=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Remote Control v1.6 © DG Enterprises 1998 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Welcome to Remote Control =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Contents: 1. Introduction 2. Installation 3. Uninstallation 4. Registration 5. Problems/Troubleshooting 6. To-do list 7. Revision History 8. Contact the Author =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 1. Introduction =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= ****Important**** For space reasons, the VB6 runtime files have not been included. The VB6 runtime files needed for this program can be found here: ftp://ftp.simtel.net/pub/simtelnet/win95/dll/simvb6-3.zip ***************** Remote Control is an application for controlling large numbers of computers on a TCP/IP network while sitting at the comfort of your own workstation. I have seen the same situation so many times, especially with badly configured networks, or Windows 95 networks in general, there just doesn't seem to be a way to do certain things without having to walk all the way over to the computer and do it locally. I have been used to the likes of UNIX and Linux, where anything you can do locally can be done from a remote station, for example, rebooting, checking user activity etc. It was because of this that I decided that Windows95/98/NT needed something extra. Remote Control is a client/server environment. What this means is that you must have the client program running on all of the computers you wish to control, and the server application can be running on any single computer. Some simple instructions are available in the "Instructions.txt" file. System requirements: o Pentium 90 (Pentium 133 or higher preferred for the server application) o 24MB RAM (32MB recommended for server application, 64 or more ideal) o Windows 95/98/NT4/NT5 o TCP/IP Network (i.e. Internet or intranet) =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 2. Installation =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= First of all, extract the packages by unzipping the file "RCntrl16.zip" To install Remote Control, execute the file "RCntrl16.exe". When this is run, you have the option to install the server and/or the client. It is advisable that you only install the server on one machine, or make sure it is protected with a login and password. See the Instructions ReadMe (instructions.txt) for configuration and usage. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 3. Uninstallation =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= To Uninstall in Windows 95 or NT 4.0: Use the standard uninstall feature "Add/Remove Programs" in the Control Panel. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 4. Registration =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= This program is shareware. If you wish to use it to it's full capabilities, then you must enter a registration key. To purchase a registration key, please send a cheque or postal order to the address at the bottom of this file. Upon registration, you receive the following benefits: o Free e-mail support. o No more annoying nag screens. o The latest version of the program supplied on a floppy disk (or CD-ROM for an small fee) o Up to 100 simultaneous incoming connections at any time (demo has max of 5 connections) o Free updates. o A free conscience. Currently, registration for Remote Control runs on the following basis. In the UK: £25 (floppy version) £28 (CD-ROM version) Outside UK: £30 (floppy version) £33 (CD-ROM version) USA: $40 (floppy version) $45 (CD-ROM version) All updates are supplied on floppy disk, or can be ordered on a CD for a small charge of £3 or $5. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 5. Problems/Troubleshooting =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= If you have any problems, please check the following first before e-mailing me: Problem: Cannot connect to client from server Solution: Is TCP/IP installed correctly? Solution: Have you entered the correct IP address? Solution: If you have a slow network then try setting the timeout to a higher value. Problem: Computer begins to get sluggish or gives out of memory errors. Solution: Restart your computer. The Microsoft winsock control has a memory leak, and every time a new instance is created, more memory is lost. There is nothing I can do to solve this as it is just another Microsoft thing. Sorry :) It does take a lot of controls to be loaded and destroyed, so it will not happen very often, if at all (by this I mean it tens of thousands of connections, even more if the server computer has more memory) Problem: Server or client program will not start, and/or giving message about missing files Solution: Did you install the support files to go with Remote Control? See download page for more info. Solution: Some files may have been deleted, try reinstalling, and make sure you have the latest version. Problem: Some commands will not work at all, giving security errors on the client. Solution: You are using a recent server but an old client. Update to the latest version of BOTH applications. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 6. To-do List =-=-=-=-=-=-=-= What follows is a list of things I am working on to be included in the next (or some future) release, if you have any ideas, feel free to contact me. o Port scanner - Search an IP range for a specific kind of host. For example, scan for connections on port 21 (i.e. an FTP server). Also, scan a single IP address on a range of ports. o More control features - More ways to control the remote host. If you have any ideas on how, then contact me. You may even get some freebies out of me :) o Write help files - To make the program easier to use. o Speed up screenshot transfer - Full screenshot transfer still too slow, needs to be speeded up a lot. However, this should be any easy thing to do! o Tidy things up generally! (This is a continuous thing, and will probably never leave this to-do list :) =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 7. Revision History =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= v1.6 25th January 1999 ---Official release date--- Fixed authentication bug (was all to do with time syncronisation between server and client) v1.5 6th December 1998 ---Official release date--- New installer! Now much easier to install and also a smaller download. Added authentication to stop attacks on client from unwanted applications. Authentication is dynamic and changes constantly. Added features: Get system information; memory, windows version etc. Virtual DOS Prompt Send file to remote computer Tidied up code (again :) and fixed screenshot transfer bug. v1.4 11th November 1998 ---Official release date--- Added features: Get computer name Get screenshot Get active window screenshot Mute volume Chat Addressbook, for storing list of commonly used IP addresses. Batch operations, to perform the same action on multiple hosts simultaneously. v1.3 2nd November 1998 ---Private issue--- General code tidy up and bug fix. v1.2 24th October 1998 ---Official release date--- Features include: (Un)blank screen Send message Log off Shut down Get username Swap mouse buttons Synchronise time Get process list Close program Disable: Desktop, mouse, taskbar, start button, control keys Execute command End client operation v1.1b 13th October 1998 ---Private beta release--- Fixed several major and minor bugs. v1.0b 1st October 1998 ---First private beta release--- Initial connection routines and conception. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 8. Contact the author =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= I can be reached on the following addresses: E-mail: rc@btcf.demon.co.uk Postal service: David Glass 15 Collingwood Terrace Blyth Northumberland NE24 2EX England Fax: +44 (0870) 1640 113 Website: http://www.btcf.demon.co.uk