The Ultimate Free Network Applications, Period
Posted 11/10/08 at 12:44:00 PM by David Murphy
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With just five applications--five, free applications--you can do anything you ever wanted to do across a network connection. We're serious. Using these applications, you can bridge your computers together from anywhere in the world across a secure, hacker-proof connection. From there, you can dial into your desktop as if you were sitting right in front of it, looking at the exact screen you'd be seeing were your butt in the groove of your favorite office chair. If you're a hardcore network enthusiast, we'll even show you how to tab-browse through multiple, connected desktops as if you were pulling them up in Firefox or something.
LogMeIn Hamachi
What it does: We really hate recommending LogMeIn Hamachi all the time. It just feels like we're using the same ol' program every time we run any large networking story. But try as we have to find a better alternative to LogMeIn Hamachi, there simply is no better way to connect two computers over the Internet, hassle-free. Rather than having to fool with managing a computer's internal IP address, external IP address, port permissions, and what-have-you, Hamachi turns this headache-inducing networking configuration into a one-button step. Fire up the program, create a group for your connected devices, and run LogMeIn Hamachi on any of the computers. The program sets up a secure tunnel between your connections, giving each device its own, unchanging IP address. You can then connect to your other desktops for any number of purposes, be they the programs listed below, LAN gaming, or anything. LogMeIn Hamachi is the ultimate networking foundation.
Download it here!
UltraVNC
What it does: Although we strongly recommend you use the previous program to set up your network before firing up UltraVNC, you can use this awesome networking application to connect to any computer with an IP address. Once connected, you're looking and interacting with the computer's desktop as if you were sitting right in front of it. You can also establish file transfers, chat with whoever it is might be sitting at the terminal, and utilize a variety of compression mechanisms to maximize your session's performance regardless of what speed of connection you're using. A number of "VNC" varieties exist on the Interweb, but we have found the most success (and usefulness) with UltraVNC.
Download it here!
Terminals
What it does: So you liked UltraVNC, but you have more than one computer you're planning on connecting to at once? No need to fire up a bunch of UltraVNC sessions--not when you have terminals, that is. This is the tabbed browsing program we mentioned previously. It's a great way for the hardcore network enthusiast to manage multiple networked screens at once, and it comes with a bunch of system administrator network tools built into the application for easy access. You never know when you might need a Trace Route...
Download it here!
Live Mesh
What it does: Live Mesh lets you pull off the same remote desktop features as Terminals and UltraVNC, but the true strength of this application lies in its powerful synchronization features. You create a mesh, which is a grouping of computers and users who all receive special access to a batch of files. To create this batch, you assign folders on your computer to serve as Mesh Folders--anything placed in them gets synchronized to the devices in your Mesh. It's a great way for keeping your files and folders organized across multiple devices--even better if you and your friends like to share a hot batch of jams amongst each other.
Download it here!
Advanced IP Scanner
The name of this application should give away its features, but there's more to this helpful program than you might think. Not only will it scan through a class of IP addresses and tell you details about all the computers it sees, but it lets you perform simple--but powerful--commands on the network devices you find. Throw them wake-on-LAN commands, shut them down remotely, and connect to the computers (via Radmin) at the touch of a button. If you're running a large network of PCs, put this program on your "to-install" list immediately.
Download it here!
Use any programs we missed? Leave a note in the comments and we'll recognize your contributions in a future post!
Communication
Submitted by coyotetechy on Sun, 07/19/2009 - 8:44pm
Hey Everyone,
One thing I saw missing from this list is a great little piece of software called Qnext. It is the swiss army knife of communication tools, using direct connections between computers encrypted with a 128-bit encrypted logon and 192-bit encrypted services using SSL. The services include remote desktop through a web browser similar to any good VNC client, streaming music and videos, sharing photos, games, sending emails, 8-way audio conferencing and 4-way video conferencing to name a few. There is also a universal instant messenger that currently supports MSN, AIM, Yahoo, Gtalk, Jabber, ICQ and iChat. It is also available for Windows, Mac and *nix systems and will soon be available on iPhones and Android. Click here to find out more
Submitted by Rog 1976 on Tue, 04/07/2009 - 1:07pm
Hey guys - can anyone speak to this? These links are for free software (who doesn't love that, right?) but what about in terms of enterprise level software? I know my company goes with Proxy Networks for their <a href="http://www.proxynetworks.com">remote access software</a> due to security concerns. Does anyone have any experience with this. I know I would be fired in a minute if I caused our system to get hacked into.
Thoughts? Thanks.
Submitted by Aengus on Fri, 11/14/2008 - 8:19am
I have used free SKYPE for years now to send very large files back and forth between PC, Mac, etc. locally on a lan or to others outside a lan. Love that you can chat voice, text, and send a large file/s all at the same time especially if you are trying to reach your child in another room and don't want to climb upstairs like someone posted. I think it should be listed in the top ten of FREE networking software.
Peace,
Aengus McCallen
RealVNC as another choice
Submitted by brostbeef on Thu, 11/13/2008 - 11:13am
I've always enjoyed RealVNC. I've found it lightweight and fast.
It's not all free, but it's still really good.
Submitted by dethdeks on Tue, 11/11/2008 - 1:10pm
One program that i never seen in the list that works wonders is Team viewer it works same way as all these and also supports file transfers and it is no hassle to run it you just install run then give/get the info you need and your done no port forwarding your router/firewall just for it to connect as long as you have a internet connection it works perfect
can be found at http://teamviewer.com
Submitted by overclock on Tue, 11/11/2008 - 8:06am
A better way to synchronize your files across machines is Dropbox (getdropbox.com) Works with PC/Mac/Linux.
Their free account gives you 2gb. That should be plenty for those Word/Excel documents as well as your DRM free mp3s =).
Submitted by Queenof1 on Mon, 11/10/2008 - 2:15pm
I'm mostly interested in something like "net send" that is compatible with Mac. Many times I do not feel like yelling upstairs to my daughter on her Mac so I would like to use some sort of internal messaging system.
http://www.pidgin.im/ ...but
Submitted by TheMurph on Tue, 11/11/2008 - 2:40pm
http://www.pidgin.im/
...but only if you convince her to add you as a friend! ; )
Submitted by Shalbatana on Mon, 11/10/2008 - 12:43pm
Now just a stupid clarification here, but I'm pretty sure "HAMACHI" isn't free when you account for the subscription fee. What IS free is the "LogMeIn Free" program, which I do not believe caries the "Hamachi" name. Or is there something I'm not seeing. If there is a free "Hamachi", what's the difference between it and the logmein free?
It also will not let you xfer files, which is where VNC comes in.
_______________________________
"There's no time like the future."
Submitted by TheMurph on Tue, 11/11/2008 - 2:39pm
I'm seeing LogMeIn Hamachi and LogMeIn Free as two different programs? The former definitely doesn't have any kind of fee associated with using it if you're using it for non-commercial use:
"If you are using Hamachi for your own, non-commercial use, it's 100% free."
Submitted by vintagegold on Fri, 11/14/2008 - 10:46am
There's a web based service called LogMeIn Free that you can install and use by starting here: www.logmein.com
Like most other VNC style programs, you install the software on the machine you want to control, then access it via the web by going to www.logmein.com. Pretty cool and easy to set up, I use it all the time.
LogMeIn Hamachi is also free, you just have to tell it to run as the free version when you're installing. By default, the installer has the corporate trial radio button selected. Just watch as you install and select the free option instead. I've run it for 2+ years and never had to pay a dime. I actually started using it from a suggestion in a MaxPC article to let me share my iTunes library from my home computer to my work computer. Works like a charm!
They say the best things in life are free, but are all free thing the best?
Submitted by Shalbatana on Wed, 11/26/2008 - 7:34am
OKAY, so they both have (or are) free versions. But I can't seem to distinguish why they would have a logmein free version if Hamachi has a "run as free" option. At that point, the former can't transfer files, and the latter can, but you need to tell it you're not a business?!!! Well, sign me up for the latter and delete the first one off the site
There's got to be some other reason why both free versions exist, especially since the "selling point" of logmein free is "if you buy the full version you get file transfer capability".
Their website has no info on this.
_______________________________
"There's no time like the future."
Submitted by Shalbatana on Wed, 11/26/2008 - 9:27am
Buried in the FAQ is the difference. Free allows for "remote control", whereas Hamachi does not, it just connects the two computers together.
https://secure.logmein.com/products/hamachi/supportkb.asp
It all makes sense now.
_______________________________
"There's no time like the future."
Submitted by YoshiHNS on Mon, 11/10/2008 - 2:34pm
I do remember using LogMeIn Free for transferring some video I shot. Was about a year ago. Worked fine for transferring the file (almost 1gig). People logged into the group I created, started the transfer, and let it run for a day or whatever.
Looked up on their website and they do have it marked for no file sharing or transfers, so I'm not sure anymore. Maybe the current version doesn't allow xfers anymore. Guess i'll have to see if I can still xfer between my laptop and desktop.
Hamachi Game Problems
Submitted by Sovereign on Mon, 11/10/2008 - 11:32am
If you're having problems with games, check out http://forums.hamachi.cc; chances are someone else is trying to play the game you are and you can find a solution.
Hamachi rocks
Submitted by lunchbox73 on Mon, 11/10/2008 - 11:29am
Hamachi + UltraVNC is the greatest combination ever. How else can you surf porn at work without running into those pesky content filters?
I have had a lot of trouble
Submitted by vistageek on Mon, 11/10/2008 - 11:11am
I have had a lot of trouble getting hamachi to work with LAN games. Any suggestions?
By the way, great artical. I use all of these programs.
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