Remote Access

Pop` wrote:

> Bill Martin wrote:
>> Is it possible to set up an XP Home computer to operate in another
>> room with no keyboard or display? Mostly I just want it to sit and
>> crunch numbers, but occasionally I'd need to use a different
>> computer's keyboard and display to check up on it, tweak the process,
>> etc.
>> If I read the XP help files properly, it would seem that the cruncher
>> computer must have keyboard and display to initially make the remote
>> control connection. I'd like to just be able to switch on the
>> cruncher computer, and then automatically have control of it from
>> another computer when it boots.
>>
>> Can XP be persuaded to do this, or is some third party software
>> required? Thanks.
>>
>> Bill
>
> If I understand you, try looking up KVM switch on Google and see if it
> does what you need.
>
> Pop`

What is the program you are running to crunch numbers? If something like
Matlab, you might be better off running it in an operating system that
doesn't need a gui. Why waste the resources? Check out headless systems
running Linux or Unix for instance.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&q=headless+computer&btnG=Search

Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

"Pop`" <nodoby DeleteThis @devnull.spamcop.net> wrote in message
news:uUg6tlc4GHA.1188@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> Bill Martin wrote:
>> Is it possible to set up an XP Home computer to operate in another
>> room with no keyboard or display? Mostly I just want it to sit and
>> crunch numbers, but occasionally I'd need to use a different
>> computer's keyboard and display to check up on it, tweak the process,
>> etc.
>> If I read the XP help files properly, it would seem that the cruncher
>> computer must have keyboard and display to initially make the remote
>> control connection. I'd like to just be able to switch on the
>> cruncher computer, and then automatically have control of it from
>> another computer when it boots.
>>
>> Can XP be persuaded to do this, or is some third party software
>> required? Thanks.
>>
>> Bill
>
> If I understand you, try looking up KVM switch on Google and see if it
> does what you need.
>
> Pop`
------------------------------------

As I understand a KVM switch, it simply allows one to mechancially switch
the keyboard/display from one computer to another. That won't work for me.
I want to put the cruncher into a *remote* location connected by a wireless
network, and don't want to trail cables 300' around the place even if they
would work over that distance.

It's an old Dell computer that's incredibly noisy (I'll never buy Dell again
for that reason). My choices are to scrap it when I get a new machine, or
to exile it to a remote location where the noise won't be bothersome.

Thanks...

Bill

"Malke" <notreally DeleteThis @invalid.invalid> wrote in message
news:O1UmDYd4GHA.3364@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> Pop` wrote:
>
>> Bill Martin wrote:
>>> Is it possible to set up an XP Home computer to operate in another
>>> room with no keyboard or display? Mostly I just want it to sit and
>>> crunch numbers, but occasionally I'd need to use a different
>>> computer's keyboard and display to check up on it, tweak the process,
>>> etc.
>>> If I read the XP help files properly, it would seem that the cruncher
>>> computer must have keyboard and display to initially make the remote
>>> control connection. I'd like to just be able to switch on the
>>> cruncher computer, and then automatically have control of it from
>>> another computer when it boots.
>>>
>>> Can XP be persuaded to do this, or is some third party software
>>> required? Thanks.
>>>
>>> Bill
>>
>> If I understand you, try looking up KVM switch on Google and see if it
>> does what you need.
>>
>> Pop`
>
> What is the program you are running to crunch numbers? If something like
> Matlab, you might be better off running it in an operating system that
> doesn't need a gui. Why waste the resources? Check out headless systems
> running Linux or Unix for instance.
>
> http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&q=headless+computer&btnG=Search
>
> Malke
> --
> Elephant Boy Computers
> www.elephantboycomputers.com
> "Don't Panic!"
> MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If I were starting from scratch I'd do what you say. However I'm a loooong
way down a road of incremental software development tied to XP and it's not
worth it to me to throw out and start from scratch. Recreating it would be
a nightmare.

Basically I have an old computer that I can scrap, or it occurred to me I
can isolate it and still use it a few times a year when I rerun this
program. If someone sold third party software that would let me control the
machine remotely, then I'd be happy to find space for it in a closet
somewhere.

Thanks.

Bill

Bill Martin wrote:

> If I were starting from scratch I'd do what you say. However I'm a
> loooong way down a road of incremental software development tied to XP
> and it's not
> worth it to me to throw out and start from scratch. Recreating it
> would be a nightmare.
>
> Basically I have an old computer that I can scrap, or it occurred to
> me I can isolate it and still use it a few times a year when I rerun
> this
> program. If someone sold third party software that would let me
> control the machine remotely, then I'd be happy to find space for it
> in a closet somewhere.

You can run headless XP systems, I believe. You'd have to Google around
for instructions. In any case, you can control it remotely using one of
the flavors of VNC (free). Or you could use a commercial program like
pcAnywhere. If remote control is the main issue, then you really don't
need to mess around with setting up a headless system; you can set up
the old machine as usual and control it remotely from your own
workstation.

Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

Suggestion:
IF
Current system does not support WoWLAN

THEN
Check if the current system can support a WoWLAN adapter

IF yes install a WoWLAN adapter

ELSE

1. Get a new or used, inexpensive, quiet computer without a monitor
+ install a WoWLAN adapter

ELSE
2. Connect a keyboard, mouse and monitor to the system + set the
system for hibernation and WoWLAN + set up system for no logon+ set up
system for 'remote desktop' operation + hibernate system = good to go.

Phil Weldon

"Bill Martin" <Martin_SpamTrap RemoveThis @verizon.net> wrote in message
news:ug7Vx8j4GHA.3600@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
|
| "Pop`" <nodoby RemoveThis @devnull.spamcop.net> wrote in message
| news:uUg6tlc4GHA.1188@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
| > Bill Martin wrote:
| >> Is it possible to set up an XP Home computer to operate in another
| >> room with no keyboard or display? Mostly I just want it to sit and
| >> crunch numbers, but occasionally I'd need to use a different
| >> computer's keyboard and display to check up on it, tweak the process,
| >> etc.
| >> If I read the XP help files properly, it would seem that the cruncher
| >> computer must have keyboard and display to initially make the remote
| >> control connection. I'd like to just be able to switch on the
| >> cruncher computer, and then automatically have control of it from
| >> another computer when it boots.
| >>
| >> Can XP be persuaded to do this, or is some third party software
| >> required? Thanks.
| >>
| >> Bill
| >
| > If I understand you, try looking up KVM switch on Google and see if it
| > does what you need.
| >
| > Pop`
| ------------------------------------
|
| As I understand a KVM switch, it simply allows one to mechancially switch
| the keyboard/display from one computer to another. That won't work for
me.
| I want to put the cruncher into a *remote* location connected by a
wireless
| network, and don't want to trail cables 300' around the place even if they
| would work over that distance.
|
| It's an old Dell computer that's incredibly noisy (I'll never buy Dell
again
| for that reason). My choices are to scrap it when I get a new machine, or
| to exile it to a remote location where the noise won't be bothersome.
|
| Thanks...
|
| Bill
|