Home Forums Remote Desktop vs Log Me In or other programs

I have noted here that many people use LogMeIn or similar programs to remote into their server(s) and/or desktops to access AC. Are there any advantages to using one of these programs over Windows Remote Desktop? All of our doc and staff use this method to remote in from our satellite office(s) without any problems. What would be the benefits of adding a UI layer like LogMeIn or similar for our group?

Best,

James P. Clayton, M.D.
www.redhookfamilypractice.com
US Virgin Islands

This likely does not apply, but LogMeIn does not work if you are using an internet connection with long latency, like a satellite connection. I have to use Timbuktu to be able to access under those conditions.

LogMeIn works on PCs, Macs, as well as iPhones & Android phones. Windows Remote Desktop works only on PCs and some Macs, with the Mac client installed. Also, LogMeIn can control a remote desktop that is unattended.

Agreed that LogMeIn is superb and can be used with every possible machine. I do have satellite internet and it works occasionally but the long latency does make it painful and sometimes completely unusable. If all you have are Windows machines everywhere, Remote Desktop works great.

LogMeIn vs RDP. Tough decision. LMI is probably a little more secure. It uses SSL/TSL. On the other hand it also uses a 3rd party service to set up the connection.

With LMI, you HAVE to remember to blank the screen and lock the mouse/kb or anyone in your office at the time will have access to your computer.

RDP "may" be a little faster and certainly is faster to log in with. LMI can be just as fast, but only if you purchase the LogMeIn Ignition. The big problem with RDP, unlike LMI, is that while LMI does not open holes in your firewall, RDP must open a port. You are much better off if you change the port as any hacker will know that your RDP is, by default, on 3389. So, your passwords are all that keep them off your network.

I personally like RDP as it is faster to log in for free.

As far as passwords, this is the perfect example of why YOU should set the passwords for your staff, and they should be impossible to guess. No pets, date of births, kids' names, etc.

And, there are apps for RDP now for at least Androids. My guess is there are apps for iPhones as well.

How in the hell does GoToMyPC stay in business?

Or, maybe the better question is how does LogMeIn stay in business?

As far as THE most secure for those using SBS, Remote Web Workplace is by far the most secure. It also allows whoever is your IT person to set it up best for security and your users.

I use Remote desktop (Windows XPP) and it works great.
I have an extra password set up in the router by my IT guy as added protection
So far no problems.
Grenville

Hi Bert, just double checking on statement above to see if I read it correctly. In my version of Logmein, there are a couple checkboxes one the Logmein control panel to either "Blank Screen" and/or "Lock Keyboard". Once set, they stay set. I primarily use these settings to ensure privacy and or prevent access if I'm making changes to the computer. There also is a timer activity setting where Logmein can lock the screen or disconnect when not active.

Eric,

Your statements are completely correct. And, yes, you did read my statement correctly. While the settings can be set indefinitely, you still must set them, and there are people who do "forget" to set them.

Thanks for the clarification, though.

Remote desktop DOES work on the iPhone. And the latest update has a little tiny green dot that appears on the first time you tap the screen so that you can improve your aim when you double tap to close a chart and so forth. Very cool like one of those laser sights! (Yikes!!)

Hello All,

My next experiment is on iPad. I am installing VPN app on iPad. I found an app Jump Desktop (costs $15) that works fine but I still have to do some more testing with AC. I guess AC is coming up with a version compatible with iPad. But until then I will try with AC 5.0.

Sachin
Sr. Software Consultant
Orlando, FL

Not very computer savvy (as Bert would attest) but would share my experience. Had problems using logmein, seems that every time there was an upgrade I lost my connectivity. Frustrated, I enrolled in gotomypc. Worked without issue on my remote PC's but MAC was an issue until the last 3 month. Their latest for mac version is clean and smooth, working flawlessly with my powerbook G4 as well as the iMAC and Macbook Pro. Can't speak for "remote desktop."

I also like Remote Desktop better than LogMeIn. I think RD is quite a bit faster than LogMeIn. Also, I have read that if you alter RD's properties (at least in XP that is) (which I haven't done yet but I soon will), you can have an unlimited number ? of multiple remote users on your main computer at the same time and all of you can use AC if you want (all you have to do is allow the AC folder to be shared and I believe all of the user accounts have to be Admin accounts but I could be wrong about that - if anyone knows better, please advise all of us). So, if you just make a few things on your main computer, you can treat your regular computer like it's a server and it's all free. But, just in case the alteration to RD doesn't work, I will try LogMeIn Hamachi. It's supposed to allow multiple users and maybe it work as well as RD.

Wayne

Wayne,

It is possible to alter the registry to allow multiple connections to a single XP Pro computer. It has nothing to do with admin accounts as you would be connecting remotely. It is fairly complex and not advisable.

I still fair to see why you don't see the obvious, easy and quick solution to your problem. If you had 100 users all 100 users could log onto AC at the same time.

User 1 uses Computer 1
User 2 uses Computer 2
User 3 uses Computer 3
and so on...

Now just like if you are at the office, all the users can access AC at the same time, so...

why is it difficult to install LogMeIn on each computer so that User 1 can log in to computer 1 and use AC, and User 2 can log in to computer 2 and use AC.

And, as to above. The AC folder on the "main computer" has to be shared anyway for the network in the office.

If you really are hell bent on logging into the main computer with multiple users, then get a server using Windows Server 2003 and above and its extremely more robust terminal services will allow you to do this.

I simply fail to see why you choose to to do it this way. As stated, using some third party methods such as VNC or complicated workarounds XP can be accessed directly by more than one user. It is not, however, recommended by most experts. Just install LogMeIn on each person's computer that needs to log in and let them access AC on that particular computer.

Wwpp,

Since you are using XP Pro and allowing multiple users to access AC database, over the period of time expect some database problems.

It is related with database pointer issues. I do not want to go deep into database architecture and data structures and how it is interacting with Operating System. In my opinion XP Pro is not robust enough to handle multiple users accessing the database at the same time.

In my office I am using Windows 2003 server OS. In future, as the practice grows I can easily add multiple users and they will be able to access the AC database simultaneously (remotely). This is done to avoid any database corruption. You can still use XP Pro one user at a time. When database gets corrupted, to fix it is a monstrous job, been there done that.

The best solution is described by Bert in the above post.
Thanks.

Sachin
Sr Software Engineer
Lean Six Sigma Black Belt

database corruption?
I'm not sure I could handle that too well

If it does happen, does it usually happen quickly so it is noticeable and hopefully a recent backup can fix?... or what?

1. Windows XP Pro can be configured by changing a termsvr.dll file in system32 folder to allow up to 3 concurrent users.
2. In order to do this, you must configure three different user accounts.
3. Database corruption almost always happens quickly and, if not noticed, backups can leave gaps in the coverage.
4. Not to be condescending, but if Wayne has to ask all these questions, then I don't think he should attempt it.
5. If he is hell bent on doing this way, then buy a server and buy Windows Server 2008 and do it the right way.
6. Otherwise have everyone in the practice: nurses, doctors, receptionist, etc. stare at their computers. Have them install LogMeIn or RDP or GoToMyPC or VNC. Then stare at the name of the computer. That will be their computer. When they get home, go to LogMeIn.com and download the software to attach. When they log into their computer, they will be looking at the same computer they use and that they stared into remembering the name. Log into that computer (the admin, wwpp, can give them only log in rights to that computer)
At this point the image of their computer will be on their screen. They can now do anything they normally can when at the office:

-- play Solitaire
-- use the browser
-- browse to the server
-- OPEN AMAZING CHARTS and use it the way it was intended
-- write a letter, etc.

I hate to sound condescending, but I fail to understand why this is so difficult.

Sachin is 100% correct. Why mess with screwing it up. There was a guy on here named Paul who for weeks kept asking how to VNC, VPN, RDP, etc. into the server. Finally, he acquiesced and used LogMeIn to each client.

If you have a bet with a fellow physician that you can have multiple connections to XP, then I will be glad to show you how to do it. But, I will not be responsible for any issues with the computer or SQL. LogMeIn is so much easier.

Richard (rsag),

The database will not get corrupted if you use AC the way it is supposed to be. That is if you are not changing registry of Operating systems. I guess you are not changing it.

The SQL database is robust enough if it is used the way it should be. An example of database corruption is, if two users accessing a patient record from the same computer at the same time (remotely) as described in the earlier posts. Where the record gets locked by the two users indefinitely and no one can access it.
What we call in the software development world is 'Unethical way of software implementation or development'. To fix this kind of DB corruption you need to get help from an SQL DBA (Database Administrator) which is not free (Hourly rate + travel expenses).

I guess, Richard you are safe.
Thanks.

Sachin
Sr. Software Engr
LSSBB

I don't really know why anyone would want to use the AC EMR database in any other way than it was intended to be used. This software is mission critical for my office. Without it we are sunk. I do not dare mess around w/ the database or try to have multiple people logged into the same computer at once. I don't see why some users are not content with simply keeping the AC database on one "main computer" in their peer to peer, or on their "server." And having each user on the own computer simply pointing to the database on the "main computer" or "server."

I'm glad some people are comfortable using it in ways it was never intended. But I would agree w/ Bert that if a user is asking questions on how to implement or develop the software "unethically" as Sachin put it, that user should not be messing around with it. Terrible corruptions are likely to occur to their mission critical data.

This whole idea scares me, and I would not dare mess with it to this degree.

I have read this series of posts and cannot figure out what someone wants. Logmein works great and you can even use the free version if you don't want to print (and I log in from the hospital and do orders, scrips,etc and fax to hospital fax).

Thank you all for this info. It helped me realize that the simplest approach is the best approach! Onto setting up remote administration on my SBS 2008. Logmein it be!

Awesome accessing my desktop from my Iphone!

Wow, bert was this to me???? sorry, i was trolling here (on a Friday night. what an exciting life i now have) and saw this message. But anyway, I dont know the answer. I'm not too tech proficient nowadays.

Not sure. I don't think so. I can't remember anymore. I believe it was to a wwpp who is also Wayne.

Bert, your vision works in some cases...but in others, it's not practical. In some offices, there is no "office computer" -- the same laptop that connect to the AC database at the office during the day is the machine that goes home with the doctor at night. Without some sort of terminal services, there is no corresponding machine back at the office to log on to.

I would put that another way. First, I don't know why you would call it a "vision." I am simply explaing to the author of the question (or the one who wants users to be able to log in to the AC database from home).

You are correct that users would not be able to log into the office to connect to the AC database if the AC database were removed. In that case, the owner of the practice has decided to not allow it by taking home the database. If one wants to be able to log into AC from home, then the network needs to stay intact. That means purchasing a computer that would stay at the office. It is his or her choice. I am not sure how terminal services is going to help. XP machines already have terminal services, hence the ability to log in with RDP.

Users that wished to access AC would have to log into the database. So, in this case they would have to log into the laptop at home.

I think the owner would have to make one of two choices. Leave the computer at work that contains the databases (which is also less fraught with errors and security issues) or bring it home and break the network.

Being that connecting to AC is a little shakey to begin with, that adds another bit of complexity to the issue, not to mention what would happen if the person taking home the databases went home.

If a Terminal Server were used, this works best where a TS is connected to a central server in a host office and remote users log into it and use AC. I don't see how it would be efficient connecting a TS via Internet to a central server.

As an FYI, given my post was in December and your post is in April, it is helpful to quote my statements that you are referring to. There are also three others with the same sentiments above.

Thanks.