Service & Server & Security

[PaulW]

Hi,

Thank you for this great service. I was able to follow the Chunkviewer install directions. The repeater is installed, ports forwarded, and the no-ip servce was used since I have a dynamic IP address from the ISP. The connection from one computer to the other was successful. Now I'm at a loss for the next step since on some computers I want to be able to have the service running for instant support with UAC control and the server running on some computers for regular remote access in a secure manner?

1. I keep reading "Install as a Service" for UAC control but have not seen this option. Here are the components I see after unzipping the Chunk_3_1 file:
a. Repeater (already copied to the computer serving as the repeater)
b. instantsupport.exe to be sent and opened by the remote computer for instant support, did not see an "Install as a Service" option?
c. Viewer Folder with the ChunkViewer.exe, started to enter the ID and connect to the Instant Support remote computer.
d. SRC folder with .au3 files < Guessing this may be the Server files? I noticed the Aut2exe.exe and upx.exe files in the Aut2Exe folder.

I noticed the encryption key is created as part of the install so assuming the connection is encrypted.

So how to install as a service for instant support with UAC control?

AND

How to place a 'server' on some remote computers for regular access and require a username and password to log-on those computers?

I really appreciate your help with this.

[supercoe]

I keep reading "Install as a Service" for UAC control but have not seen this option.

The InstantSupport tray icon gives you the "Install Service" option which will permanently install the server onto the customers computer. This also gives you the ability to control UAC in Vista/7 and reboot the customers computer.

Keep in mind that there are problems having the service installed for long periods of time. Many users have had better luck by replacing the SRC\InstantSupport_Files\winvnc.exe file with the UltraVNC server version 1.0.8.0 and compiling again.


Thank you for this great service.

Glad you like it.


SRC folder with .au3 files < Guessing this may be the Server files? I noticed the Aut2exe.exe and upx.exe files in the Aut2Exe folder.

This is the source code for the entire package, InstantSupport.exe is created by the AutoIT compiler from these files. This allows you to customize the software to suit your needs.


I noticed the encryption key is created as part of the install so assuming the connection is encrypted.

The encryption key is generated when you compile so it is unique for you. When you compile again it will ask you to keep the current key or generate a new one. You should keep the current key if you have already deployed InstantSupport as the key is also copied to the Viewer folder.


How to place a 'server' on some remote computers for regular access and require a username and password to log-on those computers?

For permanent connections I'd suggest you just install a regular VNC server. InstantSupport is designed for quick access and although it can be used in the way you want isn't the best option in my opinion. VNC security is broken easily so I'd suggest you keep people out of the machine by properly securing Windows. (log in password, etc...)

[PaulW]

Thank you for the quick response.

It sounds like maybe I should have 2 compiled versions as follows:

Instant Support Version: The current one I created and choose the install Service for remote connection to VISTA & W7 machines. At the end I would uninstall the service manually?

For a Server install version here is my stumbling steps and questions:

Do I run the downloaded Ultranvc_1.0.8.2_setup.exe file to create the winvnc.exe to copy to the SRC\InstantSupport_Files\ location and overwrite the file there? Do I copy one file or multiple files?


The setup instructions at http://www.uvnc.com/install/installation.html has the following options if you might guide me if these need to be adjusted. My concern is maintaining the current encryption key, using the repeater I already setup when following the chunkVNC install, and using MSLogon II for secure connection and re-connection to the remote computer. Instructions say:

* Select if UltraVNC server should be registered as a system service.
* Select if UltraVNC service should be started or restarted.
* Select if MSLogon II should be configured.
* Select if UltraVNC Admin Properties should be configured.
* Select if old UltraVNC registry entries should be removed.
* Select if additional desktop icons should be created for UltraVNC server, viewer and repeater.
* Select if files with extension .vnc should be associated with UltraVNC viewer.

Thank you again for your help.

[supercoe]

Instant Support Version: The current one I created and choose the install Service for remote connection to VISTA & W7 machines. At the end I would uninstall the service manually?

After choosing the install service from the tray icon InstantSupport will copy all the required files to the Program Files directory and create a desktop shortcut in the All Users folder. You can uninstall by running the ChunkVNC Uninstall shortcut.


Do I run the downloaded Ultranvc_1.0.8.2_setup.exe file to create the winvnc.exe to copy to the SRC\InstantSupport_Files\ location and overwrite the file there? Do I copy one file or multiple files?

Sorry I should have been more clear, you want "win32 bins 1.0.8.0 Full" from:
http://www.uvnc.com/download/1080/1080full.html

Extract the winvnc.exe from this zip archive and replace the the winvnc.exe in the SRC\InstantSupport_Files\ folder, then compile.


The setup instructions at http://www.uvnc.com/install/installation.html has the following options if you might guide me if these need to be adjusted. My concern is maintaining the current encryption key, using the repeater I already setup when following the chunkVNC install, and using MSLogon II for secure connection and re-connection to the remote computer.

At this point in time I don't support those options. The security included is just a simple preshared MSRC4 key. Obviously there are flaws with security in any remote access situation so it's best to use ChunkVNC as a quick support tool instead of a permanent option at this point.

[PaulW]

Hi,

I used the very helpful installation instructions and it went really well. The particular issues I had were having the Router assign the same internal IP to the computer running the repeater software.

I wanted the repeater to run automatically upon startup so being an XP machine I placed the repeater exe in the Startup folder. I noticed the associated text files were being created in the startup folder so I moved the repeater exe to its own file and scheduled it to startup. Another thing was the Ports I am using changed to the defaults and I had to reconfigure them again. However, after the last couple of reboots they appear to be stable. Not sure what happened there?

To keep the WANIP and NO-IP HOST connected I downloaded the client from NO-IP . One person mentioned their router has this capability. Any ideas on what settings this might be called in most routers?

Thanks for the additional instructions on replacing the winvnc.exe.

The clear instructions have made this easier than expected, especially with the clear responses. Thank you.

I think I understand from your responses that the Chunkvnc wrapper does not support the options of the uvnc but on the flip-side I was wondering how I can use the repeater setup for the uvnc server created from the instructions at http://www.uvnc.com/install/installation.html?

[supercoe]

I used the very helpful installation instructions and it went really well. The particular issues I had were having the Router assign the same internal IP to the computer running the repeater software.

Statically assign and IP address to the computer running the repeater software in Windows (be sure to stay out of your DHCP range) or configure your router to always give the same DHCP address to the servers MAC address (if available).


I wanted the repeater to run automatically upon startup so being an XP machine I placed the repeater exe in the Startup folder. I noticed the associated text files were being created in the startup folder so I moved the repeater exe to its own file and scheduled it to startup. Another thing was the Ports I am using changed to the defaults and I had to reconfigure them again. However, after the last couple of reboots they appear to be stable. Not sure what happened there?

Be sure to move the settings.txt file with the repeater.exe. I've preconfigured it to use port 5901 for viewer connections and 5500 for server.


To keep the WANIP and NO-IP HOST connected I downloaded the client from NO-IP . One person mentioned their router has this capability. Any ideas on what settings this might be called in most routers?

The only routers I've seen have this capability are modified for DD-WRT or similar aftermarket firmware. I'd recommend using the no-ip client: http://www.no-ip.com/downloads.php


Thanks for the additional instructions on replacing the winvnc.exe.
The clear instructions have made this easier than expected, especially with the clear responses. Thank you.

Feel free to donate beer.


I think I understand from your responses that the Chunkvnc wrapper does not support the options of the uvnc but on the flip-side I was wondering how I can use the repeater setup for the uvnc server created from the instructions at http://www.uvnc.com/install/installation.html?

Being that ChunkVNC is just a wrapper around UltraVNC it could support any feature of the UVNC server. I restrict options for ease of use/setup. You have all of the code that creates InstantSupport.exe and by editing the source files (.au3) with a text/code editor you can make it work however you want. I used the AutoIT code editor called SciTE to create the software but any text editor (Notepad++) will do: http://www.autoitscript.com/autoit3/downloads.shtml

[PaulW]

Hi, If you have a chance to update the install instructions this information of setting a fixed IP for the repeater computer in the router would be useful.

This will definitely help my new business keep growing so I'll be glad to donate a beer in the very near future. I appreciate the work you and others have done with this!

My programming experience is all web based or writing batch files to automate computer tasks so I'm not sure I have the pre-requisites to modify the .au3 files to have it work with the repeater. Maybe someone else knows how to do this and can post the code and compile steps? Just to recap; the idea is to use the instructions at http://www.uvnc.com/install/installation.html? but build in a way that allows using the repeater setup for CHUNKVNC.

[supercoe]

Hi, If you have a chance to update the install instructions this information of setting a fixed IP for the repeater computer in the router would be useful.

Impossible, every router has a different configuration page, this is why I link to portforward.com. A basic knowledge of networking will always be assumed.


This will definitely help my new business keep growing so I'll be glad to donate a beer in the very near future. I appreciate the work you and others have done with this!

Good luck with your startup, this project was born from mine.


My programming experience is all web based or writing batch files to automate computer tasks so I'm not sure I have the pre-requisites to modify the .au3 files to have it work with the repeater. Maybe someone else knows how to do this and can post the code and compile steps? Just to recap; the idea is to use the instructions at http://www.uvnc.com/install/installation.html? but build in a way that allows using the repeater setup for CHUNKVNC.

AutoIT scripts are very simplistic and I've commented the code as best I could. If you can do a batch script you can do AutoIT, think of it as batch on steriods but with a better manual.

I guess I'm still at a loss as to what you mean "but build in a way that allows using the repeater setup for CHUNKVNC". ChunkVNC already uses the repeater. All it's doing is configuring the UltraVNC server and viewer for repeater use. I think you might find the answers you're looking for in the source code. At the very least you'll be able to pickup on the syntax and command line variables that the UltraVNC server/viewer use.