Remote Software Whp's Good?

Does anyone here have any experience with remote software working as a technician fixing customers systems this way?

Where I live I've always gone to customer's homes and worked onsite doing system repairs, but now I have been considering looking for remote software and doing the repair work from my home, in situations like virus/spyware cleanup, etc.,

What I'd like to know is, will any remote software still give you access to the system to run a chkdsk, run the cmd prompt or use safe mode as well?

I know asking a simple question like, 'Who's the best', doesn't really explain much, but I'd like to know who makes the best remote software as far as performance, stability, ease of use, and pretty much trouble free usage. All I want to be able to do is connect, and get the job done, fast and simple, that is just about as easy as if you were working on the desktop locally.

THANKS

 

NetSupport Manager is currently the one I'm using.

Here is a good one from Symantec called pcAnywhere.

Free alternatives - LogMeIn, TightVNC and UltraVNC I have used and can recommend.

Don't forget Windows remote assistance.

 

THANKS I signed up at LogMeIn, I'm checking them out right now.

How simple is NetSupport Manager to setup? I mean a customer calls, has a problem, and you tell them you can access there computer in the next 5-10mins. and begin working on it remotely. What does the customer need to do on their end to get this thing installed, or working?

I definitely want something that takes very little customer input to get working, let's face it some people are clueless and can hardly handle installing just about anything, and then the other side, they just don't want to be bothered, so it has to be fast, simple and painless for them, or you're just going to turn them off and tell you to forget it.

Also how good is Windows Remote Assistance if the customer has XP? Could you rely on it to help you get the job done if you are a computer tech, and need it?

THANKS...

 

Exactly!..in your line of work.

Have you looked at this and to answer you look here.

Remote Assistance will work fine.

 

seems the best surgested so far is NetSupport Manager. have a look at radmin since its easy to use and also there is a portable viewer you could store on your usb pen.http://www.radmin.com/
im training to be a ict technican and at some point will need some remote support software.
so i will be looking at this thread for any better software people currently use.

 

NetSupport Manager is probably not what you need for what you have outlined but if you were offering say a maintenance contract for a customer/small business or larger this is nice.

With remote assistance the user can send you a support request through say Live Messenger - you I believe must have XP Pro or Vista.

 

NetSupport Manager looks nice, I installed a copy into VMware to play with it.

http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/2511/86017305tl0.jpg

Oh so for doing local computer repairs, a customer calls up and needs a virus/spyware cleanup, NetSupport Manager isn't good?

Damm now you got me hooked on this thing, I really like the look of it, nice looking professional app, LOL...

I thought the customer can connect through the gateway http and doesn't need to install anything?

THANKS

 

No no, it would be fine, I was just unsure if that is what you would want.

 

I read this online about the NetSupport Manager Gateway:

Internet Gateway :

Delivering seamless Remote Control between PCs that may be located behind different firewalls. The NetSupport Gateway provides a stable and secure method for NetSupport enabled systems to locate and communicate via http.

So do I just need to have the customer's IP, and configure it, here's a screenshot of that gateway setup:

http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/6814/75618887az1.jpg

and that's all to make this gateway connection, then how does this http access occur, I mean do I then need to login to NetSupport Manager's website to use a web interface for the http connection?

THANKS

 

Sorry for being a bit lazy and not reading the HELP, LOL, but I still am lost with one area in the HELP section.

I see this mentioned, in the screenshot below about the 'Client Configuration' but I don't see where this setup is to enable the HTTP for the 'Client Configuration':

http://img297.imageshack.us/img297/1493/77997934et3.jpg

Now I know there is the Config Utility but there is nothing there for HTTP:

http://img388.imageshack.us/img388/1360/38696106ws7.jpg

But now for the Control Configuration, I see that listed under 'Network' - 'Configuration', and the HTTP is in there to checkmark:

http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/5552/84458624is8.jpg
http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/87/92244033qy0.jpg

But where the heck is this 'Client Configuration' at?

THANKS

 

After the NetSupport Gateway? Is that what you mean.

edit. config will run after this.

 

Not sure, look at your HELP docs, click on the left for:

Connecting to Clients/Controls via a NetSupport Gateway

Then look down on the right side, it says this:

Client Configuration
The Client machine needs to be configured to use the HTTP protocol and be given the appropriate Gateway access details.

1. From the Basic or Advanced Client Configurator select {Connectivity-HTTP}.

Here's a screenshot of that info in the HELP:
http://img297.imageshack.us/img297/1493/77997934et3.jpg

And I'm like scratching my head trying to figure out WHERE the heck is this Basic or Advanced Client Configurator to select the HTTP.

NOW this is the 'Control Configuration' :

http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/5552/84458624is8.jpg
http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/87/92244033qy0.jpg

But this Basic or Advanced Client Configurator, I have no idea where this is.

Errr...

 

Sheesh I found it, LOL... Darn why don't they just tell you where it is in the HELP docs...

They don't tell you in the help to go to the NetSupport Configurator listed in the Start Menu, sheesh what are we mind readers, LOL...

http://img297.imageshack.us/img297/3253/38599953tq0.jpg
http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/9559/76547692di3.jpg

I had to go on Google and dig around and found a PDF that was more complete with information...

http://download.lcs.nl/pci/manual/nsm_v10_gateway.pdf

Sheesh they need to write better documentation...

 

Yes all under NSM menu lol, I couldn't understand why your configuration box was so different to mine.

 

You haven't seen the NetSupport training download?

 

Sheesh I wish they would of just said so in the HELP docs.

Now I read that PDF which seems to be more complete information, BUT I still don't get how after setting this thing up the connection is made over HTTP?

I mean the host must allow you access, or they have to access a web interface, or you access one?

How is the connection made through what?

No...

 

NetSupport School - Instruction and Training suite, you should have this.

 

Ok I found the School site:

http://www.netsupportschool.com/index.asp

I don't see anything called Instruction and Training suite. I only see four listed here:

http://www.netsupportschool.com/downloads.asp

 

I have a question for you...PMed.

 

I have used just about eveyone out there including everything mentioned in this thread. The most important things IMO about remote control is reliability and performance. Simplicity is also very important when you need to support machines in remote environments. If you have the option to make changes with the customer's firewall, you can go with many of the traditional packages you've mentioned. Netsupport is very good performance with all the essentials. (Clipboard transfer, Dual-pane file transfer with resume) etc... I personally like Remotely Anywhere which can be configured to use standard SSL as it's transport that will pass out of most corporate firewalls unhindered. (I said out, not in!) Another good commercial choice is Dameware Mini-remote which can be purchased as part of the Dameware utilities or stand-alone. Excellent performance, easy to use and they license per administrator instead of per node which can get very expensive. For open-source, UltraVNC is your best bet.

That being said, Logmein and other similar web-based services will allow you to control most users without them having to touch their firewall or setup any special gateway etc... The easiest way to get connected to a user that doesn't know anything about computers and works just about anywhere. Performance is pretty good also.

 

You may want to check out Teamviewer. It is free and is very easy to set up (basically install it and type in an user-defined password or use a session based password later). One side only needs to know the "ID" of the other side to connect. The "ID" is clearly known after running Teamview on each side. Also, it appears to work with firewalls pretty well. I find it to run quite lightly on my PC and the dual pane file transfer is convenient.

 

I couldn't of said it better, reliability, performance and simplicity.

Simplicity is the BIGGEST factor I want, I'm just a small home users computer tech, I don't need something that takes forever to figure out how to use, or setup. Netsupport Manager definitely looks like something cool to get into, but for right now, I'm not to sure if it's to involved. Even after spending quite a bit of time reading the Help on it, I still don't get how a gateway connection is made, if the hosts I connect to need to install something or not. Their documentation is not the greatest....

For reliability, performance and simplicity, who would be the best?

THANKS guys for the input...

 

No other Remote software geek out there?

 

I've been beta testing GoToAssist Express and it's been great so far.

https://express.gotoassist.com/

Here's a detailed review

http://www.masternewmedia.org/news/2008/01/08/pc_remote_assistance_made_easy.htm

 

Darn it's Beta, I need something for business that's going to work, not messing with software in development...