What remote PC control software to people advocate?

[g__day]

For Windows XP boxes on a high speed cabled network - what would folk recommend?

Yes I want to set up a fair sized laptop in my astrolab guding and controlling my scope and CCD, but control this PC from another one in the house.

Do folk prefer software like the freeware VNC (and why?) or Windows Remote Desktop, which is configured by:

To install Remote Desktop Web Connection

Open http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/ms-its:e:\windows\help\ntshared.chm::/shortcutCold.gifAdd or Remove Programs (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/ms-its:E:\WINDOWS\Help\rdesktop.chm::/EXEC=,appwiz.cpl CHM=ntshared.chm FILE=alt_url_windows_component.htm) in Control Panel.
Click Add/Remove Windows Components.
Select Internet Information Services, and then click Details.
In the Subcomponents of Internet Information Services list, select World Wide Web Service, and then click Details.
In the Subcomponents for World Wide Web Service list, click the Remote Desktop Web Connection check box, and then click OK.
In the Windows Components Wizard, click Next.
Open Internet Services Manager.
Expand the folder hierarchy until you reach the local computer name\Web Sites\Default Web Site\tsweb folder.
Right-click the tsweb folder and then click Properties.
Click the Directory Security tab on the Properties dialog box.
In Anonymous access and authentication control, click Edit....
Check the Anonymous access check box on the Authentication Methods dialog box, and then click OK twice.

[snowyskiesau]

I've always used VNC, mostly because it runs on other operatings systems as well as Windows.
Easy to install, runs via a dedicated client or a web browser.

[iceman]

I've used VNC which is pretty good, but most people at work use the Windows XP remote desktop when they're working from home.

Works seemlessly.

[ashley.gale]

I have to take over other computers sometimes at work and we always use the windows remote desktop. I find it very effective especially when your running over an LAN. :thumbsup:

[rogerg]

I use Remote Desktop for controlling my observatory. The only thing I'm careful of is to not leave the obs computer processing but logged-out.

For example, if I connect to it from the house and then disconnect later, if the computer is still controlling the scope - so taking images, autoguiding, running scripts, etc, then I'll go out there and actually logon to the computer to get a logged on session back alive on the computer.

I find that often if I leave it running but not logged on anywhere there will be memory leaks, from no specific app - CCDSoft, eTrust Antivirus, TheSky, CCD Commander, windows system tasks, etc. It doesn't seem specific to a particular app, it's usually just the app(s) that are doing lots of work.

At work I have seen Remote Desktop exhibit behaviour that is different to that of if you were actually logged on to the computer, mostly while installing applications - I know some app's that simply won't install when you are using Remote Desktop - giving indescript errors that don't appear related to Remote Desktop (has taken us days to debug). I haven't experienced any problems like this with the software I use in my observatory setup.

Roger.

[bird]

VNC is definitely my favourite. Under Windows I use the "RealVNC" version cause I can control the bandwidth so that it runs over a modem if need be.

Other versions like TightVNC seem to send too many events (mouse movement etc) and can be a bit slow over the internet, but I guess they would be fine over a lan.

VNC is nice cause there are clients and servers for all operating systems (so you can use a linux client to connect to a MS windows machine for example) and there are even web-based clients implemented in Java :-)

cheers, Bird

[netwolf]

I use Remote Desktop and UltraVNC, both have there benifits. I usualy setup FreeSSH or copSSH (both are based on openSSH) on the machine to be controlled and do VNC or RDP over a SSH tunnel to secure it, this is only required over unsafe connections like wireless or via the internet.

Here is a good guide about how to do it
http://theillustratednetwork.mvps.org/Ssh/RemoteDesktopSSH.html

RDP has some quirks with regard to loging in and auto login out the current sessions. VNC on the other hand lets you to control the remote pc and allow local view/control at the remote pc. This feature is great for helping someone out or demonstrating a process to someone.

Regards

[higginsdj]

Well this is one method of Remote Controlling the observatory - but people seemed to have overlooked the other - actual remote operation - ie hands off.

The dangers of remote operation lie in the fact that you are still expected to control the scope - but not being able to see what you are doing. You run the risk of drivign the sope into something - perhaps the base, since you no longer have spatial data on the current orientation of the scope.

What I propose (and use) is ACP4 by DC3 Dreams (www.dc3.com (http://www.dc3.com)). It takes care of the housekeeping and prevents you from driving the scope into anything. Now I have the base level license so I still need access to control the Observatory PC to access AC4 (you can buy internet access licenses) and I user VNC for this - but it only to monitor the software - not the hardware.

You get get more details of my setup on my website.

Cheers

David Higgins
http://www.david-higgins.com

[Greg Bock]

Another option - Team Viewer 8. I use Remote Desktop usually, but it doesn't display the graphic representation of the telescope position that Astrometric's Maestro software provides for Skywalker systems, so i then use Teamviewer if i want to monitor the scope orientation.
Each have their advantages and disads, try them.
Oh, and if someone knows how to display the scope graphic using Remote Desktop, can you please tell me, that would be gr8 thanks.

[Merlin66]

I've been a happy user of Teamviewer for the past five years.
Work's very well and it's never let me down.