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June 3, 2005
...Remote Desktop
Today's vignette puts the spotlight on Remote Desktop. This cool little program is oft-overlooked, but I hope to change all that. Please read the Q and A
QUESTION: So what's so cool about Remote Desktop?
ANSWER: This just happens to be all that, the chips, and some really good dip.
QUESTION: ?? You didn't really say anything.
ANSWER: Oh, sorry. I got carried away. You see Remote Desktop allows one to sit at one computer and control another computer, like your one at work. You can be in your house and pretend you're at work. What a way to spend an evening!
QUESTION: Wait, you mean anyone can just control my computer - that's horrible.
ANSWER: No, "Speed 2" was horrible, but I see your point...come to think of it the original "Speed" was fairly rotten too. Have you ever looked at the bus jumping scene? They would really have needed a ramp for that to have worked.
QUESTION: Who cares about some dumb movie! Who can control my computer?
ANSWER: Right. Anyone with local administrative privileges are automatically added to the Remote Desktop Users group. Most WOU users are local admins, though some are not. This for most WOU machines, just you and the UCS techs.
QUESTION: Why wouldn't I be and Admin and how do I know?
ANSWER: I'll answer those in reverse order. To determine if you are try this simple test. On your XP machine, double click the clock in the menu bar. If you can change the time, you have admin privileges. If not, you don't.
QUESTION: You said XP machine, what if I have Windows 98?
ANSWER: HA, you're a riot! ...oh, you were serious? Well, Windows 98 is so antiquated (and insecure) that it actually doesn't have any kind of security. If you are on the computer, you can do anything. Also, Remote Desktop is for our XP users only. You '98 folks won't be cursed much longer. You see, we'll be mograting all departments in due course and we won't allow those stinky '98 machines on our new domain. Someone brought up that the '98 folks may still wish to use a computer now and then, so it'll be replaced with a new machine.
QUESTION: And why wouldn't I already be an Admin?
ANSWER: That's actually a prickly question. You see, if a user is not able to make serious system-wide changes, then WOU machines stay in working order a lot longer. They're less susceptible to virus attacks, spyware, monkeying and fiddling. Furthermore, we have some folks on campus that don't realize that buying one copy of a program does not entitle you to install it willy-nilly on whatever computers you'd like. That actually is a violation of law. A law with big teeth. WOU could incur some very heavy fines if we were ever audited. Long story short, I lost this battle so now everyone can be an admin. If you find you're not, please call the Service Request Line at 88925 to get that changed.
QUESTION: Okay, so now I'm an Admin, what's next?
ANSWER: You need to know your IP.
QUESTION: No, I just went.
ANSWER: No, no. Your IP address for the machine you wish to control. Kinda like the address for your house. You can find out your IP address any number of ways. The simplest is to go to http://www.whatismyip.com. It'll display a number starting with 140.211. Take note of that.
QUESTION: So noted...what's next?
ANSWER: Go to your controlling machine. To keep this Q and A short-ish we're just going to cover the scenario of your controlling machine being an XP computer. Go to the "Start" menu. Go to the following:
"All Programs" -> "Accessories" -> "Communications" -> "Remote Desktop Connection"
Where it says computer, type the IP address you got earlier. I'll talk about the setting within Remote Desktop at a later time. My Pizza just got out of the oven; now it needs to get in my belly.
Posted by crowej at June 3, 2005 10:12 PM
Comments
This is crazy funny. Like when you look out your window and see someone back into their garage or other assorted structures. Seriously, very funny.
Posted by: Levi at June 4, 2005 4:38 PM
I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE remote desktop! Several of us in the library have to switch between our own desks and the reference desk throughout the day and have lately started using remote desktop to ease the transition. I liken remote desktop to taking a mobile duplicate of your home with you while on vacation; you have everything you are used to and comfortable with, but with a different view!
Posted by: Michael Baird at June 6, 2005 12:48 PM
Who is the target audience and when and why should they use it? Are there any risks? Are there situations when it should not be used? With these questions aside it is a great program and works nicely.
Posted by: Shaun at June 8, 2005 11:28 AM
I'd say the target audience is anyone who works at WOU that hates FTP as much as I do. If you are the only person who uses a given machine...you're all set. If you share a machine, you run the risk of logging off the other user (or being logged off yourself). You'd need to remember to log off when not using the machine.
Posted by: Joe Crowe at June 8, 2005 11:36 AM
Thanks, Joe! Using remote desktop from a Mac really works! It's the best of both worlds - Mac finesse with Windows accessibility.
Posted by: Camila at January 14, 2006 4:44 PM
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