Give Someone Help

To give someone help on his computer is a task of every service giving organisation. There are the common used techniques using a internet service like teamviewer . But: Using teamviewer in a business context is not free and there are issues concerning the data privacy.

So, why not connecting someone's computers directly by VNC?

In the following there are described three setups:

• Linux/Debian-Installation to give help
• Linux/Debian-Installation to get help
• Windows-Installation to get help

Linux/Debian-Installation to give help

• Install vncviewer package
• Start vncviewer in a shell: vncviewer -listen
• Forward port 5500 outside your network

  There are two possibilities to do that:

  • Change settings in your router (not discussed here)
  • Forward your port by ssh

    If you have a Debian server in the web you can allow a ssh user to open ports by setting GatewayPorts yes in /etc/ssh/sshd_config . Forward your port by ssh you@your-server.com -R 5500:localhost:5500

Linux/Debian-Installation to get help

• Install x11vnc package
• Call x11vnc -nopw -connect IP

IP is either the IP of the router or the name of the internet server.

Windows-Installation to get help

• Install Tight Vnc
• Open cmd command window, change into the installation directory (C:\Program Files\Tight VNC , or so), call tvnserver.exe -controlservice -connect IP

IP is either the IP of the router or the name of the internet server.

Last update: 17.07.2025