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is there such open source remote desktop web application project available? i looking for webapp that ease technical team to do remote desktop user behind firewall and troubleshot their problems

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if this answers your question can you mark it as answered – Saeros Aug 14 '09 at 9:36
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migrated from stackoverflow.com Aug 15 '09 at 2:10

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9 Answers

up vote 6 down vote

VNC supports running the client as a java applet.

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Is VNC Open Source? – ZZ Coder Aug 14 '09 at 13:30
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Yes, it exists in several different flavours (RealVNC, UltraVNC and TightVNC like already mentioned). – hlovdal Aug 14 '09 at 14:08
Only the viewer runs as a java applet though, unless my knowledge is outdated. This wont' help if the customer is behind a firewall because the support person is the one who's needs to run the VNCviewer, and the customer needs to run the VNCserver (which is not an applet). – rob Aug 14 '09 at 15:00
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up vote 2 down vote

I am not sure about open source but lot of free VNC softwares are available which will also perform Remote desktop functions:

1.RealVNC 2.UltraVNC 3.TightVNC

and many other such softwares are available which do the same function.

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up vote 2 down vote

UltraVNC allows you to connect to a remote desktop with a Brower via a JavaApplet. But any ways, you will get in trouble with all VNC implementations behind firewalls.

For that kind of problem commercial tools like TeamViewer might help you. Also wippien could be of interest. You could base a VNC connection on top of a wippien connection.

Another free, but not open source tool you could check is Mikogo.

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up vote 2 down vote

If you're trying to assist end-users who are behind router firewalls, you'll need to have the users initiate the connection, instead of the other way around. It'll boil down to you sending a one-time-use link to your user. The link launches the screen-sharing program (probably as a Java applet, in your case) in hosting mode, then connects to your support tech's "viewer" session.

If you're using VNC, your support techs will have to use "VNCviewer (listening mode)," and the clients will have to run VNCserver to connect to the viewer. I don't think VNC has built-in support for running the Java server via a web interface, so you'll have to set that up, or you'll have to make your customer install VNCserver and connect to your tech support person's "listening" VNCviewer.

Fog Creek has a product called CoPilot which is basically a well-packaged VNC system that does all the setup for you. You download and run a .exe, your user does the same, and each of your .exe files connects to a Fog Creek server which connects the server and viewer sessions. No, it's not free or open-source, but it works and depending on your support load, it still might be cheaper than spending the developer time on building your own system. More info here: https://www.copilot.com

If nothing else, maybe CoPilot can give you some idea of how your customized system will need to work.

You could also use conferencing software like WebEx or Yugma, but most of these require you to register for an account, and the free/cheaper plans don't allow the attendees (the people who join the conference instead of initiating it) to share their screens. The free/cheap plans also usually don't allow one of the other people in the conference take control of the host's screen. Unless you're frequently doing tech support for the same customer, it would probably be too much of a hassle to set up a free web conference...not to mention, it would be frustrating walking the customer through all the steps to register and set up the conference.

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up vote 0 down vote

Correct, i only know RealVNC. Its Open Source, but its not a webapp.

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why does it have to be a webapp ? – Peter Aug 14 '09 at 9:38
Commeta wrote : i looking for webapp that ..... I only use TeamViewer for RemoteDesktop Operations, its not a webapp and not open source but its great :D – Camal Aug 14 '09 at 10:42
@Peter: It's often the case that customers don't have permission to install programs on their workstations; or you don't want to increase the duration of a support call by making them install software, since that sometimes requires a reboot. – rob Aug 14 '09 at 15:04
Only the free edition of RealVNC is open source. You have to paid for the other versions. – stukelly Aug 20 '09 at 15:25
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up vote 0 down vote

There is a java implementation of Remote Desktop (the one for Windows) client

I can dig up the URL to the project if you want this..

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Yes please, I would be interested – Cheshire Cat Aug 14 '09 at 14:15
I found a bunch of them here: google.com/search?q=java+rdp – rob Aug 14 '09 at 14:31
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up vote 0 down vote

I could not use team viewer from office. But it is good outside..

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up vote 0 down vote

i looking for webbased java applet (web app type) where i will deploy the web app on my server and user will support team will connect to it

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You will need to do something like FogCreek has done with CoPilot. You could write a wrapper around VNC to do this; see my answer for more details. – rob Aug 14 '09 at 17:36
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up vote 0 down vote

I use the free services of www.logmein.com for my website clients. It's great! the beta features a networking option for setting up a WAN for your self. You can remote to any one of your clients from a centralized account and also grant access per PC to email addresses (like your clients who want to dial in as well)

I use this for training sessions with my clients on how to use there website.

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