Developer(s) Remote Utilities LLC | License Freeware and Shareware | |
Stable release 6.5.0.8 / 12 December 2016; 3 months ago (2016-12-12) Operating system Type Remote desktop software Website www.remoteutilities.com | ||
Remote Utilities is a remote desktop software for Microsoft Windows that provides remote access from one PC to another PC over a LAN or via the Internet. The program utilizes the Client-server model and consists of two components: the Host that is installed on the remote PC and the Viewer that is installed on the local PC. To access the remote PC, the user needs to know the IP address or the Internet ID of the remote PC, as well as the access password.
Contents
Connection modes
Remote Utilities has the following connection modes:
The Internet ID
The Internet ID refers to the following:
This Internet ID technology support has been available in Remote Utilities, starting with version 5.0.
The Agent module
The Agent module is a stand-alone program executable that runs without installation and administrative privileges. This module has been available in Remote Utilities, starting version 5.1.
Remote Utilities Server
Remote Utilities Server is a separate free program made available with the release of Remote Utilities 5.1. initially called Gateway Mediation Server (GMS). RU Server replicates the functionality of the company's global intermediary server and allows firewalls and NAT services to be bypassed when establishing a remote connection. The program runs as a service, the Administrator's console is used to connect to the service for administration and maintenance.
In addition to its role as an intermediary, starting version 6.0 RU Server can also act as a sync server that enables synchronization of the address book - a list of remote computers - among multiple clients.
The most recent version of RU Server as of March 28, 2015 is version 2.2.
Version history
Remote Utilities was previously known as Remote Office Manager and was available for download and use from 2004 until early 2010. The current name, Remote Utilities, was given to version 4.3 in mid-2010 as part of a rebranding effort. After version 4.3, there was version 5.0, a major update and version 5.0.1, a minor update. On 27 April 2012 there was a minor update 5.2 which included many new features, a free edition, and an updated licensing model.
In version 6.0 released December 14, 2014 a full-fledged synchronization of the address book through RU Server was introduced. In version 6.1 the registration system was updated - instead of registering remote modules the user only needs to enter their license key in the client module (Viewer).
The most recent version, as of June 18, 2015, is Remote Utilities 6.3.0.4.
Free edition
Remote Utilities is available at no cost for personal and business use on up to 10 remote PCs.
Other operating systems support
As of June 20, 2015 Remote Utilities supports Windows, iOS (Viewer only), Android (Viewer only) and Linux through Wine.
Remote installation and deployment
The Host is remotely installed using the built-in MSI configuration utility. The utility is launched from the Viewer and different parameters can be set for a generated MSI installer file. The file is then distributed to a Microsoft Windows network using Active Directory policies.
Security
When encrypting traffic between local and remote PCs, Remote Utilities employs existing security algorithms and standards: 2048-bit RSA and 256-bit AES keys.
Licensing
Remote Utilities offers two licensing models: "Per operator" and "Per remote PC". The free license is a variation of the "per remote PC" license with the number of remote PCs set to 10.