David Thomas Baker » Web » Free Remote Desktop Support

Step 1: Setup your remote help server

Download and install UVNC on a Windows box.
Open comand prompt (Start > Run > type: cmd > OK)
To start your support server type:

 # cd c:/Program Files/UltraVNC
 # vncviewer -listen 5510

(where 5510 is the port you want incoming support connections on)

Note: you could probably use vncviewer on any os, as long as you specify the -listen option. I haven't tried it on linux yet, maybe one day, ill post results here. 

Step 2: Setup port forwarding 

Forward port 5510 through to your local support pc, most routers support this through their web interface.

Step 3: Create remote desktop client

The remote desktop client is the program your customer downloads onto their computer. This program doesn't require the user to install anything, it is a standalone .exe that removes itself after execution. Basically all the program does is execute vncserver --connect your_office_ip and then closes down after running.

Full instructions on creating the UVNC single click client are located here: http://www.uvnc.com/pchelpware/sc/index.html

Basically, download their template zip file, modify the settings file, modify the logo/icons if you want, and then upload the new zip file to here http://www.uvnc.com/pchelpware/creator/index.html
You dont need to use encryption or create a key (make sure you remove the key file from your zip)

You will end up with an exe that clients can download and "run" on their computer.

Sample helpdesk.txt file to be used in the zip (make sure you set the correct ip address):

[TITLE]
BlueTeddy Support
[HOST]
BlueTeddy Office
-connect 123.123.123.123::5510 -noregistry
[TEXTTOP]
Please wait while we connect to Remote Support...
[TEXTMIDDLE]
If this does not work
[TEXTBOTTOM]
please call BlueTeddy on (07) 55 123 456 
[TEXTRBOTTOM]
[TEXTRMIDDLE]
[TEXTRTOP]
BlueTeddy PC Support
[TEXTBUTTON]
More Info
[WEBPAGE]
http://www.blueteddy.com.au
[TEXTCLOSEBUTTON]
EXIT
[BALLOON1TITLE]
Establishing connection ...
[BALLOON1A]
Connecting to BlueTeddy PC Support
[BALLOON1B]
If it fails, please contact us by phone.
[BALLOON1C]
[BALLOON2TITLE]
Connection active.
[BALLOON2A]
BlueTeddy Support Connected.
[BALLOON2B]
You can close the connection any time
[BALLOON2C]
by using the EXIT button
[DIRECT] 

Have tested the remote desktop client on both Vista and XP, works fine.

Step 4: Publish single click .exe file with some instructions on your website, direct clients there to perform remote support.

eg: http://blueteddy.com.au/remote_support

Hope someone finds this useful.

-dave