Will I be able to...

reedcin · - Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 3

Ok, downstairs I have my computer, and I have one upstairs for my kids. Downstairs has Roadrunner Cable Modem hookup. Upstairs has a wireless adapter and "borrows" internet access from the neighbor. (No, I don't consider it cheating because we do pay for the service on the other computer, just don't have a router). Anyway, I want to be able to view my kids' computer from my computer. Can I use Abyss in some way to be able to do that?

iNaNimAtE · Posted: Fri Jun 11, 2004 10:29 pm Post subject:

First, what do you mean by view? If you mean get a file list, then read below:

Yes you can, however it will take some configuration.

You will need to install Abyss Web Server on your child's computer, and set the document root to C:\. Then, you need to ask your neighbor to open port 80 for your child's computer (assuming your neighbor knows that you are mooching internet access). Then, you can get a file list by typing your neighbor's external IP into your browser.
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Anonymoose · - Joined: 09 Sep 2003 Posts: 2192

I'm thinking from the post you mean more that you want to view what they're doing, websites they're browsing etc ? If so, you want to install a copy of VNC on their machine and use the VNC viewer on yours.

http://www.tightvnc.com/

reedcin · - Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 3

Thank you Anonymoose - that's exactly what I want to do. We have a 15-year old boy who has lost our trust on more than one occasion.

iNaNimAtE · Posted: Fri Jun 11, 2004 10:43 pm Post subject:

Mind you, you will also have to open ports for VNC--as the router does not come pre-configured.
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Anonymoose · - Joined: 09 Sep 2003 Posts: 2192

I had missed that point - I thought you had a direct wireless connection to downstairs.

You will need to set up some kind of Dynamic DNS service so you will always know the address to use to connect to your computer downstairs. Recommendation : DynDNS.org for an account and DNSer for updating the address invisibly.

http://www.dyndns.org
http://www.access.si/DNSer/DNSer.htm

I recommended TightVNC however, if you want a version that runs invisibly you will need to use TridiaVNC instead - I have never managed to get the tray icon for TightVNC to hide itself.

http://www.tridiavnc.com

If you only have a cable modem, you may not need to open a port for you to connect, however, if you have a personal firewall on the downstairs PC you will need to sneakily set it to allow connections to the VNC server from the internet. If your cable modem has any built in firewall, you will also need to configure that to pass traffic on port 5900 to your downstairs PC.

MAKE SURE YOU PASSWORD PROTECT YOUR VNC SERVER WITH A STRONG PASSWORD. It will allow anyone who has the password direct access and control over the downstairs PC.

iNaNimAtE · Posted: Sat Jun 12, 2004 1:15 am Post subject:

The computer upstairs, the one reedcin wants to monitor uses a network card to mooch off of the neighbor's nearby wireless network. The neighbor's router has a 99.999% chance of blocking port 5900 (and if it is open, it most definitely isn't magically forwarded to the son's IP). Both computers are on different networks (with possibly different ISPs).

The only way to get any version of VNC to work is ask your neighbor nicely to open a port--and if they don't even know that you use their network, then you're in trouble.
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Anonymoose · - Joined: 09 Sep 2003 Posts: 2192

You're reading it the wrong way round. The PC upstairs with the mooched wireless connection is connecting *outwards*. The VNC connection goes from the upstairs PC via the neighbour to the machine downstairs would be allowed by default. It is the downstairs machine/cable modem in reedcin's house that would need configuration to allow incoming traffic from the internet.

iNaNimAtE · Posted: Sat Jun 12, 2004 3:19 am Post subject:

Yes, the PC upstairs on the mooched wireless connection is the kid's computer, with the VNC server waiting for someone (reedcin) to connect to it, correct? Wouldn't that require the kid's computer to allow connections on 5900? It is reedcin that needs to connect to the kid's computer, correct? Am I missing something?
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Anonymoose · - Joined: 09 Sep 2003 Posts: 2192

Damn my eyes. Yes indeed. I don't know where my brain went yesterday. I could have sworn it said the kids PC was downstairs with the real hookup last night... That kind of screws things up, I guess your neighbour doesn't know your kid's using his internet connection ? ;)

If you're dead set on monitoring the upstairs PC, I'd say the quickest way to solve this would be to put a wireless card in your machine downstairs and just use the link between the two machines to view the machine without going out over the internet. Has the added advantage of being a lot more secure. You could also be honest and use the link to allow your kids to use your cable connection over the wireless link.

iNaNimAtE, there is a reverse VNC mode, where the server will connect outwards to a listening viewer, but I haven't played with it much, since all the machines I administrate are on a large corporate LAN.