I need a very simple method for non-advanced users to share each other’s screen explicitly when they need help. They’re running XFCE on Manjaro and the machines involved are using Tailscale. Edit: SSH access is also available, with key authentication.

I need something super simple because they are remote from me and from each other and any graphical setup will have to be assisted sight-unseen over phone. So ideally just (1) install something (which I can do for them over SSH), (2) pick something from the Applications menu and maybe (3) press a big “START” button.

It’s also ok-ish if the remote capability is present all the time and I can connect without their explicit permission, but you can see why it would be best if they did something to enable it…

I’ve been looking for a solution but all I find is stuff that’s way too complicated OR starts a new desktop session instead of showing the current one.

Edited: to clarify I’m not the one who will be remoting-in and to mention SSH is available.

TIA

  • lemmyvoreOPEnglish
    3•1 year ago

    Rustdesk looks almost perfect, unfortunately they mandate using a complex password and the people who would be using this have trouble typing complex passwords. And complex passwords would not be necessary anyway with direct IP connection over Tailscale. Looks like they don’t intend to relax these requirements. Such a pity. 🙁

    • @[email protected]
      2•1 year ago

      You can set permanent passwords, that you can define yourself. Something like “Password1” shouldn’t be too hard for most people.

      EDIT: Also, now that I think about it, in your use case you would be the one entering the password. So your comment makes no sense…

      • lemmyvoreOPEnglish
        3•1 year ago

        I’m not the one that will be using either end and I’m also not on location with either machine.

        Further arguments against such arbitrary requirements have already been made by others in the discussion attached to the bug report so I won’t rehash them here.

        • @Locrin
          3•1 year ago

          RustDesk looks extremely user friendly and simple. If this is beyond the targeted users consider that this task may be beyond their capabilities.

      • PeutMieuxFaire
        1•1 year ago

        Yup: write down the password when you set up the software and feed it to your “own” RustDesk on your computer.
        Although I recently had a case where the password on the remote machine seemed to have changed by its own, but it could be me or the machine owner who did something funny without noticing.

    • @[email protected]
      2•1 year ago

      You can make simple password and you can also save the password so no need to retype. Anydesk can also be used with no password, the other side have to press accept. Probably rustdesk can do that as well, but didnt try

      • lemmyvoreOPEnglish
        1•1 year ago

        That would have been very helpful but no, it doesn’t support that.

        And another issue is that it doesn’t let you enter the Tailscale machine name for the remote end, it thinks it’s one of its own IDs and gets confused. You can work around this by entering the Tailscale IP address but those can change.

    • @JonnyRobbieEnglish
      1•1 year ago

      I have to be honest - its a foss software, so make use of the fact that its a foss.