What is remote desktop software and how to use it

Remote desktop software, or remote access software, is the software that allows you to get access to a remote computer. Specifically, it allows you to view the remote desktop, manipulate the mouse cursor of the remote computer and send keystrokes. Additionally, many remote desktop software programs also allow sending files to and from the remote computer, chatting with user working at the remote PC and perform other operations.

Remote desktop software utilizes the so called client-server model. Normally, the client part is called the Viewer, whereas the server part is called the Server, or the Host. However, different programs may have different names for the client and server. Also, sometimes the developers combine both parts in a single installer file, in order to make the installation process simpler for the user.

How Remote Utilities can help?

Remote Utilities is one of the best remote desktop software programs on the market. Designed specifically for system administration and remote helpdesk this software is unmatched when it comes to working speed and security. Although it works brilliantly for Internet connections and allows firewall and proxy to be bypassed, it is the local network administration where Remote Utilities truly shines.

Typical uses of remote access software

Suppose you have your desktop PC, laptops of your family members and a home server all joined together in a local network with the Internet access via a router. If you install the host component of remote desktop software on every PC you can easily gain remote access to your home network from anywhere in the world. You can view and edit your documents, listen to your music, and help your family members by connecting to their PCs through a secure channel.

Another use of remote control software is performing remote administration in your corporate network. There are a lot of administrative tasks that must be done on every computer in a network. Remote desktop software saves you a lot of energy, since you don't have to travel around the office to maintain unattended PCs in your network. Apart from regular connection modes such as viewing the remote computer screen and getting access to its mouse and keyboard, there are also modes that grant direct access to remote computer's task manager or Windows registry.

Finally, you can use remote desktop software for remote customer support. You can get remote access over the Internet to the computer of your co-worker or customer, who needs help. They might not even have to install the host component. Instead they need to run the executable file downloaded from the vendor's website and allow incoming connection from you and voila - you can see their desktop and control their mouse cursor.

How to connect to a remote PC

The process of connecting to a remote computer is straightforward. In most cases you need to know its IP address and a password set on the host component of remote desktop software. To initiate the connection, enter the IP address and password and select the desired connection mode.

To successfully connect over the Internet you need to know the public IP address of the remote computer. This is a rare case, since many PCs and networks today are located behind some kind of router or firewall and don't have a public IP address. To circumvent this limitation, some remote access programs allow bypassing the firewall, thus making the remote connection possible in all cases. Usually, but not always, the firewall bypass feature involves using intermediary web servers hosted by the company that produces remote desktop software. Another way to bypass the firewall is to initiate a 'callback' connection, in which case the client PC has a public IP address and the host pings the client to keep the tunnel open and make the regular connection possible.

A variation of a mediated remote connection is a local gateway server. This is an exact replica of a regular mediation web-server used by the company that developed the remote control software. However, the local gateway mediation server is installed on your premises. This is a major advantage because you no longer depend on the overseas global servers and your connection speeds may be a little higher.

How safe is remote desktop software

When it comes to remote access security, there are two aspects worth looking at: how well the host is protected against unauthorized access and how secure the data transmitted over the network between the host and the client is. 

The authorization options usually involve entering your password when you connect to a remote computer. You set the password on the host component upon installation, but you can also change it afterwards, if necessary. Some programs are really strict on that and won’t allow you to save the password on the viewer side, while others do provide such option.

The data travelling between the host and the client is encrypted using one of the popular encryption standards, such as AES. However, some remote control software programs, especially those available for free doesn't have data encryption, which makes your data vulnerable. It is not recommended to use such software, as there are no shortcuts when it comes to security.

Apart from data encryption and password protection remote access software can have other facilities that make it even more secure. For example, you can set IP filters, which only allow (or block) remote connection from the IP addresses you specify. Or the software may have brute-force password cracking protection that blocks the hacker's IP address after several unsuccessful attempts have been made.

How remote desktop software is licensed

Because of the dual nature of remote desktop software, its licensing can be quite complicated. Broadly speaking, the variety of licensing options can be broken down into three categories depending on what part of the program (or feature) is subject to licensing:

• Viewer is free, host is paid. Every remote computer must have a license if the program continues to be used beyond the trial period. This type of licensing is very popular and widespread, because it scales very well. If you have few PCs to administer remotely, then you don't have to pay extra money, and only pay for the number of licenses you actually need.
• Host is free, viewer is paid. Rarely seen licensing model because of its inner flaws. From the business standpoint this model makes almost no sense because it doesn't distinguish between a home user with one PC and a big corporation with hundreds of PCs and almost unlimited resources. This type of licensing, however, is often used by manufacturers with not-so-good products to quickly gain market share by literally giving away their product at a very small price. The saying "you get what you pay for" holds true in this case.
• Per-channel licensing. This license type allows unlimited host installations. However, there are limitations on how many clients can work simultaneously via a mediated connection. Per-channel licensing is suitable for helpdesks, because the number of technicians that can use the software is more important than the number of remote host installations (which can be unlimited in this case).

Conclusion

To summarize, finding the best remote desktop software is the question of what features are most important for you. Also, ask yourself, whether you are planning to use it in a local network (LAN) most of the time or for connecting over the Internet? In the latter case the bypass firewall feature would be very handy as it saves you a lot of time by eliminating configuration issues on the host side. All in all, there are many good offerings on this market and you just need to try and find the one that suits your needs.

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