Brokered Remote Access and Control Software
Brokered Remote Access and Control Software can function without relying on additional tools such as VPNs or port forwarding, even behind firewalls or NATs.
Remote administration refers to any method of controlling a computer or other Internet-connected device, such as a smartphone, from a remote location. Remote administration is often used when it's difficult or impractical to be physically near a system in order to use it or troubleshoot it. Many server administrators also use remote administration to control the servers around the world at remote locations.
A special class of Remote Access and Control Software is Brokered Remote Access and Control Software. RustDesk and TeamViewer are two examples of remote access and control software. However, unlike RealVNC and other remote access and control software, RustDesk and TeamViewer do not require the user configure port forwarding in their network router nor is a VPN connection between remote systems necessary when using this tool over the Internet. Brokered Remote Access and Control Software works by leveraging a third-party server to facilitate the connection.
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How it Works
Both the controlling system (client) and the remote system (host) initiate outbound connections to a third-party broker server over the internet. These connections typically bypass NAT (Network Address Translation) and firewalls without requiring manual port forwarding. The broker server acts as an intermediary by doing the work of authentication typically involving unique IDs, keys, or some other secure credentials. Then a P2P connection is either established or the broker server relays traffic between the controlling system and the remote system.
Example Brokered Remote Access and Control Software
This is not an exhaustive list.
TeamViewer
A proprietary software first released in 2005, making it one of the first examples of brokered RA software. TeamViewer requires registration and is free of charge for non-commercial use. TeamViewer is available for most desktop computers with common operating systems, including Microsoft Windows and Windows Server, as well as Apple's macOS. There are also packages for several Linux distributions and derivatives. The core of TeamViewer is remote access to computers and other endpoints as well as their control and maintenance.
RustDesk
An Open-Source (mostly) software for remote access and remote control. It is primarily written in Rust, and enables remote maintenance of computers and other devices. Since version 1.2.0 in 2023, RustDesk is based on Flutter, replacing the proprietary Sciter UI runtime library.
AnyDesk
A proprietary software program that provides platform-independent remote access to personal computers and other devices running the host application. It offers remote control, file transfer, and VPN functionality. AnyDesk is often used for remote technical support.
