The use of Redhat Linux by ICommander Corporation made us very aware of the
benefits of the Open Source Software community. There are hundreds of free
software packages and utilities that are a standard part of installing Linux.
We also learned that many of these same Open Source packages have been made available for Microsoft Windows Systems. We use Virtual Network Computing (VNC) for accessing the Redhat Linux Desktop from any workstation on the LAN and remotely via the Internet by using other Open Source Software that enables creating an encrypted tunnel through the Internet. The VNC Server Software that handles this is part of the free software installed with Redhat Linux and the VNC Client Software used on the connecting PC is also free.
VNC Server is also available for Windows PC's. The Open SSH Server software used by Redhat Linux for encrypted connections is likewise also available for Windows PC's. We have successfully used the combination of these open source packages to enable setting up a home PC to be accessed from a user work PC. There are several steps involved but this connection does not use any of the Redhat Linux Server capabilities. Once the SSH Server is active on your Home PC and you know its IP Address (which will vary each time you connect to the Internet unless you have a fixed address), the VNC Client/Viewer software on your Work PC is routed through the SSH Client that also needs to be installed on the Work PC. Once you connect you have a secure encrypted tunnel to your Home PC and can use it just like you were there.
You may not need to do this often and there are several steps to get it in place. ICommander Support Staff will take you through the steps needed to activate this for accessing your Home PC from Work upon request. Our testing has been to a employee Home PC's. Since this doesn't need the Redhat Linux Server to work, you could actually set it up to access any other PC anywhere on the Internet on which the SSH Server Software is installed.
The ability to do this with free software from the Open Source community
highlights the powerful capabilities that developers have contributed to that
community. The Intranet Links Page on your ICommander Intranet and on the
Useful Links page on www.icmdr.com include links to various sources of Open
Source software. Many of the free software packages available are only for open
source systems like Linux. However, you will find many others that freely
available for use on Microsoft Windows PC's.