Remote Control

The remote control takes a computer's screen, keyboard and mouse over the network. This function enables a simple computer administration, remote installations, upgrades or application reconfigurations over a network without an administrator having to go to a remote computer.

Although the remote control is a standalone VNC system that can work separately, it is implemented into PCinfo to be easier to install, maintain and use. PCinfo enhances it by an automatic install/upgrade, computername and IP address detecting and by powerful computer selecting allowing a quick access to any computer in the network.

The remote control enables an administrator to do the same operations as if he was present physically at the computer. It certainly enables a remote restart of a computer too, and after its new start, an administrator can connect to the computer again and continue working.

Installation and running

The remote control feature is standalone application running as a service on client computer. It is automatically installed by a PCinfo Client depending on Audits > Audit Configuration > Audits > Install remote control checkbox. The respective program files are copied on a local computer and the resident part of the remote control starts automatically.

• To Install on Previously not tested PC's
  1. Select Audits > Audit Configuration > Audits in PCinfo Desktop.
  2. Check the Install remote control checkbox. Then click Close.
  3. If you have changed something in Audit Configuration, the Question box will display. Select Yes if you want to save these changes as a default setting or No if you do not.
  4. Start PCinfo Client on the desired computer.

Comment

This configuration installs the remote control feature into default audit configuration. It will be applied to all computers tested in the future.

• To Install on Previously tested PCs
  1. Select Audits > Audit Configuration > Audits tab in PCinfo Desktop.
  2. Check the Install remote control checkbox.
  3. Click General tab and select test type. If you want to install it on only one computer, select Net individual and then select it in the Computer Selection window.
  4. Press the Create Audit button. Then click Close.
  5. If you have changed something in Audit Configuration, the Question box will show. Select Yes if you want these changes as a default setting or No if you do not.
  6. Start PCinfo Client on a required computer.

Using under Windows 95/98/ME

To install or upgrade the Remote control, it is sufficient to start PCinfo Client by a *.BAT file or diskette under any user's account on a desired computer. After installing it starts and runs as a system service. Upgrade is performed every time that PCinfo Client finds a newer version of an installed package on the PCinfo Server.

Using under Windows 2000/NT/XP

Since the remote control is installed as a system service, its installation requires having the administrative rights on the station. It concerns only the installation/upgrade of this service. After it is correctly installed, it starts on Windows startup automatically before the user logs in. That is why its running does not depend on the user's rights.

Communication Description

For your better understanding, the communication between the administrator and client's computer before the remote control starts is described here.

• The administrator selects the remote computer and sends a request to it.
• The user's computer verifies the IP address (if it can control the computer) and sends an acknowledgement/refuse to the administrator. The user is not informed.
• The administrator's side shows either a Password window or Failed to get server address window.
• The user's side verifies the password and shows the Accept WinVNC Connection window.
• If a user allows access or automatic timeout expires, the new window with the user's screen starts on the administrator's side.

PCinfo Desktop Side

A remote control is seamlessly integrated into PCinfo Desktop. There are three quick ways that the administrator can run the Remote control from a PCinfo Desktop.

Selecting the Computer

Quick Access

The administrator can remotely control a computer directly from the Audit Results screen. There is a button Remote Control that starts a connection to the computer being viewed. As a standard address a detected Computername is used, but it can be changed to an IP address by using a combo box.

Computer Selection

A second way to control a computer from anywhere in the Desktop is computer selection. From the menu Remote control > Select computer open a standard PCinfo Computer selection window that shows only the computers where this service was successfully installed. Other computers are not represented. It can be also accessed using the appropriate icon on the toolbar.

Address Selection

If you know the Computername or IP address of the computer you want to control, you can type it into the Address selection for Remote Control window available from the menu Remote control > Select address. It can be also accessed using the appropriate icon on the toolbar.

Connection Establishing

After selecting the computer, the system tries to connect the remote computer using an IP address or Computername. Two states can occur:

Establishing a Successful Connection

When the connection is successful a Password window appears. You have to enter the right password in. The standard password is Videal.

Warning

The password is case sensitive. Do not forget to put the Caps Lock key on.

Unsuccessful Connection

If the connection is not established, a window with text Failed to get server address or Your connection has been rejectedwill appear. It can be caused by several reasons:

• A remote computer is not started.
• The remote control service is not started on the remote computer.
• One of the computers does not have the TCP/IP protocol started.
• A computer is not accessible over the TCP/IP on ports 5800 and 5900 (e.g. due to a firewall).
• The wrong IP address, Computername or password.
• You do not have the permission to access the remote computer. Your IP address is not on an allowed addresses list.
• The user did not allow your access.
• The timeout has passed and automatic disconnection is set on the remote computer.
• You have smaller screen resolution than the controlled computer.

Remote Controlling

When a connection is successfully established, a new window opens. It shows a remote screen and mouse position. Now you can fully control the remote computer.

Comment

The user's monitor, mouse and keyboard are shared on both sides. So the remote user can intrude your actions on his or her screen.

Canceling the Remote Control

The remote control is a standard Windows application that shows another screen. Thus you can cancel it in the same ways as any other standard application.

• Use the standard Windows Close icon in the top right corner of the window. Be careful, that you use the right icon for the Remote Control window and not for the application running inside.

  

• Use the top left icon (green V) and select Close from the pull down menu.

  

• Press Alt+F4.
• Right-click the remote control button on the taskbar and click Close.

  

Sending the System Windows Keyboard Combinations

Note that when you work on a remote computer, your Windows still works. Thus when you press any keyboard combination, your Windows determines whether it is a command for the local Windows or for the application running under it. That is why some system Windows keyboard combinations (e.g. Ctrl+Alt+Del) cannot take affect on a remote computer, because they work locally.

If you want to send it, you can use the top left icon of the Remote control window (green V) and select the wanted combination from the pull down menu.

Full Screen Viewing

A standard view of the remote controlled monitor is inside the window. When the controlled computer has the same screen resolution as your computer, you will need to scroll to the corners. If you want, you can set it into the full screen mode for more comfortable work.

• To Display Remote Control in Full Screen View
  1. Right-click the button with the Computername of the remotely controlled computer on the Taskbar and select Full screen.
  2. A popup window shows information about exiting the full screen mode. Press OK.
  3. Now you can see the user's screen in full screen.

Comment

Note, the full screen mode replaces your taskbar for the user's one.

• To End the Full Screen View
  1. Press the Ctrl-Esc combination or the key with Windows symbol showing the Start button content.
  2. Press Esc to keep your taskbar on the top.
  3. Right-click the button with the remote Computername on the Taskbar and select Full screen again. It will uncheck this option and show the user's screen back in the window view.

Manual Screen Refresh

Some applications and some control components may change the screen on client's side without the change on the administrator's side. That is why an administrator may want to manually refresh the screen. It can be requested by using the top left icon and selecting Request screen refresh.

Client Side

In the standard configuration, the running remote control service is not indicated in any way on the client's screen. It runs as a system service.

Connection Establishing

When the administrator starts the remote control and types the right password, the Accept WinVNC Connection window appears on the client's side. The user is asked to allow or disallow the remote controlling. The window shows an address of computer that wants to connect to the computer and time span for user's decision.

Remote Controlling

Only when a user presses the Accept button, can the administrator control the computer remotely. Both of them can see the same monitor and can control the mouse and keyboard. A user can always see all the activities that the administrator does on the computer.

A user cannot disconnect the administrator without using the Systray Icon.

Systray Icon

The remote control application can show the systray icon, although the default setting hides it. This icon has a few basic functions:

Inform the User about Remote Control

When the remote control is performed, the user is informed about it by a change in the icon color from orange to white.

Right-click the Icon

Right-click on the icon shows a pull down menu that allows the user to run Current user Properties, connect or disconnect the administrator, or close the remote control service.

Connect new client feature allows the user to push his or her screen to the administrator. So a user can request a remote control immediately when he or she needs help. The administrator must run his or her viewer in -listen mode.

Setting up the Parameters

Right-click on this icon starts WinVNC: Current User Properties dialog box that allows the user to reconfigure the remote control. It allows the password to be changed for example.

Remote Control Security

Setting the Remote Control Parameters

The remote control enables the configuration of the major part of the parameters. These settings determine a level of the remote control security against an unauthorized use.

Since these remote control settings cannot be configured directly from PCinfo Desktop the vendor ensures the generation of an installation pack according to a customer's wish free of charge. The form for these settings is available at http://www.pcinfo.biz/.

PCinfo has set by default the following remote control parameters:

• Password demand - Require
• Password - Videal
• Allow access without query (IP address range) - No addresses
• Allow access with query (IP address range) - 192.168.0.1
• Never allow access (IP address range) - No addresses
• Display the icon in the systray - Switched off
• Timeout for access permission - 30 s
• Operation after timeout - Reject access to screen
• Downtime before an automatic disconnection - Not set

The IP addresses can be set not only for specific addresses (e.g. 192.168.0.1) but also for address ranges. Bytes are always indicated from the left as can be seen in the following example:

Definition 192.168 enables an access from 192.168.0.1 as well as from 192.168.32.32

Definition 192.168.0 enables an access from 192.168.0.1 but not from 192.168.32.32