The Carbon Copy host program had one of the smallest memory footprints-884 KB. But when viewed as a component in the Altiris Express Management Suite, the host memory requirements totaled 6,620 KB while dormant and 7,600 KB when active. Carbon Copy also did not distinguish itself in our bitmap- and file-transfer tests. As for stability, it was able to detect communication problems with hosts in approximately 36 seconds and was one of the few programs that gave us an indication-via a pop-up dialog box-that the connection had been lost.
Carbon Copy contains both a Web-hosted console and a Microsoft Windows utility console for remote control. The Web console is backward-compatible with Altiris Carbon Copy programs running on 16- or 32-bit versions of Windows, and Compaq's Carbon Copy 5.0 to 5.5. With the Web console, Carbon Copy utilities are downloaded on demand without requiring a separate installation. This gives helpdesk personnel mobility, but administrators are limited to one connection at a time. If you need multiple outbound connections, like those available from NetSupport Manager or pcAnywhere, you need to use the Windows utility (256 simultaneous connections). However, the Windows utility does not include the deployment, configuration and reporting features. C'est la vie.
Notification Server 5.5 is a free download from Altiris. We installed Notification Server and MSDE 7 onto a Windows 2000 Server (SP2) running on a Dell PowerEdge 2450 and created and configured a default database, AeXNS. After configuring an SMTP server and an administrative e-mail account to receive alerts, we were ready to plug in Carbon Copy.
But we first needed to deploy the Notification Server client on each machine. A push or pull deployment method can be used, but because the push method required us to browse the domain for eligible clients, we opted to pull the code from an ASP (Active Server Page) located on the server. We could then install Carbon Copy using a policy package. Policies define how (automatic reboot or no reboot) and when Carbon Copy is deployed. Standard reports analyze Carbon Copy events and inventory data; you can also create your own reports.
Once the software was deployed, we browsed to a host and could connect and authenticate using Active Directory, NTLM or local authentication. Once connected, we could control the host machine, chat (audio and text) and transfer files. Unique to this roundup, Altiris provides an asynchronous and synchronous mode for remote control.
The Carbon Copy solution is not a mover and a shaker. But as a component of Altiris Express, it adds an important feature set to a full line of Web-enabled solutions. Although it costs more than other remote-control programs, the capability to manage a Carbon Copy deployment and configuration from a Web-based central location is key. Administrators can monitor events like connection status, remote utility usage and security status and receive e-mail alerts of critical events.
Altiris Express Carbon Copy Solution, $500/$38,000. Altiris, (888) 252-5551, (801) 226-8500. www.altiris.com
Binary Research International Remotely Anywhere
Remotely Anywhere was a big surprise in a small package. Like Altiris' Carbon Copy and uRoam's FirePass, RA is a Web-based remote-control solution. But unlike Carbon Copy, RA does not require a client-server architecture, and unlike uRoam, it does not come in an appliance or provide remote control, FTP, SSH or telnet servers.
All RA services can be accessed from an HTML interface that supports Java and Java script (Internet Explorer 5.0 or higher, Netscape 6.2 or higher). It was second only to uRoam for the smallest memory usage while remote control was active (6,860 KB) and detected communication problems within 34 seconds.
RA fell into the second tier in performance testing, behind pcAnywhere, LapLink and uRoam. It came in seventh in bitmap transfers and third in file transfers. But it stayed a few notches behind the front-runners because it lacks support for file synchronization and remote printing.
RA sniffs out machines on the network that have the program installed and identifies them by IP address or DNS name. When we chose a host machine from the browser interface, we were presented with a menu of actions, including remote access, administration, performance, system information and configuration management. Each action has subfunctions; for example, in remote access, you can start a remote-control or telnet session, chat, and transfer files. The remote-control session opens in a Java Applet. Because functions like CTRL+ALT+DEL and clipboard transfer cannot be captured through an applet, RA provides these functions through a separate submenu option. Depending on the configurations, the remote-control session can be carried out through the browser or by opening a separate window.
The performance option provides a graphic display of CPU, memory usage, disk space used, network utilization and registry quota utilization of the host machine. The configuration section, however, is the most important part of this submenu. As administrators, we could configure standard settings and deploy that configuration over the network.
Like uRoam's Firepass, RA maintains secure authentication and connection using 128-bit SSL (Secure Sockets Layer). To maintain this level of security, you can disable unsecured HTTP connections. During the authentication process, RA first looks for users registered with the program, then Windows NT users. You can disable NT authentication and limit access to registered users. Specific access to available menu options can be set for each user.
Administration is the second main option that the user sees after logging in. From here, we could view processes running on the host machine, engage in registry and file management, and manage shared resources, virtual memory and user access. The system-information option shows host information, such as which files are being accessed, what registry entries are in use and how many remote-control sessions are running, along with drive and partition information, network adapter and even the status of the motherboard.
RA provides easy navigation and configuration capabilities in remote control with secure authentications and data streaming and, like Altiris and uRoam, claims to be WAP compatible and accessible through handheld devices.
Remotely Anywhere, $99/$41,000. Binary Research International, (888) 446-7898, (414) 961-1716. www.remotelyanywhere.com
LapLink Gold 11
LapLink Gold 11 is the latest iteration of a program that has been on the market for nearly 15 years. This longevity indicates a mature application with a rich feature set as well as stability in initiating and maintaining communications. LapLink did not let us down: It came in second in performance and sixth overall behind products with more functionality in network management and enterprise integration.
LapLink Gold is LapLink's full-featured remote-control program, containing both master and host code. However, Gold Host, the host-only code for desktops and servers that do not need the master code, gobbles up approximately 12,620 KB of memory while dormant and 13,488 when active. If you have the room, the weight pays off in features and performance. In bitmap transfers, LapLink scored second, behind Spartacom's Linktivity, and in file transfers, it ranked fifth. But its price for 1,000 users exceeded that of most of our other participants. LapLink Gold also did not fare well under the ERD test for remote control-it did not detect a communication problem with a host for more than 3 minutes, though, once restarted, it was able to pick up a file transfer where it was interrupted.
LapLink sports most of the remote-control features we were looking for, lacking only a facility for clipboard transfers and session recording options. Like pcAnywhere, it supports directory synchronization using delta file transfers with SpeedSynch technology. SpeedSynch compares files and sends only the changes. LapLink also distributes files to several computers simultaneously and automates the operation using an Xchange Agent. Also, as with most of programs we tested, an administrator can use a text or voice chat feature to interact with end users in real time.
Although LapLink lacks a centralized facility to log remote-control activity and monitor and modify the application once it's out in the enterprise, it does provide a distribution utility for clients to pull the Gold Host software from a central server. We copied the setup files from the CD to a shared directory on our test network. Once there, we modified the host setup script (Setup.iss) to provide for a silent installation. The setup script let us change default connection settings, initiate security, apply licenses and install LapLink computer names. But it did not give us the fine-tuning available in pcAnywhere's network installation script and provided no central configuration for the application once it is installed on remote PCs. To change configuration, you need to reinstall the host software. Even then, the installer will not launch while the LapLink Scheduler is in memory. You need to unload it manually before installing from the network.
We had a problem logging in to a LapLink host on our Windows 2000 PCs, which started LapLink before the Windows logon. Rather than providing a handy button on the tool or task bar, like pcAnywhere, the command is hidden in the "session" pull-down menu. Alternatively, CTRL+SHIFT+D will do the trick. If this is difficult to remember, you can configure your own CAD sequence in the remote-control options. In addition, LapLink provides a "Surf Up" utility that enables end-users to access files from a remote computer using a Web browser with optional SSL security.
If you need to connect PCs outside of a network, LapLink is well-suited to the task. Although many programs provide support for modem-to-modem communication, LapLink maintains support for direct connections using serial, parallel, infrared and USB interconnects. You can even do a push install to another PC using the serial port and a null modem cable.
LapLink Gold 11, $179.95/$42,575. LapLink, (800) 343-8080, (425) 483-8088. www.laplink.com
Novell ZENworks for Desktop 3.2
Novell's enterprise remote-control solution is part and parcel of ZENworks for Desktop 3.2, a complete desktop management suite. Although we did not test the entire suite, we installed NetWare 5.1 and configured ZENworks to activate and test the remote-control features.
ZENworks is not as feature-rich as pcAnywhere or LapLink, but it's easy to see why most NetWare shops choose it to control desktops. Like Altiris, it offers hardware and software inventories and central control of remote control activities. It does this through a tight integration with NDS.
ZENworks did not burn up our test track for bitmap and file transfer and got no rave reviews on the memory requirements for the Novell Client software. But it did receive our top score in the network-management category and got high marks for security in its 128-bit NICI cryptographic modules.
After installing the NetWare server and ZENworks, we installed ConsoleOne 1.3.2, the software required to administer ZENworks. ZENworks uses policies grouped into packages to manage desktops. By default, there are a number of packages designed to manage users and workstations. Any these packages can contain the Remote Management Policy that enables remote control. This policy decides on the availability of remote-control features, such as chat, diagnostics, file transfer and viewing. We enabled the Remote Management Policy in the WinNT-2000 Workstation Package and associated it with our NetWare 5.1 server.
Unlike the previous versions of ZENworks, 3.2 provides an easy method to import workstations into the NDS tree for management. We activated a workstation import policy within a server policy package, associated it with our server then set a DNS alias for the server as ZENWSIMPORT. Once a user logs into the NDS tree with the Novell Client 32 and Remote Management service, his or her workstation is added to NDS for management and is ready to be controlled from the ConsoleOne screen.
The Event viewer provides detailed logs of all remote-control activities, and each host can view its remote-control history by clicking on the remote management icon in the taskbar. Also present is a "ping the remote managed machine" option, which we feel is superfluous and should have been replaced by a more useful feature, like the scanning option found in NetSupport Manager.
ZENworks provides some impressive inventory information. Specifically in regard to remote control, there is a diagnostic feature for the remote workstation. The information is separated into two parts, OS and network information. The OS diagnostics report on the memory, environment, device drivers and services running on the event log. The network diagnostics give information on the NetWare connections, network drives, print capture information and protocol information.
Novell ZENworks for Desktops, $59/$59,590. Novell, (800) 453-1267. www.novell.com
uRoam FirePass 1000
The FirePass 1000 is a unique entry: It is a hardware solution contained in a 1U appliance running Linux (kernel 2.2.16). The FirePass server is a Web application server that acts as a proxy for remote access to internal resources and is accessible through HTML 3.2-and-above-compliant browsers over SSL.
Once connected, we could control Windows 32-bit desktops, transfer files, print remote documents from local printers and engage other network resources via POP3, IMAP, SSH (Secure Shell), telnet and terminal services.
Like Binary Research's Remotely Anywhere and Spartacom's Linktivity, the FirePass 1000 provides remote control through a standard Web browser and requires no guest or client software. Further, its client support goes beyond Win32 systems to the RIM Blackberry, PalmOS, PocketPC and handheld phones (iMode and WAP). Browser support for Java, JavaScript and ActiveX is not necessary but will enhance the end-user experience. The FirePass remote-control solution was not as feature-rich as NetSupport Manager or pcAnywhere and did not distinguish itself from rivals in transferring bitmap files. However, it proved to be the fastest file transfer performer in our roundup and came in second in our stability test, identifying a broken communication connection in approximately 14 seconds and, after alerting us with a pop-up, closing gracefully.
uRoam's centralized remote-access solution provides authentication services using a local database or an LDAP or RADIUS server. It also offers support for Vasco's DigiPass strong, two-factor authentication. It identifies itself to remote browsers using an x509 certificate from a trusted root authority in your enterprise (our test server shipped with a Thawte certificate).
The FirePass server manages remote sessions and renders network resources through Web browsers using a suite of application modules called Webifyers. Webifyers act as the interface between network infrastructure and applications to translate user input and display output into content viewable in a remote browser. They not only provide remote-control functionality but also support legacy applications, such as 5250 and 3270 terminal emulation, and Microsoft Terminal Service, SSH, telnet and VNC access to servers. Special Webifyers also support Citrix solutions, POP3/IMAP and Microsoft Outlook and Lotus Notes.
The FirePass's network configuration can be set from a Web browser or a menu-based command line using a null-modem cable attached to the serial port. Once configured for the test network, we set up the box using intuitive Web forms. The server maintenance pages provide plenty of options that let you limit access to the administrative console by IP address, renew/replace the SSL certificate, configure SNMP agents, stop and restart services, and back up and restore the server's configuration. Other administrative functions provide for a default SMTP server, administrative e-mail alerts and firmware updates. The FirePass also includes central logging for all services along with standard and configurable reports.
Users access the FirePass in one of two modes. In "My Network" mode, users log in and have access to network resources such as e-mail, terminal sessions (telnet and 3270) and terminal services. In this mode, the FirePass is a fully functional, multiuser network client for remote administrators. The second mode, "My Desktop," lets the FirePass authenticate remote users to their desktop computers in the enterprise. Each user account requires a license. If you provide both My Network and My Desktop to one user, two licenses are required.
When you create a user, the FirePass generates a private key that is used as a license key to activate the client software for remote control. The key can be mailed to users directly from the management interface and contains a URL to download the client software from the FirePass server. Once the client is installed on the desktop, it registers the license key with the server and matches it with a user. When a user authenticates to the FirePass server it knows which desktop to pass the user through for remote control and file transfer.
Together, the uRoam agents consumed 6,168 KB of RAM while dormant and 6,368 KB while active. During remote control, uRoam used less RAM than any other participant, though it did not provide as much functionality as fatter clients.
uRoam's FirePass 1000 supports 100 concurrent users and is competitively priced at $11,110. For enterprises that require more than 100 simultaneous connections, the servers can be clustered together for scalability and fault tolerance.
FirePass, $110/$11,110. uRoam, (510) 687-1616. www.uroam.com
TWD Industries Remote-Anything
Remote-Anything did exceptionally well in the file-transfer test, coming in second behind uRoam. But though TWD claims it performs faster file transfers using encryption, we weren't able to verify this in the lab because the program crashed four times during testing. It also did not fare well when transferring bitmaps at low bit rates and didn't notice that a host had been disconnected for approximately 58 seconds.
Still, Remote-Anything has a comprehensive feature set at a competitive price because TWD licenses the master program using BIOS keys to connect to unlimited hosts in the enterprise. This is unique in this product category. At $12,550 for 10 masters, TWD will not break your budget for remote control. If you factor in free updates and free technical support, you may even pocket some change for another project.
After an uneventful installation, we were able to scan the entire network with a single click and locate available hosts. After highlighting the desired host, we could remotely control it, perform file transfers or chat with the user. We could also ping the system, get a hardware inventory, engage Wake-on-LAN, reboot or uninstall the host software. Like NetSupport's, Remote-Anything's hardware-inventory options gave us detailed information about the host, including hard disk and memory usage, CPU information, IP address, MAC address and current user.
TWD includes options for compression and encryption and provides detailed log files. In addition, we could view a progress bar when connected over slow links. The bar let us know that the bitmap was still loading.
We also installed TWD's Directory Server (version 1.1.4), which provides a central controller for masters and hosts and let us assign groups, manage access rights and direct SOS calls for help while providing loa- balancing and mirroring options. However, Directory Server will add to the cost (see www.twd-industries.com/en/prices.htm for a breakdown).
Weighing the few problems we encountered against TWD's small memory requirements, performance, features and very competitive price, we feel it's an entry to keep an eye on for future reviews.
Remote-Anything, $49/$12,550. TWD Industries, 33 (0)492 940 510. www.twd-industries.com
Netopia Timbuktu Pro Enteprise Edition
Netopia's Timbuktu Pro doesn't supply add-on modules for secure gateways, like NetOp Remote Control does, or Notification Servers to distribute the program, like Altiris Carbon Copy does, and did not distinguish itself in any category. But it does support multiple operating systems in the enterprise, provides all the features associated with remote control and has average memory requirements.
Timbuktu Pro's performance surprised us. Although a popular remote-control program, it only managed seventh in file transfers and sixth in bitmap transfers. Although it does have good directory integration and distribution utilities, it lacks central event handling, does not provide inventories and does not give enterprises much of a break on price, coming in at $36,360 for a 1,000 user site.
On the other hand, Timbuktu Pro is the only product in our lineup that supports Mac OS 9 and X along with Windows 98, Me, NT, 2000 and XP, and it covers all the basics to observe and control remote computers along with file transfer and chat (text and voice) utilities. Like pcAnywhere and LapLink, Timbuktu Pro provides several communication options for remote control, including LAN, ISDN, DSL, cable and direct dial-up. And not surprisingly, it is the only player to support Apple Talk in addition to IPX and TCP/IP.
Timbuktu Pro supports push or pull, unattended, scheduled network installations and offers a "Make List" program that finds all computers on a network eligible for installation or upgrade. It also lets you upgrade existing versions and push common address books and site policies to share host information and enforce configurations and security.
Timbuktu Manager is the administrative tool used to scan network computers running Timbuktu Pro. It can connect to a particular machine and change configuration to enforce standard settings throughout the enterprise. In this way, we locked down our Timbuktu Pro machines in the lab and forced them to act as hosts only. The Manager can work in MMC (Microsoft Management Console) through a Snap-It module.
Timbuktu Pro uses local security to restrict or grant privileges to end-users or site keys. Site keys are used mainly to restrict access between onsite and offsite users. But different site licenses can be created for NT Domain or Active Directory accounts and deployed through the Netinstaller to centralize administrative rights.
Timbuktu Pro Enterprise Edition, $55/$36,360. Netopia. (800) 485-5741, (972) 855-6600. www.timbuktupro.com
Funk Software Proxy Remote Control 4.0
Funk Proxy provided respectable performance in bitmap transfers, but it wound up at the bottom of the pack in file transfer and did not distinguish itself in our ERD test. It also had a fairly hefty memory requirement of 11,072 KB RAM while dormant and 12,072 KB while active. Its saving grace was a competitive price of $25,250 for 1,000 users and 10 support staff.
Funk delivers two separate remote-control software suites, the Proxy 4.0 and the Proxy Control Gateway. Proxy 4.0 is the full-featured remote-control solution. The Gateway suite is aimed at enterprise environments that need a recording feature for remote control and some centralized control. By design, it does not have basic features offered in Proxy 4.0, including file transfer, encryption and remote printing. We were very surprised that a Gateway Control Host does not require any authentication from a master to access any PC defined by the Host Gateway. This task can be accomplished by simply obtaining the gateway's IP Address.
Installation of both suites was hassle free but, unlike pcAnywhere and LapLink, Funk Proxy's default configuration isn't secure. Users, passwords, encryption and other security settings need to be set up manually. Until that is accomplished, any master can control any host. Security features include the use of the station name and a simple password or NTLM authentication as well as standard options to require hosts to accept connections and a lockout feature. It also provides a time limit for connections.
File transfer continues to be a weak point for Proxy 4.0. In our previous review we stressed the fact that Proxy's File Transfer option will overwrite existing files. This continues today. All our other participants provide dialog boxes that warn before overwriting files. Funk does provide standard file and directory management for remote PCs but fails to provide any enhancements to its previous version, such as directory synchronization and delta transfers. We were also surprised to find that some of the software features do not work as advertised. The Blank Host Screen option, for example, works only with Windows 98. Otherwise, the feature suppresses only the mouse and keyboard control on the host. Also, the Copy Text option failed in all our tests.
Like NetSupport Manager and PC-Duo, Proxy has a cycling monitor that runs through different hosts at configured time intervals. Administrators will find this tool an excellent addition to their monitoring toolkits, but it would be nice if you could take control of a host from the cycling option without exiting and initiating a remote control session when you identify a problem.
With its low price and passing performance, Funk continues to be popular with enterprises and individuals needing basic remote-control features. But if you're looking for increased central control, better performance and more security you may need to get out your checkbook.
Proxy Remote Control 4.0, $175/$25,250. Funk Software, (617) 497-6339, (800) 828-4146. www.funk.com
Linktivity WebInteractive 2.0
Most remote-control programs require a control, or guest, program for the helpdesk or the remote user and a host program for the corporate desktop. But with SpartaCom's Linktivity WebInteractive, you don't need to install any software on either side. All you need is a Web browser, and your sales or service and support team will be talking with and helping customers and employees in no time.
Linktivity's remote control is not a program for end users to maintain connections with their corporate desktops. Like Altiris' Carbon Copy, it is a component in a client-server package. Linktivity is aimed at sales and helpdesk support to communicate and help customers and employees. We installed the Linktivity "connectionpoint" on a Windows 2000 Advanced Server. Prerequisites included IIS and an SMTP server for operation. We used an existing SMTP server in the lab for the testing and skipped to the IIS configuration. Configuration then went smoothly, and Linktivity was available for service and support.
Compared with most rivals' GUIs, Linktivity's visual appeal is stunning. We quickly forgot some of the complexities of the installation and moved to performance.
Linktivity reached the top of the mark in our bitmap-transfer test, beating out LapLink, Symantec and NetSupport. It was also a top performer in our stability test, identifying and coping with a broken communication link under 20 seconds. With a similar pricing model as TWD, Linktivity's cost for 1,000 users was based on the number of agents or support staff. At 10 users, the cost was beat only by our freebies: Microsoft and TridiaVNC. But in file transfer testing, it dropped down to ninth position and, with a browser, Linktivity is our heaviest remote control program in operation (23,860 KB). But remember, there is no persistent client to install or maintain on either side of remote-control operations. On the server side, Linktivity offers some cool features, such as graphical gauges to monitor caching, compression ration and bytes per second. It also provides central control and live statistics for all connections made between hosts and masters.
However, when we drilled down to remote control, Linktivity lacked some very common features that its rivals provide. For example, Linktivity cannot broadcast previously recorded sessions. Also, when it comes to file transfers, Linktivity lacks drag-and-drop capabilities, delta file transfers, crash recovery and folder synchronization, and it does not restrict access to the file system.
Hosts can be controlled in two ways. They can invite a master via e-mail or request help by filling out a Web form on the server. The request is then sent to a queue to await an available representative. An audible message acknowledges queue status. A master accepts the invitation for remote control, and the server enables the parties to engage in remote control, file transfers, co-browsing (browse the same Web sites), and chat using voice or text. The host, however, must approve of the controlled sessions and file transfers, and the sessions do not support screen blanking or locking of the keyboard and mouse. Although these are security features in our other remote-control packages, their disability in Linktivity reflects its customer-oriented design.
WebInteractive 2.0, $1,499/$8.999. Linktivity, a division of SpartaCom Technologies. (800) 809-1245. www.linktivity.com
TridiaVNC 1.5 (32-bit Windows)/1.4 (Unix/Linux)
If you need remote control in a pinch, TridiaVNC is one place to go. It's a free download and it does the job. But don't be fooled: Although it provides encryption for passwords, it lacks encryption for the data stream.
It also came in last, by a long shot, in our bitmap transfers. And if you're looking to transfer files, the free version won't do. You'll have to upgrade to the Pro version for $49 per user. For 1,000 users, that will come close to Funk Proxy's price tag.
AT&T Research Laboratories developed VNC (Virtual Network Computing) as an open-source software product under the GNU Public License. This means that you can obtain the source code and modify it to suit your needs. Tridia charges you a little bit extra for its packaged version, documentation and support, but VNC is freely available elsewhere on the Web (see www.sourceforge.net).
VNC comes in two parts, a VNC server and a VNC viewer. As the names indicate, the server is the host. The viewer, or master, can also be started in listen mode to accept connections initiated by a server. VNC also runs as a service under Windows, and in the absence of a viewer, a host can be remotely controlled via a Web browser.
Tridia has made VNC installation a breeze under Windows, Linux and Unix (AIX,
HP-UX and Solaris). VNC on Linux usually runs on the display you specify. For
example, we used vncserver :1 so that the Linux computer accepted connections on
our default display 1. You may also modify the ~/.vnc/xstartup file to customize
the windows manager and display.
VNC lacks a utility to scan the network for hosts advertising remote-control
availability, but it did not take us long to find a utility called VNC Admin
Console 1.0.21 (www.mast-computer.de). VNC Admin let us specify a range of IP
addresses to scan for VNC servers.
Performance under Linux is much better than in a Windows environment. For
example, under Windows, we scrolled down a couple of pages in a word document on
a host and noticed a slow, choppy screen refresh. Under Linux, the same action
proved to be fast and smooth.
TridiaVNC Pro adds some import features for enterprises and supports
authentication using LDAP, NTLM and NDS. It also adds a Java-based console that
lets you scan for PCs running the VNC server and encryption for the data stream.
Finally, it provides a deployment utility and facility to maintain central
configurations and updates. But it lacks file transfer and text/voice chats.
TridiaVNC, free. Tridia Corp., (800) 582-9337, (770) 428-5000.
www.tridiavnc.com
Microsoft Windows XP Remote Desktop Connection, Remote Assistance
Wondering what Microsoft Windows XP is doing in this review of sophisticated remote-control software? Windows XP provides some basic remote control features using two applications: Remote Desktop Connection and Remote Assistance. Because it is free with a Windows XP license we compared it to the best to see what it had to offer. And it was, well, the worst.
Remote Desktop and Assistance use the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) 5.1. Hosts are restricted to the Windows XP OS, but clients can be any 16- or 32-bit Windows OS. Remote Desktop/Assistance outperformed Novell, Netopia, TWD-Industries and TridiaVNC in bitmap transfers, but it carried last place in file transfers, hands down. And it weighed in with almost the heaviest memory requirements while dormant on the desktop: 13,968 KB. Novell got the heavyweight award.
The Remote Desktop Connection feature is available only in the Professional edition and is disabled by default. Once we enabled it from the "remote" option in the system properties we could control hosts using Remote Desktop Client (RDC) software. RDC is preinstalled on XP computers, but it can also be added using the setup program from the XP installation CD or downloaded from Microsoft's Web site. Note that a master can make multiple outbound connections to monitor more than one host at a time, but only one master can monitor any single host. In short, one-to-many is OK. Many-to-one is not.
When you engage the remote desktop, the local machine is automatically locked to prevent anyone from making changes during the control session. You can optimize slower connections by adjusting the desktop size and display settings, and you can transfer files by copying and pasting them. Remote Desktop lives up to its name. Local drives, printers and serial ports were available; we could even play audio files on the host and enjoy them on the master. We were impressed, but it didn't seem to help Bob Dylan's voice much.
Remote Assistance is one of the coolest features we've seen from Redmond since Windows for Workgroups. It lets local and remote users see and control the same screen in real time. Here's how it works. A "novice" looking for help clicks on the "Help and Support Center" tab in the Start Menu to seek an "expert." There are three ways of calling for help: Invitation using MSN Messenger, an e-mail invitation using Outlook Express or by sending a file. Messenger lets the so-called expert, or master, take immediate control of the computer requesting help. The other options are less than immediate.
The expert answering an e-mail invitation has to open an attachment containing a 904-byte file called RAInvitation.msrcIncident to engage in remote control. For security, Remote Assistance lets you select an expiration period for the invitation, and you can require a password.
These applications cannot be compared with some of the advanced products, but the package is included in the Windows XP installation package. As a result, it will get wide distribution and, unless it gets better, little use.
Remote Assistance feature in Microsoft Windows XP, included in OS. Microsoft, (800) 936-5700, (425) 882-8080.
www.microsoft.com
RSS
