VNC Distribution Thwarted

[ManagerJay]

Since I have seven sites scatted across Missouri, and I am the IT department for my company, I was looking for a way I can better support users, and not have to travel as much.

I ran across VNC (similar to PC Anywhere and free) and began playing with it. Simple to install, low overhead, and the computers we currently have will run the program without a problem.

Management does not want to deploy the software to every desktop because they are afraid the users will think they are being spied on. VNC does have the option to let the user allow/disallow connections. But, in the distribution CDs I have created, I have not enabled this option since users are usually not at work to confirm the connection around 10 pm when I start software upgrades.

Has anyone rolled out a similar product and have any suggestions on how to have both users and management embrace this tool?

Thanks for your help.



Jay

 

[ianmcgowan]

We install VNC on all workstations and servers. I didn't ask for permission, so there was no problem with getting rejected

If you keep track of how many times a user has to ship a pc back to IT for minor config changes, or record every time you spend 3 hours on the phone trying to visualize some application (which you've never laid eyes on before) it becomes a pretty easy sell.

I can't imagine life without some kind of remote control. The users think we're Gods, especially when our monitoring system alerts us to problems before they know about them
Since we can help them so much quicker, they're all in favor of VNC.

As for policy; we always call, or email, the user before taking over. We also show users how to disconnect someone, if it's not a good time or they have something sensitive on the screen (HR, mostly). Also, we keep the password for IT use only.

It would be nice if VNC had a more visible "remote user connected" popup. The icon in the tray changes color, but that's a fairly subtle indicator. For the price ($0), you really can't beat it.

 

[Voyager1]

VNC is awesome, and uses WAAAAY less resources than PC Anywhere or SMS.

It's always easier to get forgiveness than permissiom...

- Bill

"You can get anything you want out of life, if you'll just help enough other people get what they want" - Zig Ziglar

 

[technidiva]

Doesn't the user also have the option to change his/her password for VNC before/after we get into their systems?

 

[ElijahBaley]

Hi

Don't mean to barge in, but this VNC sounds pretty usefull
can anyone direct me to a WebSite with general info?

Thanks :-D
"Never look a Greek, bearing gifts in the mouth"

G

 

[ManagerJay]

The web site for VNC is

http://www.uk.research.att.com/vnc

Jay

 

[ElijahBaley]

Thanks Jay
"Never look a Greek, bearing gifts in the mouth"

G

 

[ManagerJay]

I have managed to get VNC deployed throughout my entire organization. Even though the boss told me I was not going to deploy it, I went ahead anyway.

Once she saw me working with it to fix a user's computer approximately 6 hours away, she said she thought it would be a good idea to go ahead and deploy it to all the computers in the organization instead of just the one I was working on.

Thanks to everyone for their help.



Jay