FREE Netgotiator AlterEGO based on UltraVNC - IT JUST WORKS!

[exillion]

Hello to all,

First of all, we would like to give to UltraVNC people a big thank for all their efforts to build a better UltraVNC.

Also a great thanks to RUDI for his limitless efforts.

We have designed a set of SaaS solutions, mainly based on UltraVNC as the basic remote desktop control.

You are all welcome to try our technology by downloading our FREE program, named Netgotiator AlterEGO from the following Address :

http://www.netgotiator.com/alterego.aspx

PLEASE, feel free to post here any suggestions, comments (good or bad ) that will certainly help us make our services better.

Our main site is at : http://www.netgotiator.com
Our Support site is at: https://www.netgotiator.com/support
and our e-Marketplace at : http://shop.netgotiator.com



Some words about Netgotiator AlterEGO:

AlterEGO is a free secure screen sharing utility designed for people of little or no technical skills.
Netgotiator AlterEGO enables non-technical users to get connected from anywhere on the Internet in seconds without changing any firewall or router settings.

You will need to have Microsoft .net framework 2.0 installed.

With Netgotiator AlterEGO, people can help their contacts remotely as if they were working side by side.

You can get up and running with AlterEGO in less than a minute.
Simply download and run the application.


PC Requirements

AlterEGO requires :

* Windows 2000/XP or Vista;
* 128 MB RAM or greater;
* 2 MB hard drive space and
* a broadband internet connection

NOTE:
AlterEGO is a Microsoft .net framework 2.0 application.

Microsoft .net framework version 2.0.50727 must be installed, for the application to run.

The user will be informed immediately if the correct .net framework version is not installed and will be directed to download and install it directly from the Microsoft Download Center (depending on their language and platform x32 or x64).


Video Tutorials for AlterEGO are also available.

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Kind regards

EXILLION - extreme value technologies

[exillion]

Forgot to mention that the Free AlterEGO has also the RDP plugin
but you need to register, activate the registered email and login
to be able to use it.

The documentation is a bit behind.

If you have any feedback it would me most appreciated.

Please post your impressions here.

We plan to give plugins for Radmin and Netop in the next
version (also for the Free version) and NAT2NAT
which we have it ready and are testing it ..


Thanks a lot

EXILLION

[exillion]

I think quite a lot of people have visited the Netgotiator Web Site (http://www.netgotiator.com) and tried
"Netgotiator AlterEGO FREE" since I posted this article.

Could you be so kind and give us any feedback you can about the service?

I think it solves the one click problem and can also be used for RDP connections.

For whoever tested it we would like a big favour:
Could you evaluate the speed and quality, cause we are using a slighly modified UltraVNC Viewer
build to provide the Desktop sharing and a specially crafted dll to
share the screen using p/invoke and .net framework.


We would really appreciate your comments and suggestions.

Do you think that we should be moving towards full .net managed code
(ie not use the form to UltraVNC components)?

Do you also think that adding support for Citrix Sessions is usefull ?
(AlterEGO can run from inside a Citrix session, from a simple -
non elevated user and you can provide support to such users inside the Virtual Session)

If you have not tried it yet, we invite you to come and try it.

http://www.netgotiator.com/alterego.aspx


The software is secure, digitally signed and is Vista UAC Compatible
(you do NOT need to be an Administrator to run it.
If you elevate you get more features like Local drag and drop for File Transfer,
exceptions in Firewall so you can connect to computers inside LAN, Wake on Lan packets etc).


Thank you very much for your patience.

We value your comments and suggestions.

EXILLION

[exillion]

We just tried it with Windows7 32 bit and 64bit.

It WORKS ok !!

Some minor issues exist for the RDP plugin. When you are vieweing intense graphics with flash, the traffic is too much and blocks the
traffic chanel. We are going to release a new version today or tommorow fixing this issue.

Regards

EXILLION

[exillion]

Hello again.

We are preparing a NEW and improved version.
You can try the BETA at :
http://www.netgotiator.com/Downloads/NetgAlterEgo.exe

Please always take a loot at the Version number (top).
PLEASE : Do not use it for production machines, it contains some
verified bugs (But it is still better than the old version).

Note: if you drop it at C:\program Files\exillion directory (create one)
and run it as Admin (right-click -> properties -> unblock and run it
as admin), you will be able to click on UAC prompts during the
sessions.

We will soon create a page for changes and new features.


Kind Regards

EXILLION



Follow us on Twitter:
http://twitter.com/Netgotiator

FaceBook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Netgotiator/74552079557

[exillion]

We are pretty much near the new version.
* Windows7 seems stable,
* UAC works and does not disconnect the remote user (needs elevation),
* RDP clean up and
* better speeds using Nat2Nat and UDP inside a LAN.

Check it out : http://www.netgotiator.com/downloads/netgalterego.exe

Latest Pre-Release version is : 1.99.9627.0

Please post your comments and / or suggestions here ..

Thanks again for your support

Come on, we need comments. Nobody run the app ?


regards

[X3]

nice stuff well thought out and well executed. Excelent UI

Just the similar sort of UI I would do for uVNC.

[exillion]

Thank you very much for your comments.
We try always to give functionality with simplicity and professional
design if possible.

Thanks again.

[janeznovak]

Hello,

It looks impressive.

I would like to know where I can find altered GPL based source code (like VNCLib.dll) that you are using.

Janez

[exillion]

Thanks for your comments.

We use UltraVNC as one of our Remote Desktop
methods. In fact, Netgotiator is designed to play with
any Server/Client remote desktop that passes over
TCP/IP.

What we did is actually change the build options of
the winvnc server project to link into a dll and modified slightly
the code to call it as an unmanaged lib from C# managed code.

We have not yet produced a diff package, but if you are
interested, we can do it and post the diffs here.

Forgot to say that all the work can be done without the
dll, if you have a normal vnc server and a normal vnc viewer
but we needed the dll so we can call the start and stop methods
on demand. We can modify it to run a process for the server
with -run parameter, but then we do not have fine control
over it. it is exactly the same.

All this work is done with the - what we call - the vnc plugin
for Netgotiator, which actually takes care of passing parameters
around, like size of the other's desktop, colors, etc so that the
VNCviewer has a complete command line that fits the partner's
case best.

Did you try the register/login button so you can try also the RDP
connection method? This is really fast and impressive also.

I work from home with the RDP even if the pc is locked for
hours (since it is my pc and nobody else needs to be on the console
there). But if you lock the machine, you cannot get back
in with the VNC cause it is not running as a service. We wanted
AlterEGO to work without having to be an Admin



Thanks again for your kind words.

[exillion]

If you are interested, we can work together to provide for FREE
to all UltraVNC members, plugins for other client/server apps
in the AlterEGO like :
Web Cam support - you can connect to your
home Web Cam for instance, no open ports in the router
Skype and Messenger integration
DROPBOX File Sync Service integration
etc.

Netgotiator is after all a Mediation Service.
We need fresh ideas and are willing to give back to
the UltraVNC community, as we feel UltraVNC gave a
lot of inspiration to us also.

Thanks again

[janeznovak]

Great idea.

We can work together on common GPL code.

I'm interested in communication part.

I noticed that you are using socket loopback connection to communicate with VNC.

We could improve this first. It would be better to use some middle communication layer where common application can redirect data stream to its own callback functions. Regular VNC would redirect those streams to socket, other applications to some other channels like HTTPS P2P tunnel - similar to your approach.

I believe that such approach would be interested for a lot of developers and all could contribute on development.

Similar approach was done by ISL Light based on Real VNC 4, but code on their site is incomplete and I was not able to make it work because library functions are not documented. Maybe even the source is incomplete – there is no project files (violating GPL?).

Code is on their site (link is in license document). If you can't find that code, I can send it to you.

Please share your code for a DLL, that I can investigate the possibilities for adding similar communication callbacks.

Janez

[janeznovak]

Hello,

I have set you an email request for modified GPL code (I can't find it on your webpage). I didn’t receive a reply. Maybe there were some problems with email, so I will make a request here.

I'm sure that also others are interested for this code, so please provide it as soon as possible.

Best regards,

Janez

[exillion]

Dear janeznovak

The above forum post is actually repeating again the same thing,
but in a bit of a strange way. ( ... please provide it as soon as possible ... !!)

In the private posts we exchanged, I made clear that we WILL
produce a diff for the GPLed code of UltraVNC, but not our
proprietary .net plugins which have nothing to do with UltraVNC
and are also used for Radmin, RDP etc.
What I proposed to implement for (and with) ALL members of
the UltraVNC forum was plugins for WEB CAM, Skype, MSN Messenger,
and finally the great DROPBOX File Sync Service
All other plugins (Radmin, VNC, RDP etc) not mentioned are already
developed by us and we consider them proprietary and not GPL.

... private messages were exchanged , not disclosed here of course....

I think that since you have established direct communication with us,
there was no apparent reason for the above post except of putting
some "public" pressure on us for releasing GPL patches.

I think it was not the best way.
You have registered in UltraVNC forum, posted two posts
and all you say is "please put the code up".
Sorry to put it that way, but I think that is what most of the
people got from these postings

Anyway, I will answer in publc also.


We just feel we are a bit pushed here, and we do not like it.

Releasing the GPL code will be done when we will feel that we
can produce a clean and final patch to a stable version and not
beforehand.
There IS NO intention whatsoever into hiding anything here.
The diffs are so trivial that any decent developer could have
done it in two minutes.

If I missanderstood your post, I apologize beforehand
Thanks a lot

[janeznovak]

Hello,

I will answer just in this forum, because those thighs are of wider interest and we will not discuss about propriety stuff.

Let's be fair, I never wanted your propriety code. I always refer to GPL code only (see posts) and I have written in my e-mail explicitly that I don’t want your propriety code and that I'm willing to work on VNC based GPL code on the way as specified in one of previous posts.

It is not important how many posts I have posted here. I am part to wider community as you are. GPL based code must be available for everyone – you can not choose to whom you will reveal the GPL based code – it must be revealed to everyone that asks.

I agreed to respect GPL license and you agreed to respect GPL license, so let's fulfill those obligations.

At the moment (27-JUL-2009) you are violating GPL license. Here are the facts:

1. You modified a GPL based code and compiled it in vrc.dll. You released the product with vrc.dll to public (it is really not important in which state is your GPL code now, because you will need to provide also all future modifications).

2. You didn’t provide any source code including scripts that can be used by community to compile vrc.dll.

You can fulfill GPL license agreement if you do one the following:

1. Provide a full GPL source code (including scripts, project files) that can be used for compiling vrc.dll IMMIDIATELY! (up to one week can be tolerated )

2. Remove your product from your website and customers computers until you are ready to release GPL based code

It is NOT sufficient if you provide diffs only – whole code for compiling vrc.dll (version that was released) must be provided!

There are no excuses for violating GPL license and it is not important if you have made only small trivial changes.

You need to provide modified GPL based code on request and request was made.

If you think that my understanding of GPL license on your case is wrong please provide an explanation. I don’t blame that I know everything. If there will be some doubts we can still ask a community for opinion.

As a part of community that accepted GPL license I just request that GPL license is respected.

You can understand this post as a push, but GPL violation on 27-JUL-2009 is on your site not ours.

Best regards,

Janez

[exillion]

Hello again.

I admit that in most of your points you are right.
This is the true meaning of GPL.

But GPL "wars" were here in this forum and will be in the future.
Take a look at these, they are some very interesting points.

http://www.google.com/search?q=GPL+&sit ... ravnc.info

Many people also seem to interpret GPL in different ways.
Legal stuff is very difficult for techies to follow, and they tend
to concentrate to Tech staff (Rudy put it right in one of these posts).


I agreed to respect GPL license and you agreed to respect GPL license, so let's fulfill those obligations.

At the moment (27-JUL-2009) you are violating GPL license. Here are the facts:

1. You modified a GPL based code and compiled it in vrc.dll. You released the product with vrc.dll to public (it is really not important in which state is your GPL code now, because you will need to provide also all future modifications).

2. You didn’t provide any source code including scripts that can be used by community to compile vrc.dll.


Answers :
0. We agreed to respect GPL and we will do so.
1. We agree, we should have done it beforehand. We will do it asap.
2. We agree, we will also do it. We didn't know that the whole source
code was needed, We thought Diffs were enough. It seems you know more


You can fulfill GPL license agreement if you do one the following:

1. Provide a full GPL source code (including scripts, project files) that can be used for compiling vrc.dll IMMIDIATELY! (up to one week can be tolerated



Haha, we will do that - maybe in less than a week .
How do you propose we do it then? Where should we put
the Project Code ? UltraVNC web site or ours ?

Look,
It really takes time to handle all these legal staff, and anybody can
come at any time and request whatever he thinks the GPL means.
The sure think is that we have not made source immediately available
with the download of AlterEGO and that was our mistake.

Time is always an issue for everybody and we will do whatever it
takes to make the deadlines

Now, if we choose to not use this library in the future and instead
use a commercial VNC server, do we still have to include source?
I think not. But for the time being, I think we will ..

Thanks for the time and effort you have put in this discussion.
And thanks for pushing us towards some more deadlines also

[janeznovak]

Hello,

I'm really optimistic after reading your post. I'm glad that you decided to do it right with providing a GPL sources in even shorter time. You will see that this will bring also benefits for you.

Yes the GPL license is sometimes difficult to understand and we spend a lot of time to studying the possibilities how property code can be released aside with GPL (not LGPL).

Your approach seams to be ok (isolation of GPL code in reusable DLL).

For your benefit you should mention exactly which part is released under GPL license (e.g. vrc.dll). You could have problems if someone will think that whole product is under GPL.

You should put GPL source code only on your site (ZIP) providing a link e.g. on your site where you are describing a GPL license. You can mention a link also anywhere else or just provide a link or package on a request. If you distribute a product on physical media (e.g. CD) you should provide the source code also on that media, but this is probably not your case.

If you think that some modifications (e.g. fixes or improvements) would be good also for UltraVNC product then you can send them to one of developers for inspection (e.g. Rudi). Usually such approach is good because new versions will already include such modifications if modification is accepted. You will benefit from this because a lot of users and developers will test this new functionality and maybe improve it. You will have lest work with merging future versions.

If you choose to use non GPL implementation of VNC in your product then you are no longer obligated to release your product under GPL license and code can be closed. If you want to do so then you should carefully check that library you purchased does not contain a single line of GPL code (some people will try to sell you anything) otherwise you and the library vendor are violating GPL license even if you are not aware of this. Usually buying such library is not good idea – some time ago we purchased VNC viewer that is written in Delphi, but it contained a lot of bugs that we needed to fixed and the work is still not finished.

And why you should buy something that everyone can get for free with free upgrades and free bug fixes? Your application's advantage is not VNC server and VNC viewer but your whole P2P system that is easy to use and firewall friendly, containing various plugins,… – you should focus on this closed sourced part and your application will be different (better) from others and this will bring you significant income. Let also others work on VNC code and contribute some lines and we all will have benefit.

Best regards,

Janez

[janeznovak]

Hello,

I have noticed that you included information of vrc.dll on your webpage:

http://www.netgotiator.com/VNC.aspx

The link to source code is not working – there is only a placeholder for a link.

Please fix this link.

Best regards,

Janez

[janeznovak]

Still waiting for an answer.

Janez

[exillion]

Sorry for the late reply, Just came back from Vacations.
I will try to post everything during the weekend .

Thanks

[janeznovak]

Did you placed a link on some other page?

Above mentioned page is still not working

Janez

[exillion]

Modified Source Code Link Updated on http://www.netgotiator.com/VNC.aspx

The DR site was updated instead of the normal one
Thank you for notifying .

Regards

[greatbrit]

I was searching for a way to connect my UltraVNC to PCs outside and came across quite a few complicated solutions. Then I came across this. WOW! Simple simple simple to use, very impressed. I can't comment yet on its functionality or speed, but as far as a simple solution, this worked for me.

I read all of this thread and don't understand the legal issue being discussed, but I hope all that can be resolved amicably because I'd hate to see this application not have a chance. And no, I am in no way associated with this company

One initial issue: It doesn't create a desktop icon or even appear in START/programs. I had to hunt down the app and create a desktop shortcut.

[janeznovak]

Hello,

Thank you for sharing this code.

A few remarks:

- You need to include license file in RAR
- Because you are not including the whole buildable package (it is without common files) you need to include a README where you will tell which exact version of UVNC is needed to build the package.

There are still legal issues regarding viewer. You will have to provide modified source code for viewer too.

If you didn't split the viewer code from your proprietary code yet (requires two modules - it should not be statically linked) I suggest that you do this as soon as possible to avoid violating the GPL.

There is a GPL ActiveX control that you can use to help you with this:

[topic=9910][/topic]

Violating GPL is considered more seriously lately. Some companies have been sued because of GPL violation and needed to pay penalties. Even your customers can sue you if you sell them software that violates GPL license.

I will not bother you regarding GPL violations anymore, since everything was written already.

I wish you luck with your software.

Best regards,

Janez