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A Consultants Guide to Ultra VNC
By TheEmperor | February 4, 2008
Ultra VNC is the first item in my Consultant’s Toolbox. It was built using the source from the original VNC project and loaded with enhancements including file transfer, windows login integration, a chat window, and a Java web interface. It also includes a very interesting piece called a mirror video driver. Once installed on the UVNC server the mirror driver lowers the CPU usage and speeds up the UVNC connection immensely.
The best thing about Ultra VNC is the SingleClick add-on.With it you can create a web link that allows your client to connect without installing anything else on their pc. There is an excellent guide to setting up SingleClick on the UVNC website including branding the UVNC server with your own logo and information. Another excellent add-on is the NAT to NAT connector which allows you to make a connection through NAT enabled routers on both ends with no router configuration. It does however require a server outside of both networks with an external IP to use as a relay. Again there is an excellent guide to configuring the repeater over at the UVNC website. If you are serious about your Consulting then you should already have a website on a server which you can install applications on. I recommend installing the repeater there as well. If you don’t have such a website then you should probably get one. Web hosting is cheap.
Once you have installed the UVNC server or configured your SingleClick and your repeater you can begin using the software. The initial connection screen has a few vague items on it, but is generally very easy to follow.
VNC Server: This can be either an IP address and port number or hostname and port number so long as the hostname will resolve via DNS. The default port is 5900, but you can configure it on the server side to be anything you choose.
Quick Options: Here you can choose the speed and connection type, Generally with a fast DSL connection on both ends you can use the LAN speed option, especially if you are using the Mirror Driver I mentioned earlier. If you’re on a public wireless connection somewhere you might be stuck using Medium, but even then I’ve been able to use LAN without any trouble. On the same LAN network you can use ULTRA and enjoy the feeling of being right at the keyboard. “View only” does exactly what it says, it connects you to the session with no control over the mouse or keyboard. Auto Scaling adjusts the size of the viewer window to fit your screen automatically. The Options button brings up a screen which adjusts the settings which are affected by the Ultra, LAN, Medium, Modem, and Slow options allowing you to tweak them to your liking. I have never found a reason to do so as the Quick Option settings have stood me in good stead everywhere I have used them.
Use DSMPlugin: This is the option for using an Encryption plugin and you can read more about that here.
Proxy/Repeater: This is where the address of your UVNC repeater goes as described in the Repeater installation process. Once you are satisfied with the settings you can click the Connect button and you will be connected to the target PC and asked for a password. The password is configured during the UVNC server installation and can be integrated with Windows login credentials.
When you are connected you will see the users desktop if they are logged in, or the regular windows login screen if they are not. If you are using the SingleClick addon then the user will always be logged in because they must initiate the connection via SingleClick. You will also see a row of buttons across the top of your UVNC window.
The first button sends a Ctrl-Alt-Del signal to the PC. The next button toggles between fullscreen and windowed mode, the third button brings up the connection options, the fourth button refreshes/redraws the screen, the next one sends a Ctrl-Esc to the host which will bring up he Start Menu, The next button sends a custom key combo, the next shows the Status Window, then the Disconnect button, then the button that hides the buttons, the next button blanks out the target PCs screen, then there is the file transfer button, the choose a single window to share button, and the choose the whole desktop button, finally there is the Chat Window button. These buttons all have mouse-over descriptions and are fairly self explanatory.
Now that you have finished whatever work you were doing just close the window and you’re done. Easy as can be. If you are an aspiring consultant with further questions about Ultra VNC please e-mail me and I will be glad to help out. As always if this article was helpful please
Topics: consultant, consulting, guide, helpdesk, remote. ultra vnc, software review, uvnc |
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