Any thoughts on using GotoMyPC to remotely manage a Win2K Web server?

I used it while it was in beta and free, and I found it to be pretty reliable and useful. Give it a shot if they still have trial accounts.

I had a paid account that I used to access my home PC while on the road. It worked well. I like the fact that it is basically a two-layer security: you have to log in to their server and you get a list of machines you're authorized to connect to. Then you can connect and you must authenticate again to the remote machine.

It's also fast (I have a 1.5 MBit connection on my DSL) and you get the full remote image of the device.

I'd rather use VNC, it's free and better.

Use a program called Timbucktu Pro, very powerful remote management program for Windows 2000 Web Servers.

Originally posted by mkaufman
I'd rather use VNC, it's free and better.

What makes it better? Also, in reading the VNC FAQs it's clear that the data transfer from remote to server is NOT encrypted:

"Q55 How secure is VNC?
Access to your VNC desktop generally allows access to your whole environment, so security is obviously important. VNC uses a challenge-response password scheme to make the initial connection: the server sends a random series of bytes, which are encrypted using the password typed in, and then returned to the server, which checks them against the 'right' answer. After that the data is unencrypted and could, in theory, be watched by other malicious users..."

When I read:

After that the data is unencrypted and could, in theory, be watched by other malicious users...

that may be enough for me to discard VNC as a possible solution. I would still, however, like to hear why you consider it a better option.

Originally posted by hostpath.com


What makes it better? Also, in reading the VNC FAQs it's clear that the data transfer from remote to server is NOT encrypted:

"Q55 How secure is VNC?
Access to your VNC desktop generally allows access to your whole environment, so security is obviously important. VNC uses a challenge-response password scheme to make the initial connection: the server sends a random series of bytes, which are encrypted using the password typed in, and then returned to the server, which checks them against the 'right' answer. After that the data is unencrypted and could, in theory, be watched by other malicious users..."

When I read:

After that the data is unencrypted and could, in theory, be watched by other malicious users...

that may be enough for me to discard VNC as a possible solution. I would still, however, like to hear why you consider it a better option.

Well, uh..since it's sent over the line encrypted I personally think it's fine.

I'm not looking to get into an argument here, but in my opinion, VNC is a better choice than GoToMyPC - who knows? They could log the passwords typed in.. I feel better running on my own software and connection.

<nevermind>

Originally posted by mkaufman
Well, uh..since it's sent over the line encrypted I personally think it's fine.

How does it get encrypted? The VNC FAQs say it is not encrypted.

Originally posted by mkaufman
I'm not looking to get into an argument here, but in my opinion, VNC is a better choice than GoToMyPC - who knows? They could log the passwords typed in.. I feel better running on my own software and connection.

No argument from me, I'm trying to decide what to use. Currently I use terminal services for other servers I manage, BUT I use a firewall on both ends to create a secure tunnel. This new server won't have the capability to do a secure tunnel.

So please elaborate, if you would, on what makes VNC a better choice and also tell me more about the encryption. I'm only going by VNC's own FAQ which says it isn't encrypted.