Future SC project adoption for Vista compliancy

[jhillpd276]

Hi Everyone,

I am building a Online webapp that uses the linux v14 repeater and on the fly building of the SC server and viewer apps with their automated repeater ID. This is all maintaned via a SQL database. This has been working great over the past months with XP but the problems with vista and the slow repsonce time is causing a problem. I know the new project is underway with vista support but it lacks things like a ftp-like filetransfer system and easy scaling of window size. Also the viewer does not have the ability to automaticly connect like you can with vncviewer. Additionally it requires password hashing to create the server. Currently our SC server creation is all done on Linux (Redhat Enterprise) automaticly when a user creates a new remote support ticket and all SC connects are maintained by the SQL Server (Which is tied into the Repeater).

I am intested in finding someone to continue the SC Source project and make it Vista compliant while keeping it completly opensource (Unlike the new project) and would be interested in knowing if anyone is open to adopting this project or working with our WebApp Project. Thank you.

The rest of the online webapp comprises of online storage, Active Directory style user management for controlling remote access and trouble ticketing system. For me the SC Project Development is very important.

[Rudi De Vos]

To support Vista and being able to use UAC SC need to be runnning
as service.

There is no simple solution.
Vista use 2 security measures the prevent application for executing
admin commands.
1) The UAC popup run on the same desktop as the logon, the desktop
change can only be done from a service, no other application (even runnning as admin) can't change desktop.
2) The admin apps run elevated. In Vista admin apps are also protected
by preventing other application to send message to them ( input events).
The only way you can send keystrokes to an admin application is by runnning SC as uiaccess granted apps. Application need to be signed
with a certificat or you need to play with the security access from within a service.

SC need to be running as service...this was one thing we tried to avoid
because only admins can install services...On Vista there will be some restrictions to use it...

[jhillpd276]

I do have SC running on Vista but it is really slow at screen refreshing.
Is this do to the UAC or Aero? Other than that everything in SC seems to work great. I am using SC with a repeater I have hosted on Server Beach.

[Dr Ordi PC Dr]

Hello, I use Single Click on a regular basis to troubleshoot clients' computers and find it a an invaluable tool. Regarding Vista compliancy, is this a naive suggestion and have you tried it out: I read somewhere on this forum that Real VNC is now Vista compatible, so it is possible to do. Since UltraVNC is a legitimate program, why can't you use just ask Microsoft for the 'code' or the process to allow the program to work through the UAC? My experience with SC/Vista to date has not been totally negative. On my LAN, I succeeded in shutting down UAC on Vista from SC, however I needed to physically reboot the Vista PC and reconnect my SC. Once that was done, I could manipulate the Vista pc using SC without any difficulty. I could install programs and scan/remove malware just like I would in theory with a customer. Anyhow I am not a programmer so I cannot help you directly, but my 2 cents regarding SC versus PC helpware is this: PC helpware is very good but one of the advantages of SC is that when a customer wants to hookup to the tech, the tech gets a popup indicating that customer want to have remote assistance. In the case of the PC helpware (without password), the customer can just hookup to the tech and there is no notification popup or sound. I set up my SC so that when a customer hooks up, a 15 second audio file is played. I have a child monitor emitter next to my speaker so if I am downstairs, I can still here that audio file played. I simply changed the standard Windows file for the audio file that I wanted. I wish you good fortune with Vista compliancy and hope that you will not find my suggestion too naive. Microsoft is not there to prevent software development so it should tell you how to modify your program in order to be Vista compliant. Take care. Charles.

[Rudi De Vos]

We have been talking to microsoft tech and they made it clear that
UAC is special made to prevent other application (malware) to change system settings. But as always, there is way around...

As you know, to be able to logon, VNC need to be installed as service.
The same is for UAC, to use UAC without local user intervention VNC need to be running as service.
RealVNC without service can not handle UAC...

The nice thing of SC or PcHelpware is that a normal user can run it
and no service is needed.

Solution 1°: Shutdown UAC in registry and reboot, after that you can access all system tools.
Solution 2°: SC or PcHelpware need to temporal install himself as service
(admin access needed), in that case we can fully handle UAC.
Solution 3°: We add a special manifest to the exe In that case, the user
need to press the UAC popup, but after that you can control the system tools. The only problem is that the exe need to be in the "program files"
directory, this is the only location where MS gant access and manifest specials are done. To copy a file in the "program folder" admin access is needed...


I Don't know what's the best, but 1° is to radical, and most sysadmins
don't gonna like it.
Both 2° and 3° have restirctions and require admin access. But to do
system action you need admin acces anyway...

My personal Solution would be 2°, make installing as service an option.
In application mode, you can help a normal user, but don't touch any system files. As service, you can but need admin access...

[jhillpd276]

The UAC doesn't bother me becuase I have a way around this. I will explain how I do this in a minute. I am wondering why the responce is so slow (Screen updating). And how you got around this in PCHelpware in Vista.
I got around the UAC by creating a VB.NET app that launched the SC if it detected someone trying to access the system ( I do this via a SQL managed WebService I built, basicly the .NET app monitors a server every 10 seconds and see if someone authorized to login is trying to get access and if so it lauches the SC application.) The UAC does not poppup on the computer I am remoting into unattended. The location of the exe is in the c:\users\username\AppData\Apps\2.0\ where .NET2.0 apps go. I guess this allows them to run without UAC intervention. Hope this helps someone working with the UAC problem.

[audiocatalyst]

Hi Everyone,

I am building a Online webapp that uses the linux v14 repeater and on the fly building of the SC server and viewer apps with their automated repeater ID. This is all maintaned via a SQL database. This has been working great over the past months with XP but the problems with vista and the slow repsonce time is causing a problem. I know the new project is underway with vista support but it lacks things like a ftp-like filetransfer system and easy scaling of window size. Also the viewer does not have the ability to automaticly connect like you can with vncviewer. Additionally it requires password hashing to create the server. Currently our SC server creation is all done on Linux (Redhat Enterprise) automaticly when a user creates a new remote support ticket and all SC connects are maintained by the SQL Server (Which is tied into the Repeater).

I am intested in finding someone to continue the SC Source project and make it Vista compliant while keeping it completly opensource (Unlike the new project) and would be interested in knowing if anyone is open to adopting this project or working with our WebApp Project. Thank you.

The rest of the online webapp comprises of online storage, Active Directory style user management for controlling remote access and trouble ticketing system. For me the SC Project Development is very important.

We have the same problem, but we build An Classics ASP - ASP.NET helpdesk app.
The new pchelpware viewer just doesn't support direct options at the exe, which is a real pain.

[Dr Ordi PC Dr]

I got tired of waiting for UltraVNC to be Vista compatible so several months ago I purchased Advantig Single Click, and the rest, as they say, is history. It was a very reasonal price. Thank you. Charles

[Rudi De Vos]

I'm sure there are many commercial solutions with full time developpers who can do it better and faster...

There are only 24 hours in a single day.