Remote Access Program (kinda like GoToMyPC)

sgoldman

I'm trying to find a remote access program that works kind of like GoToMyPC. I'm trying to avoid getting into a subscription service like that though. On the other hand, I'm not all that excited about using VNC either because I don't want to have to poke holes in my firewall for the connections to work.

So it's down to this. I'm looking for a program that's kind of like GoToMyPC in that the connections are actually made on a host server outside of the network. But one that doesn't have a monthly/yearly fee. If there is a program like VNC that will work without opening ports on my firewall, please let me know about that too. Any helpful suggestions are quite welcomed.

Thanks in advance.

Thrax

TeamViewer. Say no more.

sgoldman

I'm sorry, I should have been more specific.

This is for remote access, not remote support. I'm looking for something that will allow a user to remotely access their computer through a firewall without any interaction needed on the host side (just a running host component). Also, these are Macs that will be getting remotely accessed.

ardichoke

I believe Thrax's suggestion still stands...

Basil

Teamviewer will work, just need to select remote access during install or Connection > Setup Unattended Access after.

Tushon

Is this is for business use? If so, you "shouldn't" use TeamViewer, since it is only free for non-commercial purposes. I know LogMeIn has a mac client and is free for many things (including business use)

Thrax

sgoldman wrote:

I'm sorry, I should have been more specific.

This is for remote access, not remote support. I'm looking for something that will allow a user to remotely access their computer through a firewall without any interaction needed on the host side (just a running host component). Also, these are Macs that will be getting remotely accessed.

TeamViewer still fits this profile.

sgoldman

Yes, this is for a business. It looks like TeamViewer is a little pricey for business use.

@Tushon: Do you have much experience with LogMeIn? I have tried it once or twice and not impressed with the quality. I have used other remote access software that supports 24bit color and it refreshed a lot quicker than LogMeIn, at least in my limited experience.

Tushon

I have almost no experience with LogMeIn, due to my positive experience with Teamviewer, but I have only ever needed it for personal use.

the_technocrat

We use our VPN+VNC for the few people at our business who don't have a laptop.

sgoldman

@the_technocrat: That's what I'm leaning towards but I'm trying for an easier solution. We do have a VPN but we also have a corporate policy that prevents a user from connecting their home PC to it. That means in our case, if we used the VPN+VNC solution, they would need laptops.

the_technocrat

I'd rather have people on VPN connecting to their machines and supplying an AD password to log in with their creds than have people remoting in through an exception to the firewall to a remote access port on their machine. But that's just me.

Although I suppose that the idea here is to use a service that is linked through a third party, since the firewall exception wouldn't know what local machine to route to. But that's the worst of all, IMHO. Who knows when GoToMyPC or whatever will be compromised...

sgoldman

the_technocrat wrote:

I'd rather have people on VPN connecting to their machines and supplying an AD password to log in with their creds than have people remoting in through an exception to the firewall to a remote access port on their machine. But that's just me.

I agree if my choice is between the two. I have no intention of opening a port on my firewall for VNC connections.

the_technocrat wrote:

Although I suppose that the idea here is to use a service that is linked through a third party, since the firewall exception wouldn't know what local machine to route to. But that's the worst of all, IMHO. Who knows when GoToMyPC or whatever will be compromised...

Yes, the idea here is exactly that. I am hoping to find an application/service that will allow us to essentially relay the connection through a third party, like GoToMyPC. As far as the security of GoToMyPC's server goes, it comes down to one thing. How much do I trust the company that makes the product? Citrix is a very well known and well respected name. I'm just trying to avoid the monthly/yearly fees in favor of a one-time cost.

Annes

Based on all your requirements (including one-time cost) TeamViewer really, really is your best bet. How much money is the time you would spend configuring everything worth?