-> Looking for a remote control solution for the helpdesk.
->
-> You know the need, 20-30 folks who need to RC to 1000's of workstations to
-> take control and help.
->
-> In your experience, what is the product we should use?  And rough idea 
hat
-> it would cost.
Check out PC-Duo.  I found the web site again for you it is:
http://www.vector-networks.com/
They have a eval version of it available for download.  Here is some of the
info from the page:
Overview of NetSupport PC-Duo
    NetSupport PC-Duo is a fully featured Remote Control package that 
upports
DOS,
    DOS Graphics, and Windows applications. NetSupport PC-Duo provides access
to
    workstations on both local and remote IPX, NetBIOS, or TCP/IP networks as
well as
    linking standalone machines over dial-up modem links. The package 
ncludes
support
    for both Windows and DOS.
    There are three parts of the NetSupport PC-Duo product. These are:-
        Control Programs for DOS and Windows
        Client Programs for DOS and Windows
        Remote Communication Programs
    Both DOS and Windows forms of these components are included with the
standard
    package.
    Package Features
    The main features of the NetSupport PC-Duo package are:-
        Remote Control
        A Control workstation can take control of a Client. The Control's
keyboard and
        mouse are routed through to the Client, and the Client's screen
contents are
        displayed on the Control's screen.
        Control Modes
        Control, Share, and Watch modes are provided. In Control mode, the
Client
        keyboard is disabled so that the Control user has almost complete
control of the
        Client. In Share mode, the Client accepts both Control and Client
keystrokes. In
        Watch mode, Control keyboard input is not accepted by the Client.
        The Windows Control and Client also support mouse input. In Control
mode, the
        Client's keyboard and mouse are both disabled.
        Message
        A Control can send a text message for immediate display on single or
multiple
        Clients. The message can be supplied from a file or by keyboard 
nput.
        Chat
        Once a Control user has Selected a Client, either Control or Client
users can start
        a two way on-screen text dialogue with the other. This applies even 
f
the Control
        user is using Control Mode.
        File Transfer
        Control can manage files on the Client and can transfer files,
directories, or
        directory trees between the Control and the Client. Files on the
Control or the
        Client can be deleted, renamed, or viewed. The Windows Control can 
also
edit
        files.
        Print Capture
        Control can capture printer output from the Client and redirect it to
Control's
        printer.
        Show Screen Contents
        DOS and Windows Controls can display their screen contents on a 
single,
or
        multiple DOS or Windows Clients (respectively). In addition, 
roadcast
Show to all
        Clients is available in the DOS Control only.
        Remote Communications
        As well as providing links over Local Area and Wide Area Networks, 
he
package
        can be used over a serial line between the Control workstation and 
he
Client
        network. This can take the form of a direct connection between serial
ports, a
        leased line telecommunication link, or a dial-up modem connection.
        Frequently-used telephone numbers can be stored in the Control's Dial
Directory.
        Configuration Options
        In addition to operating over IPX, TCP/IP, or NetBIOS networks, or
serial lines,
        PC-Duo provides a range of security and configuration options to 
enable
it to be
        tailored to your needs.
    Evaluation Kit
    NetSupport PC-Duo is supplied as a Evaluation Kit. This allows you to try
it out before
    purchase. The Evaluation Kit software is fully functional, apart from the
following
    restrictions:-
        A maximum of five Clients can be active on the network simultaneously
        The Evaluation Kit will not load after the kit expiry date has passed
    These restrictions are removed once serialisation has been completed.
    You can download an evaluation kit, or request that a kit is mailed to 
you,
by
    completing the NetSupport PC-Duo evaluation request form.
    Concepts
    Most PC-Duo activities are initiated by a user running a Control program.
This user,
    known as a "Control", can scan the network for controllable PCs, known as
"Clients".
    Once this has been done, Control can perform one or more of the 
perations
described
    below.
    Available Clients
    A Client is activated by loading a Client program. The DOS Client can be
loaded from
    the DOS prompt or by CALLing the supplied STARTTSR.BAT batch file during
the
    PC's normal startup sequence (e.g. from AUTOEXEC.BAT). The Windows Client
is
    loaded when Windows starts up. Once loaded, the Client becomes Available
for
    access by a Control.
    Clients can be configured to require a Control user to specify a password
before a
    connection can be established. They can also be set so that the Client 
user
has to
    acknowledge each Control connection.
    A Control can Connect to one or more Clients, or it can broadcast 
essages
or Show
    its screen contents to all Available Clients. Individual Clients can be
configured to
    Ignore Broadcast Messages or Accept Broadcast Shows from a Control.
    Known Clients
    A Control can Lookup the Available Clients by scanning the network. It 
an
accumulate
    a list of up to 100 Known Clients. The names of these Clients are stored 
in
one or more
    Known Clients files. Clients can also be collected into Groups. Up to 12
Known Clients
    or a Group of Clients can be can be chosen for simultaneous connection
using
    Connect/Disconnect or Group Connect, subject to the access controls
mentioned
    above.
    Connected Clients
    When a connection has been established, Control can send a Message or 
how
its
    screen contents to those Clients only, rather than to all Available
Clients. In addition,
    Control can Select one of the connected Clients for special attention.
    Selected Client
    When a Connected Client is Selected, a "one-to-one" session is 
established.
Control
    can then send a Message or Show its screen contents to that Client only.
Control can
    access the Client in Control, Share, or Watch modes.
    When Control connects to a Client, an on-screen indicator informs the
Client user that
    a Control is accessing their PC. The Windows Client also shows the name 
f
the
    Control.
    Access Modes
    PC-Duo provides three remote-control access modes - Control, Share, and
Watch. All
    three modes allow the Control user to view the Client's screen. In 
ontrol
mode, the
    Client's keyboard and mouse are disabled so that the Control user has
almost complete
    control of the Client. In Share mode, the Client accepts both Control and
Client
    keystrokes. Clients can be configured to allow Watch mode only. Watch 
ode
disables
    the Control's keyboard and mouse.
    Either the Control or the Selected Client can open a two-way Chat 
ession,
in which
    text typed by both users is displayed on both screens. This allows a 
simple
dialogue to
    take place.
    The Control can also perform file management operations on the Client, or
transfer files
    between the Client and itself. Clients can be configured to prevent 
Control
file access.
    Control can switch between multiple Connected Clients, making each of 
hem
in turn
    the Selected Client.
    Summary
    For Control to be able to take over an individual Client you must:-
        Load the DOS or Windows Client on the machine to be controlled.
        If necessary, load the Remote and Bridge programs on Control and 
Client
PCs,
        respectively
        Start a DOS or Windows Control.
        Connect to the Client.
        Select the Client for a one-to-one session.
        Activate Control, Share, or Watch mode.
--- PCBoard (R) v15.3/M 2
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