vnc setup like gotomypc.com?

[Scott C. Best]

Bruce:

 	Heya. Here's a possible solution:

1. Behind your firewall/router, setup an echoServer. It acts as
    the "relay" between the VNC Viewer and Servers, similar to
    how GoToMyPC's servers act as relays.
2. Customize a copy of InstantVNC so that when run, it logs into
    your echoServer at your dynDNS address. InstantVNC is similar
    to the Ultr "at" VNC "single-click" application, though a bit
    easier to use.
3. Distribute the customized InstantVNC application to anyone in
    your community of supported users.
4. To connect to the users, you run the EchoVNC Viewer, which
    "logs into" the same echoServer. It has a point&click GUI
    to see the list of logged in users, and to kick off VNC
    connections to them.

 	The advantage to this approach is that the support user
doesn't have to key in any addresses or setup any port-forwardings.
And once you're connected by InstantVNC, you can install EchoVNC
as a system-service, so that you always have access.

 	That's how I use it. :)

cheers,
Scott
http://www.echovnc.com

> Hi all,
>
> As the techie in my extended family I end up fielding a lot of support calls
> from different family members.  I was thinking it'd be nice to be able to
> remotely access their machines from home if the need arises and in general
> VNC would be perfect for this. My only concern is poking holes necessary to
> enable this since it would involve dealing with different routers &
> firewalls, DHCP, etc.  I was thinking that a service similar to
> gotomypc.comwould make more sense.  Both they and I would connect to a
> proxy server of
> some sort that would establish the vnc connection from my machine to their
> machine.  I have a linux box with a static IP that I can set up as a proxy
> but I'm not familiar with any tools to do what I envision.  Are there any
> tools available like this?  Some sort of app that I can install on a linux
> server that one person could log in as a "server" and one as a "client" to
> establish a vnc connection between the two?
>
> I know how to set up NAT routes, dynamic hostnames, etc. but I really don't
> want to go that way.  I'm specifically interested in whether or not such an
> application as I described exists.
>
> -Bruce