is there a way how to remotely control computer via USB

Question

I am looking for a way to control my other computer (win/linux) remotely (ideally via VNC) via USB or serial - without using network or virtual network. It can be fully software based, hardware based or combined.

Do you know about such solution ?

Solution 1

Yes there are VNC based KVMs that rely on seperate programs to be run, client and server style on the 2 computers, They can fully control the other computer & they could pass file data over USB2 at ~25MB/s they neither conflict nor live on the normal network of the system.

They work similar to the old 9pin type Serial based method, which was terribly slow, then parallel method, using the printer type port which was a bit faster e-bay Link for referance ONLY then USB 1.1 boxes that had built in buffers that would do 1.2MB/s. To todays USB2.0 with buffer boxes, and built in flash ram that hold software. USB lap-link for referance ONLY Sometimes called "lap-link" or "Laplink", and dont forget "Easy Transfer" also exists.

Belkin, and IOgear http://www.iogear.com/solutions/kvm/?view=consoleUSB, and some china discount shops, were the last place that I have seen them. As mentioned some times the software was a separate part of the hardware. I have never seen or needed a Windows <--> linux version. USB-links are harder to find, because the method is not recommended everywhere, It is not wireless, and it doesnt say Gig on it :-) I am not recommending it :-) I just use it.

They can control the other computer, with VNC software, through the cables, on all the ones I used I could transfer files also using software file transfer utilities (propriatary stuff for the hardware). http://www.iogear.com/product/GCS661UW6/ Because they use common VNC software, it might be possible to take a winders one, and get it to work on linux, I have no idea how.

How secure they are anymore with all the interconnections in a system, and the fact that they now use modern well known VNC software , altered some for the usb path they take, i do not know.

I have used that method here through all the above versions and revisions of it. It can have terrible software, it can crash, and the in-between buffer/controller can overheat and breakdown. But I would not have it any other way :-) I have moved multiple terrabytes with them.
I would not recommend it, vrses the great gig net capability, and other better solutions, but it had a few advantages to me.

There is a low chance that a virus can figure out how to spawn itself through it, although the user can easily pass virus filled data around with it.
When the software was turned Off, the connection was off too , and the sharing and the remote was off.
The systems own sharing stuff , server holes and workstation holes , and net holes could be completely disabled, and each of the softwares was able to function without it.
It would have a hard time communicating to, or slowing down the normal web, I am sure it would be possible to get it to run off to the internet :-) it just never did so.
It could be turned off, and it could be disabled without effecting other stuff.
That is the reasons I used it, even though it always had some issues.

Solution 2

A KVM over IP solution would allow you to control the "VPN-PC" from a non-VPN-PC. There are some for sale at http://www.kvm-switches-online.com/kvm-switch-over-ip.html

Comments

[maiklos]

this is exactly what I would like to avoid - using networking over usb/serial

[jdh]

Can you expand your question on how to keep two computers separate without treating them individually, in other words "networked. Why do you need to avoid a "network". Maybe you mean you just want to access the hard drive of the other machine? Otherwise, VNC is based on client-host model of two computers. In this arrangement, the serial ports are the physical connection layer with some network layer on top of that. I don't understand how you intend to use VNC without a network of some kind?

[maiklos]

the situation is for example following: the computer which I want to control is running a VPN client which effectively blocks any other traffic except the traffic directed to VPN. That's why I need to avoid networking layer completely - because it will simply not work. VNC was rather an example. I want to control the computer like with VNC or RDP but it can be something else. No HDD sharing is required.