vnc on the ux50 works, controls robot...

[ptorrone]

so i was playing with a robot which uses a pc as a brain (in this case a tablet pc) and i put vnc (http://www.uk.research.att.com/vnc/) on it, for kicks i put the palm vnc client on the clie, while it messed with the colors a bit, it worked great and i controlled the robot via wifi.

here's a picture of the clie ux50 controled robot:
http://www.flashenabled.com/nimages/lg_bot.jpg

[Bluecatz]

That's pretty cool. Which VNC did you use?

[dkosak]

BEHOLD! The UBER Geek! All Bow!

dkosak bows down in awe

That is extremely cool... I looked at those robot kits for a while. The tablet brain is much cooler than the standard laptop driven design.

I'm going to go download VNC now.

- Don

[ptorrone]

this was on the server:
http://www.realvnc.com/dist/vnc-3.3.7-x86_win32.zip

this was on the clie ux50:
http://palmvnc2.free.fr/

cheers,
pt

[Exception]

that's so geeky :D

[strider_mt2k]

Absolutely fantastic!

Please feel free to stop by The Robotics Club of Yahoo if you'd care to share this project with a much wider Robotics-oriented community.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/theroboticsclub/
(Fully moderated)

http://members.tripod.com/RoBoJRR/
(This one needs updating.)

[Omnitron]

So Cool!

[Vagrant]

Wow! They let you post porn on Cliesource! Can I get that picture on a calender? ;)

[sting0r]

I just added a request to the Palm VNC developer on Soundforge to ask for native UX50 480x320 Landscape support. The website is http://sourceforge.net/projects/palmvnc2

Maybe you guys can write the developer as well at olivier@palmattitude.org and ask him to work on it!!!

[ptorrone]

update: robot now has two eyes, so the clie can see a bit more now...watch out jon connor.

http://www.flashenabled.com/nimages/lg_bot2.jpg

cheers,
pt

[sting0r]

Got this reply from the developer of PalmVNC re: my email asking if he has any plans to support the UX50 landscape resolution....

Hi,

Yes I do... that's actually the "most wanted feature" !!

Regards,
Olivier

[Jun]

Glad to see that in action! that's cool, pt.

Great post!

[Eddy]

That is just totally rad. leaving me speechless... :D

[ir803]

I am trying to get PALM VNC to work between my TG50 and my office PC XP machine, via a GSM connection to the internet, I have the server running on the XP machine on a broadband internet connection. and i'm dialing to the internet on my clie which connects fine, it's just getting the PALM VNC to connect to the server I'm having problems with and tips would be appreciated.

[ricleo]

woah.....way cool....

[Eddy]

wow, wasn't this thread like a while ago? :p

[eskasi]

Ok, I just checked out the PalmVNC2.0 website and decided to try it out.

Does it support Landscape now? I downloaded it but can't get it to display in Landscape. The graffiti area is retracted but it is still showing in 320x320. Am I missing something?

I tried Win-Hand Free. Awesome. Easy to use and set up...but no security at all! ok, I am cheap.....I just can't justify paying $40 for added security for an app I which I probably use only for fun.

[RandallFlagg]

To get landscape in PalmVNC, I have to display the silk area, then retract it again...and this sometimes hangs VNC, but usually it redraws the screen in full landscape goodness.
I imagine a new version is in the works, based on the response posted above.

[eskasi]

Hmmm, Latest build is 2.0.5....

http://palmvnc2.free.fr/download.php

Dosent seem to work in Landscape. Tried retracting the silk area but still just white space...scroll bars are still 320x320. Works ok though. Anyone else try this with any luck?

[MarvinMaldonado]

Eddy:

Yes, september 2003!

[eskasi]

er....Eddy's post was Oct 2003...

[WickedP]

Originally posted by eskasi
Hmmm, Latest build is 2.0.5....

http://palmvnc2.free.fr/download.php

Dosent seem to work in Landscape. Tried retracting the silk area but still just white space...scroll bars are still 320x320. Works ok though. Anyone else try this with any luck?

I'm running 2.0.5 Build 214. I've found that it connects with that white area, than if I extend and retract the VG area it refreshes to full landscape view.

Wicked.

[duc748_bip]

You haven't buy the gripper arm yet?!

[RichieRichDolla]

i am having a similiar problem i can control my computer via my broadband connection and my belkin wireless router,but i cannot connect to my computer from a different router . it will connect to the router but winvnc wont connect.

[RandallFlagg]

Richie>

I think what you're saying is that, as long as you're behind your own router (ie, on your internal network), you can control your VNC server, but you cannot take control when you are attempting to access it from the Internet?
If so, you need to take two steps:

1) open up at least one port, 5900, on your router. If you have multiple VNC servers running, you need to open a range of ports 5900+n, where n is how many servers you are running. If you want to use the Java VNC applet, do the same for 5800.

2) map the open ports to the correct PCs. With most routers, this is referred to as "virtual host" or "port forwarding", but I don't have much experience with Belkins. This will instruct the router to forward all Internet traffic that is directed at port 5900 to the VNC server on your network.

Couple of pointers:
1) You should see if your router has the ability to drop ICMP traffic. This will hide your open ports from portscanners, making it more difficult for someone to discover you have VNC running on your computer.

2) Your password should use both caps and non-caps, plus alphanumeric characters, at the least.

3) If you're going to be transferring any sensitive stuff between your network and your remote location, look into using UltraVNC with a DSM plugin or tunnelling your VNC connection over SSH. Doing so will encrypt the traffic, making it difficult for someone to intercept and understand what you're transferring.

[ryanguanzon]

Just to add to the previous post. Here are some links that can be helpful. I also included some stuff to help with PC to PC and encrypted VNC connection. Just remember always encrypt, set up a firewall/router to hide your ports, use an alphanumberic password.

Latest Version of UltraVNC (This is the 9windows only) VNC server bundled with palmVNC 2.0 - very easy to setup and supports encryption plugin- just READ the FAQ's on the website for directions) - FREE
http://ultravnc.sourceforge.net/

RS4 encryption DSM plugin for UltaVNC (supports 128 bit encryption) - FREE
http://home.comcast.net/%7Emsrc4plugin/

Other encryption options (SSH tunneling - harder to set up) - FREE
http://faq.gotomyvnc.com/cgi-bin/fom?_recurse=1&file=1#file_127

Tunneling tutorial (for SSH)
http://www.benjamin.weiss.name/putty-tunnel.html

Other secure connections compatible with VNC (VPN) - COMMERCIAL
http://www.mergic.com/

PalmVNC 2.0 (IMHO a lot better than winhand because it is free, supports password encryption, and can be very fast as long as you understand how to properly set up UltaVNC) - FREE
http://palmvnc2.free.fr/

How to use VNC behind a router (step by step instruction)
http://faq.gotomyvnc.com/cgi-bin/fom?_recurse=1&file=1#file_127

Free Dynamic DNS service (Need this to access your computer with VNC from the internet if you don't have static IP address)
http://www.no-ip.com/index.php

Zonelabs Zonealarm and VNC
http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/support/zapProgramsFAQ.jsp#5program

Also to test system vulnerability to attacks from the internet, here are some sites that are very useful:

http://www.pcflank.com/
http://www.grc.com/

[macstibs]

I could be mistaken but I don't believe that PalmVNC2 provides encryption. I can't find any kind of option for it within the software nor can I find a reference to it any where on the site. Any pointers would be appreciated as the lack of encryption is the primary reason I don't run VNC while outside my network. I only use SSH.

Further, as far as I know, there's no way for PalmOS5 to handle SSH tunnelling. So while it's definitely valuable information, it's not really applicable here when discussing the Palm platform.

[macstibs]

I left out Mergic Vpn which seems to be capable of handling tunneling over PPTP. Tunneling over SSH continues to elude me.

[ryanguanzon]

You are right. PalmVNC does not support the RS4plugin or SSH as of the moment. SSH and RS4 encryption can only be used for PC to PC connection. The best way to establish a secure connection is to use a product such as MergicVPN which is compatible with PalmVNC. It secures all transmissions and does not rely on the applications being used. This was confirmed by Mr Olivier Gérardin who made PalmVNC2.0.

[macstibs]

I'm a mac guy that's why I prefer SSH. I tried MergicVPN with the PPTP daemon on XP Pro for about 3 minutes, but since I use SSL IMAP for mail and SSH into my mac, I didn't really see the utility for my needs. Occasionally I use RDP to remote into my XP box, but I really try to stick to the Macs. I switched over about three years ago and so far the only thing I still need the PC for is financial applications.

[ryanguanzon]

I've been setting up VNC to work with WindowsXP VPN but I've been having sme trouble tunneling vnc through my vpn connection. VPN connects well. VNC connects well but I lack the knowledge to run VNC through the VPN connection. Any thoughts? Thanks. Still would like to setup a secure connection fom the internet through my Clie via the internet and I think tunelling is the way to go as of this point.

[ryanguanzon]

I finally was able to do it. Here's my setup and a little guide of how I managed it.

Software/Hardware used:
1. Dlink DI-624 router
2. Zonealarm firewall
3. UltraVNC
4. PalmVNC2.0
5. Mergic VPN
6. Win XP

1. Setup VNC
- Get static IP address at www.no-ip.com if your ISP does not provide you one
- In router setup (See Virtual Server option) forward ports 5800, 5801, 5900, 5901 to IP

address of host PC as assigned by your router (click on the connection icon on the taskbar

and select details)
- If you are using zonealarm, there should be no other problems (oterwise take a look at

this resource: http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/support/zapProgramsFAQ.jsp#5program
- Setup UltraVNC as the documentation suggests
- You may use the DSM RS4 plugin downloadable here: http://home.comcast.net/%7Emsrc4plugin/

(both client and server side) for added security/encryption for PC to PC connection
- Stop here if you are going to use PC to PC VNC sessions
- If using PalmVNC then do not use RS4 Plugin as this is not currently supported

2. Setup VPN
- Use WinXP to setup VPN on server side as detailed

here:http://www.wown.com/j_helmig/xpvpnsrv.htm
- Use WinXP to setup VPN on client side as detailed

here:http://www.wown.com/j_helmig/xpvpnclt.htm
- In the router setup, make sure VPN passthrough is supported
- Just to be sure forward port 1723 to LAN IP address of server computer
- Forward IP Protocol 47 (GRE) (this is not a port mind you and you will not find this

option in the virtual server setup) if you can from the router
- If you have VPN passthough capability enabled in the router (most new ones have this),

then forwarding this will not be necessary
- Make sure that you open up TCP/IP port 1723 on the software firewall side (this can be

found in most advanced setup settings)
- Connect VPN as here:http://www.wown.com/j_helmig/xpvpncon.htm
- You can use the connection that you made to browse shared files on the host PC (it will

appear that you are on the LAN)
- If using MergicVPN, as with the PC setup, remember to input the static external IP

address that you have (either assigned by ISP or though the no-ip service)
- Once Palm is connected to PC, you may use SMBMATE (freeware but not available anymore) to

browse the files you have on your PC

3. Using VNC with VPN (Tunneling)
- The reason why we bother to set up VPN is to be able to use it with VNC. This makes VNC

more secure even without the RS4 plugin that I mentioned. A few extra steps should enable

us to us VNC through the VPN connection (Tunneling VNC through the encrpyted VPN session)
- First connect VPN as usual using the external static IP address (should work with

MergicVPN or the WinXP connection that was made earlier)
- Then in the same client PC/Palm, run VNC viewer/ PalmVNC2.0 and input the internal IP

address of the VNC server in the host PC. Mouse over VNC server in the host PC and the IP

address should it uses should up.
- Connect and you should have an encrypted VNC session through VPN
- If you disconnect VPN, VNC should also terminate as it is tunning through it (this is to

check whether it is indeed tunneling or whether it had set up a separate VNC session from

the VNC session)

With this setup a secure VNC connection is made (resistant to sniffing). This does not

guarantee that your PC will be secure from attacks as some ports will be left open. Nothing

is perfect but it is a lot better than unencrypted VNC being used in a cybercafe for

example or anywhere outside of you LAN.

[macstibs]

I don't think you need all 4 ports 5800,5801,5900,5901 forwarded. IIRC, one set is for the VNC protocol and one set is for the Java-based access server. I think 5900 and 5901 are for VNC and 5800/01 is for the Java access. This leads me to think that you only need to open the set that you use. On the Palm for instance with PalmVNC2.0, you'd be using the 5900/01 (VNC) set only. Probably no need to open 5800/01 but I'm not able to check that now.

[ryanguanzon]

As far as I know, this is that is the case. Been looking at some websites and it seems that the other ports are needed for java-based web browser use. There seems to be no consensus. did not check it myself though.