Remote access software

[HesCalledTheStig]

I'm looking for a program that will allow me to log into my home server from my laptop while I am at work.  I work overnights and have A LOT of down time and it would be nice to be able to access my home server to have access to my files remotely.  Ideally Id like to be able to move files around and open files such as movies and music from my laptop.  I had been using Logmein but for some reason it has gotten extremely laggy and unusable.   A free software is preferred or something fairly inexpensive that has a trial period so I can check it out before purchasing.  Any suggestions?

[Guest]

See article here:

https://www.lifewire.com/free-remote-access-software-tools-2625161

 

Top 5 Listed (Alphabetized order)

Chrome Remote Desktop

https://remotedesktop.google.com/

 

DW Service

https://www.dwservice.net/

 

GetScreen

https://getscreen.me/
 

Ultra VNC

https://uvnc.com/downloads/ultravnc.html

 

Windows Remote Desktop - Built-into Windows already

 

[HesCalledTheStig]

5 minutes ago, Thomas4 said:

See article here:

https://www.lifewire.com/free-remote-access-software-tools-2625161

 

Top 5 Listed (Alphabetized order)

Chrome Remote Desktop

https://remotedesktop.google.com/

 

DW Service

https://www.dwservice.net/

 

GetScreen

https://getscreen.me/
 

Ultra VNC

https://uvnc.com/downloads/ultravnc.html

 

Windows Remote Desktop - Built-into Windows already

 

Have you used any of these?

[Guest]

I used Windows Remote a few years ago, but am no longer as I do not have the need for it. It worked OK and had no real problems that I can remember, nuisances probably but none major enough that they stuck in my brain.

[Avocado Diaboli]

Regarding remote desktop apps, I personally have been mostly using Chrome Remote Desktop and Parsec. Both work pretty well overall, had no issues thus far. Parsec is more intended for game streaming, but I used it to edit a complete video project in Premiere Pro remotely from my laptop, so if you want decent responsiveness, go for that. But you'll have to try it out either way to check if it's suitable for you, so why the hesitancy? They're free after all.

 

As for movies and music, install Plex (or Jellyfin, if you want to go open source) on your server and use their respective client or website to stream your media. Works infinitely better than using a remote desktop tool, even ones intended for gaming.

[HesCalledTheStig]

8 hours ago, Avocado Diaboli said:

Regarding remote desktop apps, I personally have been mostly using Chrome Remote Desktop and Parsec. Both work pretty well overall, had no issues thus far. Parsec is more intended for game streaming, but I used it to edit a complete video project in Premiere Pro remotely from my laptop, so if you want decent responsiveness, go for that. But you'll have to try it out either way to check if it's suitable for you, so why the hesitancy? They're free after all.

 

As for movies and music, install Plex (or Jellyfin, if you want to go open source) on your server and use their respective client or website to stream your media. Works infinitely better than using a remote desktop tool, even ones intended for gaming.

Thanks!  This is what I was looking for.  I hate downloading software without having SOME kind of idea how well it works.  I'd rather hear from people that have used it personally.  I'm gonna try out Parsec I think.  Does it allow you to move files around remotely?  I'm actually trying to clean up a mess of files that I have dumped on my server over the past 5 years (I'm so disorganized and trying to fix that).  Lots to delete and to put into more organized folders.

 

I've been considering a Plex server for ages but I haven't because for some reason I think its going to be complicated and my time is pretty well accounted for at the moment (work, schooling and 2 teenagers at home).  Is it pretty straight forward to setup and configure?

[Avocado Diaboli]

3 hours ago, HesCalledTheStig said:

Thanks!  This is what I was looking for.  I hate downloading software without having SOME kind of idea how well it works.  I'd rather hear from people that have used it personally.  I'm gonna try out Parsec I think.  Does it allow you to move files around remotely?  I'm actually trying to clean up a mess of files that I have dumped on my server over the past 5 years (I'm so disorganized and trying to fix that).  Lots to delete and to put into more organized folders.

It's literally just a remote desktop software, so you see your own desktop through a window and you interact with it as if you were sitting at your home computer. You can also full screen it and make it near indistinguishable from working at your home computer, save for a few video compression artifacts, depending on your connection.

 

4 hours ago, HesCalledTheStig said:

I've been considering a Plex server for ages but I haven't because for some reason I think its going to be complicated and my time is pretty well accounted for at the moment (work, schooling and 2 teenagers at home).  Is it pretty straight forward to setup and configure?

On a Windows machine it shouldn't be that much of a hassle. You can just install the server and add your media folders to be divided up by category. The most labor intensive part is making sure all your files and folders are named correctly according to their naming convention for movies and TV shows. But since you've said you want to use a remote desktop app to sort your files and clean them up, you can do that at the same time. Just make sure to enable remote access on the Plex server so you can access your media everywhere online.

[corrado33]

21 hours ago, HesCalledTheStig said:

I'm looking for a program that will allow me to log into my home server from my laptop while I am at work.  I work overnights and have A LOT of down time and it would be nice to be able to access my home server to have access to my files remotely.  Ideally Id like to be able to move files around and open files such as movies and music from my laptop.  I had been using Logmein but for some reason it has gotten extremely laggy and unusable.   A free software is preferred or something fairly inexpensive that has a trial period so I can check it out before purchasing.  Any suggestions?

I have tried to use various remote desktop programs throughout the years. Honestly? Chrome remote desktop is the best. You never have to worry about opening ports or dynamic DNS or anything like that, you just have to have access to chrome where you can be signed in and install chrome apps through the chrome web store. I'm pretty sure you can use a USB with portableapps for this. Chrome remote desktop just.... works.