tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6159470847873828659.post1059846656809800224..comments2011-08-17T01:54:59.711-05:00Comments on exawkuser: Getting your parents to run Fedora: Challenge 1brentonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07293643045171494670noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6159470847873828659.post-43028552754601420842008-02-13T19:36:00.000-05:002008-02-13T19:36:00.000-05:00As far as remote access, how about openvpn? It's e...As far as remote access, how about openvpn? It's easy, secure and nice. <BR/><BR/>So on your machine you setup dyndns or some other way to keep a dns->ip mapping. Then on the machines you want to support just install openvpn and have it connect to your dns name. <BR/><BR/>You can then use the vpn to login and do whatever admin work you need to do (as long as the underlying network is up). Openvpn will take care of reconnecting and encrypting.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6159470847873828659.post-14390367199421855662008-02-13T13:24:00.000-05:002008-02-13T13:24:00.000-05:00One important thing to be done IMHO is improve the...One important thing to be done IMHO is improve the built-in servers in Gnome and KDE.<BR/><BR/>Last time I tried to use KDE's built-in session sharing, it was awfully slow, even considering that the host was on 100mbit lan and the client was on the same LAN over wireless using 802.11g . Put that over a slow internet connection and you have a nightmare in your hands.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17971520039909477679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6159470847873828659.post-22125067530731480872008-02-13T08:22:00.000-05:002008-02-13T08:22:00.000-05:00David, thanks for the tips. It's definitely time ...David, thanks for the tips. It's definitely time we address this issue formally and perhaps package a solution that we can all contribute to. <BR/><BR/>I really like the idea of forming a community around remote support. Herlo created http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/FedoraFamily/ which would might be a good place for ideas to percolate.brentonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07293643045171494670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6159470847873828659.post-84836617335780551782008-02-12T22:00:00.000-05:002008-02-12T22:00:00.000-05:00What I do over a slower speed internet connetion, ...What I do over a slower speed internet connetion, YRMV.<BR/><BR/>On the users computer. Create a separate user account ( eg "sysop" ) for you to remotely log into via ssh. <BR/><BR/>Insure that the internet connection ( modem/router/firewall ) listens and forwards ssh correctly, and that sshd allows local port forwarding. If the user does not have a static IP address then setup a dynamic DNS service ( ie noip.com ) . Also make sure that remote desktop is turned on with either an assenting click or password.<BR/><BR/>Remotely log into the box:<BR/>"ssh -C -R 55000:localhost:5500 sysop@theboxinquestion.no-ip.org".<BR/><BR/>Install vncserver and vnc .<BR/>As sysop create a temporary vnc X server to use a viewport for a slow or unreliable internet connection:<BR/>"vncserver -geometry 800x600 :16" <BR/>( it will prompt for a password the first time and by default use the twm window manager and start a xterm ). You can adjust the geometry to the internet connection.<BR/><BR/>On your computer, fire up new terminal window, insure vnc is installed ( vinagre doesn't support -listen option yet ) have it listen to port 5500. <BR/>"vncviewer -listen". <BR/><BR/>Then via the ssh terminal<BR/>"vncconfig -display :16 -connect localhost:55000"<BR/>A window to the remote vnc server will then appear on your computer. In that window in the xterm provided type.<BR/>"vncviewer localhost". You will now have a vnc viewport onto the users desktop.<BR/><BR/>This can work really well and does not require granting the support person root access. If the internet connection disconnects then you just re ssh into the box and kill the old ssh connection.<BR/><BR/>Afterwards kill the vnc X server with:<BR/>"vncserver -kill :16".<BR/><BR/>Also ( although i have only done this once ), you can use <A HREF="http://www.unixuser.org/~euske/vnc2swf/" REL="nofollow"><BR/>vnc2swf</A> connected to the vnc X server to record exactly what you are doing and embed it in a webpage for the hapless user to refer back to.<BR/><BR/>It would not be to difficult to bash script all this and even package it in a rpm. <BR/><BR/>Come to think of it a Fedora project hosted dynamic DNS service might be a good idea. <BR/><BR/>What is really needed is a community based remote support service, which I shall expand upon in a <A HREF="http://itheresies.blogspot.com/" REL="nofollow">future blog entry.</A>Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01864442642089679813noreply@blogger.com