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Remote Control Your Network

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PCQ Bureau
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ou can use third-party software to do remote tasks. Or, use the built-


in features of various operating systems




As networks grow, so do the headaches associated with managing them. A larger infrastructure means more complaints to handle, more equipment to set up, and of course a lot more running around to do. Thankfully, this increase in problems has also resulted in a variety of solutions. Today, there are lots of things you can do remotely on a network. Among other things, you can do remote

troubleshooting, booting, installation, and access. Some of these are new, while others have been around for a while.

Remote Troubleshooting



Troubleshoot in Windows and Linux by remotely accessing PC desktops on your network
Remote Access your Network



Configure a VPN server on Win 2000 server to access your network from anywhere in the world
Remote Booting in Linux



Configuring PCQLinux 8 to allow disk-less nodes to boot from it
Unattended XP Installation



Automate Windows XP installations across your network
Remote OS Installation



How to install any desktop OS remotely over your network

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You can remotely help users troubleshoot their problems to the extent of handholding them to a solution. Imagine a case where you’ve purchased a large number of PCs and have to set up an OS on all with the same settings, service packs and so on. You can solve this problem by doing a remote OS and application installation on all the PCs. Windows XP has an option to create a bootable unattended installation CD of the OS together will all the service packs, browser settings, etc. You can also place the bootable image on a central server and then retrieve it remotely over the network. If you’re not using XP,



then there’s lots of third-party software that lets you do this for other OSs as well.

System maintenance is another area where a lot of things can be done remotely. There are ample tools that help you do system inventory, health monitoring and management, all without leaving your seat. The concept of remote booting an OS has also evolved since the days of using a RPL boot ROM to remotely boot a PC from a NetWare server. Today, there are PXE boot ROMs on network cards, which can use a nearby DHCP server to gain an IP address and then load an OS. You can use this to boot diskless workstations with Windows or Linux.

Finally, there’s good old remote access, which has been around for a long time and still remains popular. It allows you to access your network resources when out of office or even when you’re sitting in another part of the world. This can be done over dial-up or a VPN setup using a secure link.

So, the fact is that whatever you can do locally on a system, you can also do it remotely. In the pages to follow, we’ll show you how to do it using third-party software, which is fairly inexpensive or completely free, as well as built-in features of various OSs. It may not be as easy as using a TV remote control, but it can surely save you a lot of running around.

Anil Chopra

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