Remote Control
Here you can view and modify a number of options available during real-time remote control sessions. This includes the general settings, security, audible notification, interactive user permissions, and the remote printing feature.
General Settings
Use mirror display driver
ExpertAssist provides a mirror display driver to be used on the remote computer. This display driver provides a faster and less CPU-intensive remote control session. Select this checkbox to use the mirror display driver. Clear this checkbox to disable the use of the mirror driver.
Change the color depth of the remote machine to the one selected in the Remote Control session
By default, ExpertAssist processes the captured screen image using software color dithering. This allows the ExpertAssist to 'virtually' change the color bit depth on the remote computer thus decreasing the traffic between the remote computer and your local computer. If a remote computer has a current bit depth set to 32 bit and you choose to change it to, say, 8 bit by choosing this depth from the corresponding drop-down list within the Remote Control applet, it will result in changing the bit depth within the applet only. Only the remote computer screen displayed on your local computer will change the bit dept. It will not physically change the color bit depth on the remote computer. Indeed, ExpertAssist converts the captured screen picture on the remote computer dithering the picture on-the-fly from 32 bit to 8 bit and sends it in such a way to the browser of your local computer.
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Note: Dithering, also known as halftoning, allows to reduce the color palette table without affecting the image quality by smoothing the visibility of quantization errors that appear when converting the depth. Since the effect is color bit depth reduction, ExpertAssist suggests to choose from the drop-down list only those values that are less or equal to bit depth set on the remote computer. Setting this checkbox on is only necessary if you really want to change the bit depth physically right on the remote computer (but not only on the screen capture that is being transferred to your local computer). |
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Note: You can further boost remote control processing speeds by forcing Windows to not re-draw windows while you are dragging them. On the remote computer, open the System Properties dialog box and switch to Advanced tab. In the Performance box click Settings, select the Custom radio button and check the Show window contents while dragging checkbox off. This will enable ExpertAssist to draw the window box while you are dragging a window on the remote computer effectively reducing traffic and boosting processing speeds. |
Automatically disable wallpaper
Select this checkbox to disable the wallpaper (or background desktop image) on the host computer when a remote control session is started. Clear this checkbox to view the image during the remote session.
Automatic clipboard transfer maximum size
The ExpertAssist provides the ability to transfer clipboards between host and client machines, allowing the ability to copy from one machine and paste on the other. Specify the maximum number of kilobytes (KB) that can be transferred between machines. The default size is 1024 KB. Transferring significantly larger amounts may cause slowdowns. The maximum limit is 5 Mbytes in both directions. If the clipboard is larger than the maximum limit nothing will be transferred.
Idle time allowed
Specify the number of minutes a remote host may be inactive for. If a period of inactivity is determined, the client will automatically be disconnected from the remote session.
Auto panning
If the host computer's display area is larger than that which the remote control client can display only a part of the screen is shown and you can use scrollbars to view the required area of the remote display. With this option enabled, the screen is automatically scrolled for you when the mouse nears the edge of the current display area.
Maximum number of screen updates per second
Specify the number of times the screen is updated per second.
Control-Alt-Del Hotkey
Select an alternate hotkey to use from the drop list. Choose from Ctrl-Alt-Insert, Ctrl-Alt-F12 and Ctrl-Alt-F1.
Security
Disable host keyboard and mouse
Select this checkbox to disable the host's keyboard and mouse during the remote session. This will prevent the host user from using the keyboard or mouse while the remote control session is in progress. Clear this checkbox to enable the host's keyboard and mouse during the remote control session.
Blank the host's monitor
Select this checkbox to blank the display on the host computer during a remote control session. This is useful for preventing user interaction while remote work is in process.
Lock console when connection broken
Select this checkbox to lock the console in order to protect open files, if, due to a network error, the Java remote control client loses its connection to the server. Clear this checkbox to leave console as is when the connection is broken.
Lock console when connection times out
Select this checkbox to lock the console in order to protect open files, if the connection times out. Clear this checkbox to leave client as is when the connection times out.
Always lock console when remote control disconnects
Select this checkbox to lock the console when the remote session ends. Clear this checkbox to leave client as is when the remote session ends.
Audible Notification
Beep when the remote control session starts or ends
Select this checkbox to have an audible beep on the host computer when a remote control session is initiated or ended.
Beep continuously during remote control
Select this checkbox to have a periodic audible beep on the host computer during the remote control session.
Beep interval
Specify an interval for the periodic beep during the remote control session. The beep interval is specified in seconds.
Interactive User's Permission
Ask for permission from interactive user
If you turn this option off, you will disable the icon, and also any attempts to notify the local user when someone is accessing the computer remotely. When this option is off, none of the other settings in this configuration screen apply. This option, when disabled, basically tells ExpertAssist not to bother starting rmgui.exe, the software that sits in the system tray and communicates with the user. Disabling this option will also disable the Chat function.
Default answer for confirmation message
Yes or No. When someone tries to gain remote control access to the computer, and the interactive user does not answer the query, the remote control session will either proceed or not, depending on this setting.
Time allowed for the interactive user to give permission
This is the amount of time specified before the notification message times out.
Text to display to the user
This is the text that will be presented to the user in the remote control confirmation dialogue box. The string ‘%USER%' will be substituted by the name of the user who is attempting the remote control operation.
Display a warning message during Remote Control
Do not ask for permissions for technicians with Full Control (or Remote Control D) access rights
Select this checkbox to allow all administrators access to start a remote management session without waiting for a confirmation from a remote interactive user. Clear this checkbox to disable administrators default automatic access to remotely control workstations without a remote user confirmation. Explicit permissions must be granted to users who will have access to start a remote management session.
Remote Printing
Enable Remote Printing
Here you can enable or disable ExpertAssist's ability to print remotely.
Telnet Server
This page allows you to view and modify Telnet related options. For a complete explanation of the Telnet server, please see Computer Management.
TCP/IP port to listen on / address to listen on
Here you can specify which port / address you want ExpertAssist to listen on for telnet connections. This defaults to the standard telnet port of 23, and all available interfaces. Changes take effect when ExpertAssist services are restarted.
Accept ExpertAssist connections (secure)
Allow the ExpertAssist’s built-in terminal emulator connections to the remote computer. If disabled, the built-in Java client available via Computer Management|Command Prompt page cannot be used to access Telnet.
Accept Telnet connections
Specify whether telnet connections will be accepted from the standalone telnet clients on the specified TCP/IP port. If disabled you will only be able to telnet the remote computer using the ExpertAssist’s built-in terminal emulator via Computer Management|Command Prompt page.
Show login banner
Enable or disable the logon message sent by the ExpertAssist’s Telnet Server when a connection is established. The logon message includes the version of the operating system and ExpertAssist.
If you do not want to let anybody who connects to the Telnet ports know the version of the operating system and ExpertAssist, disable this option.
Maximum simultaneous connections
Here you can specify the maximum number of connections to the Telnet Server. It's a good idea to set a reasonable limit, especially on computers connected to the Internet. Every new connection uses resources on the computer.
Timeouts
Login/Idle/Session recovery timeout
Here you can set the login timeout (number of seconds the user may remain idle during the login process), the idle timeout (number of seconds the user may remain idle during a Telnet session) and the session recovery timeout. When a Telnet connection is broken ungracefully (that is, the user does not type exit at the command prompt) it is possible to reconnect to the session and continue work where it was left off for a period of time. You can specify the amount of time for which you want the lost telnet session to remain available. Any and all running programs started by the user in the Telnet session will be available when the session is resumed.
Telnet Client Default Parameters
Here you can specify the default parameters for the ExpertAssist’s built-in Telnet client . This client is available from the Command Prompt page under the Computer Management object.
Columns
Specify the number of columns to be used in the Telnet client window. This number determines the width of the window.
Rows
Specify the number of rows to be used in the Telnet client window. This number determines the height of the window.
Console mode
Select the Console mode from the drop-down list. Select from Stream, Full (ANSI colors) and Full (monochrome).
Ask console parameters
Select this checkbox to allow the system to prompt the user for the console parameters.
Custom Pages
ExpertAssist is able to act as a simple HTTP daemon and serve files from a specified directory. The default Custom Page path and index file is defined in the Custom Pages section on the Appearance page of the Preferences section. All other custom pages are reached from a link on the Custom HTTP default index file.
WAP and PDA Interface
ExpertAssist supports limited access via wireless devices using the Wireless Application Protocol (WAP). These devices are usually mobile phones, with limited screen size, limited memory, and limited processor capacity. For this reason, they do not understand HTML – pages displayed on WAP devices are written in WML, which is based on XML. Graphics are simple black-and-white images.
When you access ExpertAssist via the WAP interface, you are prompted to log in. Enter your username and password using the phone’s controls then click the OK link. If ExpertAssist does not recognize your WAP device as such, it might cause your WAP browser to display a message regarding unknown content, a compile error, or something similar. In this case, you can edit the contents of the WapClients.cfg file found in your ExpertAssist folder to make the user agent known as a WAP device. Further information on the format of the file is found inside. It is a plain text file and can be edited using any text editor.