Remote Help Assistant

Host Server... AT YOUR OWN RISK

Asked by zeddock

Would it be possible to set up a server for users to use when they are behind a firewall/router and the customer cannot be talked through proper configuration?

I would be willing to put up a server for this purpose... specifically for the project and users of the project.
Use would be at the user's own risk and donations would likely keep it going.

This is a great service but most users needing help need one big button that allows them to connect for help. Reverse MAY work but usually not. Wouldn't a server in the middle, for limited use be the answer for this challenge of the project?

Thanx!

<email address hidden>

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Andrew Sayers (andrew-bugs-launchpad-net) said : 		#1

I agree that unconfigurable firewalls are a problem, and thankful for the offer, but I'm currently looking into UDP hole-punching rather than servers as a solution.

It's a judgment call, but I'm personally not comfortable with creating a server to route connections through. Connections would be limited by the speed and bandwidth of the server, and there would be all sorts of security issues involved. It would also complicate the interface by requiring users to specify a port to connect to the router on.

UDP hole-punching is a common (but complex) technique for tricking routers into letting two computers talk to each other, which should avoid the problems mentioned above.

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zeddock (zeddock) said : 		#2

Thanx for the answer. It begs the question though.... How can *I* use UDP hole-punching to more easily support folks? Can it now be done on Remote-help-assistant?

Thanx,

zeddock

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Andrew Sayers (andrew-bugs-launchpad-net) said : 		#3

UDP isn't available in the assistant right now - I'm just getting back into it after being swamped at work for a few months, so I'll be investigating it once I've cleared out some of my backlog :)

For what it's worth, my main problems are to do with having one global server for everyone. For your personal use, a server that you trust is an acceptable solution.

When you go through the "connect to another computer" route, the assistant will offer you several options if your router doesn't support UPnP. One of those options ("forward remote connections from another computer") describes how to SSH into a computer and set it up to forward connections to you.

Can you help with this problem?

Provide an answer of your own, or ask zeddock for more information if necessary.

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