Number 303 - August 2008
Remote Control Software - Team Viewer
by Alex Morrision,
Durham Personal Computer User's Club


   I have been experimenting with a new way to communicate between PC's on a local network or remote network. The program that I am using is very powerful and free to home users.

   TeamViewer can be found at the location: www.teamviewer.com/index.asps

   Below are some of the features of Team Viewer.

   TeamViewer is a simple, fast and secure remote control application. You can us Team Viewer for the following scenario:
   
  • Give ad-hoc remote support to colleagues, friends or customers.

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  • Administer Windowsr server and workstations (you can configure TeamViewer to run as a Windows system service - so your computer is reachable even when you are logged in to Windows).

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  • Share your desktop for on-line-presentations or collaboration.

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  • Transfer files between connected desktops


    •    TeamViewer can communicate across firewall barriers and proxies without any need for special configurations!

    Session recording:
       You can record your session on your local computer as a movie and play it back later on. Hence you have proof of what you did on the remote computer.

    Access Control:
       You can preset how the remote computer will be accessed. Distinction can be made between the modes Full Access, Confirm All, View and show, Custom settings or no connections allowed.


    VPN:
       You can establish a VPN connection to the remote computer. That way it is possible, for example, to work with remote databases on your local machine.

    Remote Reboot:
       The remote computer can be restarted directly from the TeamViewer session. Furthermore you can reboot in Safe Mode and also reconnect if your partner is using the QuickSupport.

       TeamViewer options can be imported and exported now. If you have predefined a set of individual options you can use them easily for any other computer.

       There are a few versions of TeamViewer available.

       A small executable file that does not require installation can be run on a PC or from a USB drive allowing a remote person to connect to the PC and provide support.

       Another version that installs will offer more features as outlined above.

       Select the version you prefer and have fun connecting to another PC!

       Find a guide and download link here: www.teamviewer.com/products/firststeps.aspx.

    TOGGLE Editor's Note:
       The program described above sounds very interesting--so much so that TOG President, Carl Tenning and your editor tried it out and found it to work great!

       Perhaps some ambitious soul, within our ranks, could be persuaded to also obtain a free copy or two and try it out with a view to making a presentation to the user group at some, not too distant, future date.

       Take a look at the web sites listed. You may find it enlightening.
      Number 303 - August 2008