RemotelyAnywhere is a remote administration program for Windows computers. Administrators install it only on the machine they will manage. They can then control that computer, move files to and from it, check its health and change its configuration. These functions work over a local network or the internet. It is aimed at system administrators who prefer an on-premises tool to a cloud service. It is commercial software sold per license, with a 30-day trial.
How the host is reached
The installed host listens on its own network port, port 2000 unless a different one is chosen. An administrator connects to it by machine name or IP address plus that port. A host behind a router needs that port forwarded from the router’s external address. For a home or office line whose IP address changes, RemotelyAnywhere can work with a dynamic DNS name or send an email when the address changes.
Two client routes exist. The original browser interface opens the host’s main menu in a web page. On current Windows versions, it depends on Internet Explorer compatibility. The Network Console, a separate desktop application on the administrator’s PC, is the recommended client. Remote control, the file manager, chat, the command prompt and the performance viewer are available in full only through it. Network Console also lists the computers an administrator looks after and can deploy RemotelyAnywhere to many machines over the network.
Remote control and file transfer
A remote control session starts from the Computers list or the host’s main menu. After authenticating, the administrator sees the host desktop with a toolbar. The administrator can work with mouse and keyboard as if seated at the machine. Under the toolbar’s color quality option, an HD mode lowers latency and adjusts resolution automatically. This helps when video or audio plays on the host.
Remote printing sends a print job started on the host to a printer attached to the administrator’s own computer. The file manager transfers files and folders between the two machines. RemotelyAnywhere also offers background access. Administrators can perform many administrative tasks without taking over the screen and interrupting the person using the computer.
Dashboard view of a computer
The RemotelyAnywhere Dashboard gathers a single host’s status on one page. It shows the operating system, the installed CPU, memory use, the last boot time and the logged-in user. Other panels cover network traffic on a chosen adapter, recent entries from the Application, Security and System event logs, and disk usage. They also show the processes using the most CPU, recently run scheduled tasks, recent RemotelyAnywhere connections and installed Windows updates.
Clicking a section heading or an individual event, process or drive opens its detail view. Sections can be rearranged, minimized or maximized. A journal lets administrators leave time-stamped notes on the machine, for example why a remote session took place.
SSH and Telnet servers
RemotelyAnywhere can run its own Telnet and SSH servers on the host, giving a text-based command line session. The Telnet server sets port, connection limits, idle timeouts and a recovery window. This window lets a user reconnect to a dropped session with its programs still running.
The SSH server supports SSH1, SSH2 or both, with password, keyboard-interactive or public key login. It handles secure file transfer through SFTP and SCP, where path mapping can expose chosen folders under virtual paths. Port forwarding can be on, off or limited to a per-user list of allowed host and port targets. Host keys can be regenerated and exported so a terminal client can recognize the machine.
Monitoring scripts and alerts
Under Scheduling & Alerts, RemotelyAnywhere watches the host through monitoring scripts made of conditions and actions. A condition can test free disk space, sustained processor or memory load, or bandwidth use on a network adapter. It can also test whether a TCP/IP service on a given port answers as expected. When a condition is met, the action writes to the RemotelyAnywhere log, sends an email, pops up an administrative message, or runs a program or batch file. Alert text can include live values such as the computer name or remaining disk space.
For checks beyond these built-in conditions, administrators write scripts in PAWN, a small scripting language. The scripting section includes templates for common jobs that administrators can adapt to a particular network.
Permissions and login security
By default, accounts with Windows administrator rights on the host can log in to RemotelyAnywhere. Other users get access through the Access Control settings, where each user receives read, write and delete rights for separate areas. These include remote control, the file system, the registry, processes, the event viewer, reboot, chat, user accounts, SSH and Telnet. An IP filter can limit the addresses a user connects from. Removing the Login right blocks someone without losing their other settings.
RemotelyAnywhere checks logins against the host’s Windows user accounts. It can reuse the current Windows credentials through NTLM or add RSA SecurID. Connections can use SSL encryption. Additional server tools include a configurable FTP server, ODBC logging to SQL Server databases, certificate management and MSI-based configuration for mass deployment.
