|
NetMeeting for Remote Assistence
Windows Internet Explorer contains
NetMeeting, allowing to chat and to view a common
application. Although used by most people for meetings via a
network (to avoid travel),
NetMeeting can also be used to give support, to give "Remote
Assistance".
Lets name the system needing support ("Assistance") the
"Novice" and the system
giving help /
support the "Expert" ( when both systems are based on Windows XP, then you
can use the new
"Remote
Assistance", making it easier to
invite an "expert" and giving the "novice"
better security):

Such a connection to give assistance is possible via any
connection, which supports TCP/IP :
- local area network (LAN )
- Wide area network (WAN)
- dial-in via Modem
- via the Internet
Once the "Expert" has connected to the
"Novice" system, he can see on his screen the desktop
of
the "Novice", he is also (if allowed by the
"Novice") take control and use the mouse and keyboard
on his "Expert" system to control the
"Novice" system :

NetMeeting can be used in 2 different modes to
access a system :
- |
configure the "Novice" explicitly as
"Remote Desktop",
allowing the "expert" to connect
to the "Novice" without any confirmation action
of the "novice". |
- |
use NetMeeting in the
"conference" mode, requiring the
"novice" to accept the incoming
connection of the "Expert", see below. |
Introduction
First time use :
Changing configuration
values
Making a Call to join a
meeting ( to give help / support )
Hosting a meeting ( get
help /support)
Take control from a
remote system
NetMeeting and
Firewalls
Introduction
NetMeeting is installed as part of the Microsoft
Internet Explorer. It is usually started up via the
Windows-start menu : "Programs"
/ "Accessories" / "Communications"
/ "NetMeeting" :

( If you have problems locating this in the menu
of your systems (which I had on XP, where I could not find it ),
you can also start it directly from "C:\Program
Files\NetMeeting" by starting "CONF.EXE"
)


First Time Use :
When using NetMeeting the first time, you are
asked to enter some selections .
You can always change
them later.
 |
On first time usage, NetMeeting will prompt
you to enter some personal information
and to define the connection parameters.
On the first screen, it just summarizes the
features of NetMeeting:
- Talk to others
- Use Video to see others....
- share applications and documents
- collaborate with others
- send files to others
- draw with others in a shared Whiteboard
- send messages to others in Chat
just "Next" |
 |
"Enter information about yourself"
- name
- e-mail address
- location
then "Next" |
 |
"A directory server lists people you can
call"
If you like to use the Microsoft Directory
server, go ahead, but then you need to be
connected to the Internet when making
connections, even if you like to use
NetMeeting only on a LAN or WAN.
I suggest to UN-CHECK the
"Log on to a directory server" and
to connect later via TCP/IP addresses. |
 |
NetMeeting needs to know the speed
of the connection network to be determine,
how often it can send updates to the
participants of the meeting.
if used on a WAN, which most often
connects locations with 64 K bit lines,
please select "28800 bps or faster modem" |
 |
You can place an icon for NetMeeting on
the desktop.
There will be a few more screen to calibrate
the sound-card and microphone.
if you do not need it, skip them with "Next". |
 |
NetMeeting is Ready:
- change Settings
- make a call to
join a meeting / to
give Help/Support
- host a meeting /
get Help/Support |
Changing
Configuration values :
 |
If you need to change one
of the
settings, select from the menu :
"Tools" : "Options" |
 |
Here you can adjust all configuration
values |
Making a Call to
join a meeting ( to give help/support )
 |
To "Place a
Call" to join a meeting,
or to give Help / Support, select
the button "Place Phone" |
 |
"Place A Call"
:
Since I am not using a Directory Server,
I need to handle myself the addressing
by entering the TCP/IP-network address
of the system hosting the NetMeeting
session. |
 |
You will now have to wait, because
(like with a
phone call), it is "ringing"
on the system hosting
the NetMeeting session, and somebody at that
system has to accept the connection
("pick up the call") |
 |
You will see the list of
people in
the meeting.
you will also see on your screen
all windows, which have been
shared, usually by the meeting host
( see an example in the Hosting section ,
allowing you for example to give Support ).
to terminate the connection, "hang up"
by using the button "End Call". |
Hosting a meeting
( to get help/support )
 |
To host a meeting or to
be able to get help,
select from the menu:
"Call" to "Host
Meeting" |
 |
window : "Host a
Meeting"
You can give your meeting a "Name".
You can define additional option,
on whether only you will be able
to accept new incoming calls and
whether only the host can share
Applications.
(see below). |
When other people connect to join the meeting,
a message box will pop-up:

You need to "accept"
the call.
 |
To "share"
a window or program,
to have it also displayed on the screen
of the other meeting participants, select
the button "Share Program" |
 |
Select
from the list the
program/window to be "shared":
to be displayed on the other
systems of the meeting.
You can share an application,
like a document or a graphic program,
or you can share your Desktop
(allowing others to give you support).
Step 1: select the item to share
Step 2: click on "Share" |
 |
once the desktop or an application has
been shared (indicated by the check-mark
in front of the name in the list ), you can
define , whether the other participants to the
meeting can only view it or whether they can
take control and then use their mouse and
keyboard to control it.
Step 3 (optional) : click on "Allow
Control" |
 |
Once the desktop or an application has
been
shared and the "Control" has been defined:
Step 4 : Close the Window |
Once a window has been shared, the other
participants of the meeting will get it as an additional
window on their desktop :

In this example :
- window on the right : the copy of NetMeeting running on the
system.
- window on the left "Test system's desktop - controlled
by..." is the desktop of the other
system, displaying the copy of NetMeeting running on that system
Taking Control
from a Remote System :
 |
When you move the cursor on the remote
system into a
shared window, the cursor will change , as shown on the
left , to indicate that it can not be used to control the
program.
|
 |
To take control, double-click
in the remote window.
The system running the window will be informed about
the request to take control and has to "accept"
this.
|
Once a remote "expert" has control
over the desktop of a "Novice" system, the
"expert" can
use check the system for problems, checking:
- Control-Panel
- Device-Manager
- Event Log
- ...........

Use of NetMeeting via Firewalls
:
When using NetMeeting to establish a connection , which goes
through a firewall, it will most
probably be required to configure the firewall to allow the TCP/IP-ports used by NetMeeting
to pass through the firewall : list of ports used
by NetMeeting.
(more information on ports used by
NetMeeting : Knowledge base article Q158623).
|