Remote administration of MP box (4 Viewers)

[goin3d]

I'm curious as to how everyone administers their MP boxes? I've been trying to figure out how to administer my htpc remotely while having MP running fullscreen (which i guessing rules out remote desktop). How's everyone else do it?

 

[eloo]

I use Remote Desktop on a seperate user account, apply Remote Desktop hack by salsa (google.com) to allow multiple users on XP.

 

[goin3d]

that's a great idea! with this you can you use the MP setup program to change settings or is that user specific?

 

[Furetto]

Many people use VNC...

Personally I use Dameware, having a professional license for it.

 

[NickName]

Goin3d,
You can't change MP settings as the config program checks for, and closes, a running MP first. You can however do anything else you'd like as long as whatever you are doing doesn't use DirectX (as MP is using it).

VNC (etc.) work well but I prefer the "second user account using Remote Desktop" method as it is one less piece of software I have to install. I like my to keep my HTPC as lean as possible, which isn't easy

 

[mr_minning]

I use TightVNC. Works perfectly for me. I can see everything that's shown on my tv - and just as it is shown on my tv. It doesn't use much memory either.

 

[NickName]

That sounds handy for remotely watching TV (if you have a good network connection). However you can't change any settings without closing the TV window(?)
Using a 2nd login in Remote Desktop gives you a completely separate desktop session so you can do what you like (except what I mentioned above) without affecting anyone using MP.
Example: I can login remotely, start Nero, rip a DVD, copy files back and forth, change Windows settings, type a Word Document (not that I would), etc. etc. and no-one is any the wiser while they are watching TV, DVDs, listening to Music, etc. on MP.

 

[Bram]

I'm also using tight VNC. I don't know about the windows TightVNC client, but with the VNC clientent integrated in Kubuntu I can make the MP box fullscreen on my Linux desktop.

 

[gxtracker]

Also using tightVNC here too. Not only does it allow you to administrate the box while MP is running, but VNC is also an open standard, so the client can be run from any box running linux, mac, windows, etc...

 

[Taipan]

I use TightVNC. Works perfectly for me. I can see everything that's shown on my tv - and just as it is shown on my tv. It doesn't use much memory either.

Does this mean that it updates your Viewer PC quickly enough that the video screen gives a smooth image?

I have used both VNC and TightVNC and find that the speed at which they update the Viewer PC is quite slow and unwatchable, but still usable for administration purposes. This is over a 100 Mbps wired network connection.