Re: [tlug] VNC, secure or better options?

[Christian Horn <chorn@example.com>]

On Mon, Jun 30, 2008 at 12:26:32AM +0900, Dave M G wrote:
> 
> 1. The VNC server on the Mythbuntu machine is on all the time. It is 
> password protected, and also I set the Firewall (with Firestarter) up to 
> only accept connections from the local IP address range. Is that good 
> enough for security? I've heard people say that VNC is not very secure.

Sounds reasonable to me when the connection happens only acress the
LAN. A common way to secure services is using the port-forwarding 
feature of ssh. This can also compress the networktraffic.


> 2. Since I'm accessing it over the local network, I'm wondering if VNC 
> is the best route. I'm wondering because it is kind of slow. When I call 
> up Amarok, it can make it a bit annoying as far as navigating around the 
> interface. Is there a better option than VNC for accessing computers in 
> a local network, or a way of optimizing VNC?

You use a LAN, i dont think VNC-optimizations like reducing colours will
make it faster for you. 
Maybe you should test your lan so latency and bandwidth are within decent 
ranges.
On low latency/bandwith networks other applications like nomachine
could work better than vnc.

On application level i use ampache with the localplay module to remotely
control a musicplayer, its controlled with a webbrowser. Not easy to
setup thou.


Christian