Remotely conncet from WIndows to OS X

[TarsierSpectral]

Does anyone know the best way to connect to OSX from Windows XP remotely other than VNC? VNC is kind of slow and scaling is not great. Anyone else has any idea? I don't mind paying for the solution as long as it is way better than VNC. I also tried Microsoft Remote Desktop Client for Mac but apparently it only works from OSX to Windows and not Windows to OSX.
Any suggestions?

 

[jimoblak]

If you want to connect to the OSX computer to operate screen display, you will not find much better than VNC.

If you are wanting to connect to OSX to simply perform file operations, consider establishing FTP service on the Mac or connecting via terminal/telnet. Both of these services must be enabled on the Mac as they are not turned on by default.

- - picklefish - -
Why is everyone in this forum responding to me as picklefish?

 

[TarsierSpectral]

I do want to operate the screen display.
I really would like to use Microsoft Remote Desktop but can someone verify that it is only possible to connect from OSX to Windows and not Windows to OSX? I haven't seen anything on the internet saying that you can't but I only see things such as "with Microsoft Remote Desktop you will able able to connect from your Mac machine to your PC" but it doesn't say that you won't be able to do it the other way around either.
So is it possible or not?

 

[jimoblak]

VNC is kind of slow and scaling is not great.

Remote desktop control is going to be slow no matter what system you use (VNC, Apple's Remote Desktop, or Microsoft Remote Desktop). The speed is dependent on your network speed limitations.

Scaling issues may appear with various VNC servers and clients. There are several VNC flavors for each platform. Experimentation of these different VNC servers and clients may reveal a better option for scaling.

As far as I know, using the freeware VNC packages is the only way to get OSX and Windows to go both ways. Apple's and Microsoft's Remote Desktop applications are geared toward one way usage.

- - picklefish - -
Why is everyone in this forum responding to me as picklefish?

 

[TarsierSpectral]

thanks, I am experimenting with different VNC clients. Thanks for your help!

 

[porkchopexpress]

MS remote desktop is really pretty quick but it is only supported from OSX to Windows as it's the windows box running the terminal session.

 

[TarsierSpectral]

yes, I know remote desktop is pretty quick, that's why I wanted it instead of VNC. Anyone know a way to get it to work from Windows to Mac?

 

[TarsierSpectral]

I am connecting from my Mac to Windows using Remote Desktop and I have to say that VNC doesn't even compare to it. It is super fast comparing to VNC and it scales perfectly.
How can I do that the other way around. Please, please help.

Maggie

 

[rliebsch]

there is no way to do this other than VNC.

You can go from Mac to Mac, from Mac to WIndows, from Mac and Windows to X11, but getting into the mac interface from anything but a Mac isn't impelemented anywhere nicely.

you can ssh in, you can manage files, you can even start an X11 session with a window manager... but no Mac GUI.

Robert Liebsch
Stone Yamashita Partners

http://www.stoneyamashita.com/

 

[TarsierSpectral]

can you use Microsoft Remote Desktop to connect from Mac to Mac???

 

[porkchopexpress]

Nope the problem that you are having here is that RDP relies on MS terninal services which is built into Windows XP/2003. This is the host part of the program and can only be installed onto a Windows box as it relies on quite a few Windows only features so i'm afraid your stuck.
I agree the version that comes with XP/2003 server is very good even over slow connections so i can see why you want to use it, but your stuck with VNC i'm afraid.

 

[TarsierSpectral]

How about Apple Remote Desktop? How fast is it from Mac to Mac?

 

[porkchopexpress]

Never used it.

 

[TarsierSpectral]

I was thinking maybe I can just bring in my powerbook with me. Connect it to regular monitor and connect to my main machine using Apple Remote Desktop that way.

Thanks for all your help!

 

[TarsierSpectral]

What would happen if I was to run Virtual PC, would I be able to use RDC???

 

[rliebsch]

Okay, you are on fire here.

How about we ask you the question.

What are you trying to solve for?
what is it you are trying to accomplish.

I am sure there is a viable solution, but it seems your problem has morphed




Robert Liebsch
Stone Yamashita Partners

http://www.stoneyamashita.com/

 

[TarsierSpectral]

What I am trying to do is connect from work (WinXP) to home (OSX Tiger). Tried VNC, it works, but very slow.
So I thought maybe I could bring in the PowerBook with me to work and connect with that to my G5. Than another thing popped in to my head. What if I was to install Virtual PC on the G5. Would I be able to use RDC to connect from work to home?
I want to be able to work in Photoshop on my pictures (which are located at home)at work

 

[jimoblak]

I want to be able to work in Photoshop on my pictures (which are located at home)at work

This is a terrific waste of bandwidth and I would not be surprised if your employer's network admin would shut you out after only a few minutes.

The best way to work with your images from home is to transfer them once to work (either by removable media or by FTP service from OSX). Then while at work, use a image editing program installed at work.

Using VNC is transferring the image data over and over again to your work location. Even with a speedy internet connection, this is wasteful.

- - picklefish - -
Why is everyone in this forum responding to me as picklefish?

 

[rliebsch]

Not gonna happen. Got Photoshop PC?
I assume your G5 burns DVDs.

If you brought your powerbook to the office, you could Timbuktu your machine IF it were connected to a publicly addressable IP address. But I dunno if Timbuktu works for Tiger. I can only assume it would.

Robert Liebsch
Stone Yamashita Partners

http://www.stoneyamashita.com/

 

[TarsierSpectral]

OK guys. I am the network admin so noone is going to shut me out. Also, I should clarify the work I do in Photoshop. Actually all I want to do is rate pictures in Photoshop's File Browser (Bridge). In other words, I am only seeing the preview of the picture and I am marking the one I like. I am not intending to apply filters and do adjustments to the photos. Another thing is, I was avoiding bringing anything in with me. My pictures are already on the external HD, but the HD is FireWire and my PC doesn't have a FireWIre connection. On top of that I have FireWIre 800 on my Mac and PC has none. Also, if I had to burn all of these pictures, it would take a lot of DVDs. I have about 100000 pictures and they are 60MB each.
I thought connecting remotely was the easiest solution. And I still think it is but it is slightly slow. I will just continue using VNC if there is nothing else.