How Can I Use Real VNC to connect 2 computers on two networks?

Question

How can I connect to my brother's computer at his house through his network at my house using his network and then view and control his desktop through my network (different locations) on my computer using the Real VNC Program?

Answer 1

There are a few VNC programs. I use UltraVNC, but they all work the same.



On the machine TO BE controlled, run VNC Server, on the machine doing the controlling, run VNC VIEWER.



I asume you have a router between the computers and the cable modem or network device, so you have some sort of hardware firewall.



You will have to setup PORT FORWARDING on your router, and different routers do it differently. On your brother's router, you'll need to know his local IP address, and forward the VNC port 5900 to his local IP address.



On his server, he will pick a password for you to use.



Now, from his machine, he can go to http:// findmyip.com and it will display the public IP of the machine (WAN port of the router). That is the IP address you will use when running the VNC Viewer, on the viewer enter his IP address : 5900 e.g. 163.12.1.134:5900



If you get a prompt for a password, that will be from his VNC Server, all you have to do is get it right and voila, you're able to do stuff on his system.



There are many ways to do this, check out logmein.com they offer "free" accounts. Also, if your router supports DynDNS, you can create an account and the router will always be reachable even if the ISP changes the WAN IP address if you setup the router to use Dynamic DNS.



I notice two other recommendations for logmein.com. I agree, it is a great program, but I'm not so sure about the security issues since they know a lot about the computers working through their system.



As to changing IP addresses, that's the purpose of DYNDNS, go to www.dyndns.com and learn about it. Most newer routers allow you to setup a dyndns name that you've preregistered with dyndns.com. For example, I use an address like (but not exactly) "hal9000.somedomain.com" and it always has the correct public IP for my system.



With dyndns, the dynamic nature of the IP address becomes a moot point. This is basically what logmein.com is doing, but they have a nice client/server program. Again, my concern is who knows about my computer, and where is this data being kept?

Answer 2

What you have to do is:

Install VNC Server on his machine

Install VNC Viewer on your machine

Get his Internet IP address

Set his router to port forward to his LAN IP address the port number used by VNC server that you selected when you set up VNC server on his machine. Do NOT leave this port open all the time. Have it open only when you need it.

Open the port and start VNC server on his machine

On your machine start VNC Viewer

In the dialog box enter his IP address and port # (example 10.10.43.165:2750)

If your setup is correct you will get the request for the password to his VNC server on your screen

Enter the password

Your In

That's the hard way



The easy way

Use one of the free remote control web sites like Logmein.com

Set up an account - it's free

Load the Logmeinfree software on his machine ( yup - it's free)

Now from your machine, use your web browser, go to Logmein and open your account

Double click on the remote machine

Answer the password

Select remote control

Your in



No knowing IP addresses, no port forwarding, no tunnels and it's encrypted and secured.



That's what I do for Windows machines. Linux I do the hard way

Have Fun

Answer 3

I do like VNC a lot but for a newer user may I recommend LogMeIn. It's a program just like VNC (more like PC Anywhere). They have a free version that will do all that you need to do. It's really simple. All you do is go to the website, sign up for an account. When your done, give your brother the account details, have him do the "add computer" link. One he goes through the installation you logon to the website, click the link for his computer and logon to it and view/control his desktop.

Answer 4

Since you can never guarantee the IP addresses as they are dynamic, this is not a good way to connect. you would need also to get into port forwarding and changing firewall settings. I would suggest getting him to go to http://logmein.com and installing the free logmein program. You can then log into his account and view and control his machine.