to download and setup and no signup is required.
http://developer.apple.com/.../man4/ipsec.4.html Apple IPSec
http://developer.apple.com/.../man8/natd.8.html Apple NAT
http://dns-tools.domaintools.com/ Tools - DNS, Ping, IP, TraceRoute
http://docs.info.apple.com/?artnum=106439 Apple TCP/UDP ports
http://docs.info.apple.com/?artnum=106770 Mac OS X: What Is a Port?
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=17159 Apple locating vendor
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Localhost loopback information
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Path_(computing) UNC/URL conventions
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remote_Desktop MS Terminal Services - RDP
http://helpdesk.its.uiowa.edu/.../remotedesktop/ Campus ITS help (Iowa) XP
http://homepage.mac.com/kedoin/VNC/VNCViewer/ VNC Viewer for MAC
http://images.apple.com/.../ARD31_TO.pdf Apple Remote Desktop 3 Overview 2006
http://ip-address.domaintools.com/ My IP Information

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http://kbserver.netgear.com/.../N101145.asp How is Port Forwarding Configured?
http://my.bigpond.com/.../staticip/default.do Bigpond static IP for ADSL
http://platinum-cctv.net/...Remote_Connection.pdf SkyView DVR Server on a Broadband
http://realvnc.com/products/enterprise/maclicence.html VNC Enterprise for Mac OS X
http://secure.logmein.com/dmcq/051/homex.asp Remote Access (PITM)
http://sourceforge.net/projects/cotvnc/ Chicken of the VNC (for OS X)
http://sourceforge.net/projects/osxvnc/ Vine Server (OSXvnc)
http://theillustratednetwork.mvps.org/...Trouble...html Windows XP Pro Remote Desktop
http://tldp.org/HOWTO/ppp-ssh/index.html VPN PPP-SSH Mini-HOWTO - 2001
http://ultravnc.sourceforge.net/ Remote Control Software for all
http://www.apple.com/remotedesktop/ Apple Remote Desktop 3.1
http://www.apple.com/server/macosx/ Mac OS X Server version 10.4 Tiger
http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/putty/ A Free Telnet/SSH Client
http://www.cisco.com/univercd/.../vpn5000/5000sw/ VPN 5000 Concentrator Software
http://www.cisco.com/univercd/.../client/index.htm VPN Client (incl. Mac OS X)
http://www.dmtf.org/about/faq/wbem Web-Based Enterprise Management (WBEM) FAQs
http://www.dns.net/dnsrd/ What is DNS
http://www.dnsexit.com/ Find, rent DNS name
http://www.dnsexit.com/Direct.sv?cmd=3 DNS Service & Management (PITM)
http://www.dnsstuff.com/ Network and DNS Tools (PITM)
http://www.dynamicdvr.com/ Dynamic DVR Server
http://www.faqs.org/rfcs/rfc1918.html Address Allocation for Private Internets
http://www.geocities.com/tim_senecal/vnc.html a few "HQX" and "SIT" files
http://www.iana.org central coordinating functions of the global Internet
http://www.iana.org/assignments/port-numbers PORT NUMBERS (last updated 2007)
http://www.its.state.nc.us/About/...ForEndUser.asp ITS IP Assignment
http://www.kernelthread.com/mac/osx/arch_boot.html What is Mac OS X?
http://www.macfixit.com/...=20030623083303282 MAC OS X hints - Running VNC server on a headless Mac
http://www.macminicolo.net/Mac_VNC_tutor.html VNC control of a Mac OS X 104 - setup screens
http://www.macobserver.com/.../26.7.shtml OS X Based VNC Server Released

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http://www.macosxhints.com/...=20050420221431745 Remote Desktop Client (RDC) port forwarding problem
http://www.microsoft.com/mac/....remotedesktopclient Remote Desktop Connection Client for Mac
http://www.no-ip.com/.../windows_remote_desktop. Support, Guides and Tips : Remote Access (PITM)
http://www.portforward.com/ port forwarding on your router or firewall
http://www.pure-mac.com/remote.html Remote Access - ARD, AlmostVPN, ...
http://www.realvnc.com/docs/rfbproto.pdf The RFB Protocol - Richardson RealVNC Ltd - 2006
http://www.redstonesoftware.com/.../index.html Vine Server for OS X (formerly OSXvnc)
http://www.remotepc.net/overview.htm view the desktop of the RemotePC enabled Host (PITM)
http://www.rfc-editor.org Finding and Retrieving RFCs, etc.
http://www.tightvnc.com/ free remote control software package - NOTE: This s/w triggered a warning from my McAfee anti-virus scanner!
http://www.tomax7.com/mcse/cisco_routerconfig.htm Cisco Router Configuration Commands
http://www.tzo.com Get Your Own Domain Name
http://www.tzo.com/MainPageSupport/Routers.html Using TZO with various routers (PITM)
http://www.uvnc.com/index.html UltraVNC remote control (via internet or network)
http://www.versiontracker.com/.../14099 Chicken of the VNC - 2.0b4 - VNC client - OS X
http://www.vpntools.com/.../network-ports.htm VPN Ports: Your Entry and Exit (PITM)
http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/D/DNS.html a service that translates domain names into IP addresses
http://www.whatismyipaddress.com/ What is my IP address?
http://www.windowsecurity.com/...VPNWindows-XP a virtual private network (VPN) using Windows XP
https://secure.logmein.com/home.asp PC from anywhere, LogMeIn Pro (PITM) - NOTE: This s/w seems to have no UNINSTALL capability!
https://sitelicense.arizona.edu/vpn/vpn_installation.html setting up VPN Client, using Cisco VPN Version 4.0 on Windows

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