Ubuntu – Best VNC / remote desktop software for assistance

remote desktopremote-assistancesoftware-recommendationvnc

Poll on best VNC / remote desktop software for assisting others on Windows/Mac machines from Ubuntu?

I've heard good things about TeamViewer and Fog Creek Copilot, but I'm wondering if the included GNOME Vinaigre VNC client is good enough for this.

To specify, I'm looking for best option based on:

  1. SIMPLEST ease-of-use for client to download/use on their end.

  2. See #1.

  3. Works cross-platform

  4. I am able to control client's mouse and/or keyboard from remote machine.

Best Answer

If you're planning on providing assistance to someone who is not very computer savvy, TeamViewer is going to make your life far easier. Yes, it is a closed-source commercial product – but the magical sensation you feel when establishing a connection using only an ID number makes it all well worth it.

For a while you might think you can pull off carefully setting up a VNC server and the required firewall/NAT rules to be ready for future support sessions, but it won't do you any good the day that your friend in need of assistance has changed their network setup or broken their server configuration by following some Hoary Hedgehog how-to.

It's pretty hard to get this part wrong:

TeamViewer

With most of my clients, I don't even have them try to install TeamViewer. Session initiation looks like this:

  1. At teamviewer.com/download, click the button beneath "TeamViewer QuickSupport".
  2. Click Run.
  3. Read me the ID and password.