Practicing the Black Art (08/08)
Using CrossLoop to Troubleshoot and Control Remote Machines
by Vinny La Bash, vlabash@comcast.net
Member of the Sarasota Personal Computer Users Group, Inc.
Third party Windows applications
are rarely examined in this column, but CrossLoop is too good a utility
to ignore. Trying to walk someone through a computer problem over the
telephone is often an exercise in frustration. There is no substitute
for seeing what is actually on a user’s screen to find out the root
cause of a problem.
Vista has a built-in support tool known as Remote Desktop, but far
from making the process easy, it has a tendency to confuse those with no
technical background. Remote Desktop makes it rough on those who don’t
know how to handle the added complications of firewalls and routers.
CrossLoop, which is a free remote support utility, could be an excellent
solution.
CrossLoop shields users from tricky situations involving
communicating through routers, firewalls, and other potential obstacles.
Setting up a communications session between two computers physically
separated, but connected through the internet, is reduced to a process
hardly more complex than turning on your TV. Those concerned about
security can relax. CrossLoop uses something called TightVNC which
safeguards data with 128 bit encryption.
Crossloop is useful for people who want to train or support others
remotely. If you’re an experienced web surfer, for example, and need to
show someone how to access a disk drive or retrieve a lost document,
CrossLoop allows you to take control of their computer screen, and show
them exactly how to do it.
Hard core geeks may not be satisfied with CrossLoop. It’s not
complicated enough. It works better than most similar commercial
utilities, and your technically challenged friends and relatives will
find it aggravation free.
You can download the program without charge from
http://www.crossloop.com. The
site has a video that demonstrates how to install and use the program
which is very helpful for technophobes.
Once you’re up and running, the interface presenting itself is a
model of simplicity which effectively masks the complexity behind the
scenes. As mentioned earlier, security and remote control is handled by
TightVNC. VNC stands for Virtual Network Computing, and is a very well
designed software tool that easily allows remote access to Operating
Systems with a graphical interface. The technical specifications say you
need Windows 98 or higher. A broadband internet connection is also a
requirement. Dialup connections won’t work. Drive space, processor
speed, and memory requirements are negligible given the general power of
today’s computers.
Another benefit of TightVNC is the built-in 128 bit encrypted
security. When you begin a communications session, the program generates
a new 12 digit access code. The access code then generates the
encryption codes giving you an additional layer of security. Not bad for
a free utility.
Running the program is so easy it’s almost boring. As you can see
from the illustration, the interface is simple and straightforward.
Assuming you started the session, the next step is to communicate the
access code to the person you are communicating with. You can do this by
email, telephone, screaming into the next room, etc.
After starting the session, your friend types the access code into
the box and clicks Connect. When the Connect button is clicked on both
sides the two PCs are linked.
This method of troubleshooting a remote PC eliminates
all the hassles of trying to interpret what an inexperienced user is
attempting to explain. It’s difficult to imagine anything less complex
than a one button interface. With 128 bit encryption built in, it’s
tough to beat.
Other applications that make such connections possible
have been available for years, but nothing I’ve seen makes it as simple
as CrossLoop. :
Return to Vinny La
Bash's Index
Return to
Columnist's Index
Copyright 2008. This article is from the August 2008 issue of the
Sarasota PC Monitor, the official monthly publication of the Sarasota
Personal Computer Users Group, Inc., P.O. Box 15889, Sarasota, FL
34277-1889. Permission to reprint is granted only to other non-profit
computer user groups, provided proper credit is given to the author and
our publication. We would appreciate receiving a copy of the publication
the reprint appears in, please send to above address, Attn: Editor. For
further information about our group, email:
admin@spcug.org/ Web:
http://www.spcug.org/
The Sarasota Personal Computer Users Group, Inc. has 1,100+ members
and was established in 1982. We are members of the Assoc. of PC User
Groups (APCUG), the Florida Assoc. of PC Users Groups, Inc., and we are
members of the America Online Ambassador Program.
See http://www.spcug.org for all reviews from the Sarasota PC
Monitor, go to the Newsletter Section.