Screen Sharing between Panther, Leopard and Windows.

Screen Sharing, Apple style. What is Screen Sharing? Screen Sharing is the ability to view, and if necessary, control a remote computer. Why would you want to use screen sharing? Probably the most practical use would be for tech support, where a computer technician can see, and if needed, control a remote computer that is not working properly.

Another reason that might not occur to you, is the ability to monitor your children's activities on the computer to make sure they aren't visiting inappropriate or dangerous sites without looking over their shoulder and without them knowing. If you want to monitor a child's activities, DO NOT give them administrative privileges on ANY computer. Set up yourself as the main user and set up a separate Guest account with a different password for your child (when you make your password, don't use something that can be easily guessed, such as street names, dates of birth, last names, don't repeat, etc.) You'd be surprised how resourceful children can be.

Another use could be on the fly file editing from a remote location (i.e., between work and home). For example, you have a file, presentation, or some other document at work that you want to modify. Of course, you have to make sure that it is set up for screen sharing and turned on. If the computer belongs to the company, you may need to ask for permission.

Mac screen sharing:

OK, Mac OS X Leopard has Screen Sharing built-in. But did you know you can do the same thing between Mac OS X Leopard, Panther, Tiger, and even Windows? Here's how:
For the Panther and Tiger systems, you need to download and install "Chicken of the VNC" (see below for instructions). Open "System Preferences", click on "Sharing", make sure the "Services" tab is selected, click on the checkbox next to "Apple Remote Desktop" to turn it on. If your computer has Apple Remote Desktop Client 2.1, you may have to download Apple Remote Desktop Client 2.2, and then Apple Remote Desktop Client 3.2.

If you're not using Screen Sharing to monitor a child, after you turn on Apple Remote Desktop, click on the button labeled "Access Privileges" and select the options "Observe" and "Control" and "Show when being observed". Below that, check the options "Guests may request permission to control screen" and "VNC viewers may control with password". Then type in a password you want to use into the password field and click "OK".

If you are using it to monitor a child, DO NOT give the kids administrative privileges. Follow the steps outlined above, except after turning on Apple Remote Desktop, uncheck the option "Show status in menu bar", then click "Access Privileges", uncheck everything except "Observe" and "VNC viewers may control with password" (make up a new password). The "VNC viewers may control with password" is so you, the parent, can still control the screen.

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Here's how to download and set up Chicken of the VNC on Panther and Tiger. Go to, http://www.geekspiff.com/software, and click on "Download". It will take you to SourceForge to download the software. Click on the .dmg file to download the program. Once the download completes, a disk image containing the program will open. Drag the program to your Applications folder, then click on "Go" in the Finder menubar, click on Applications, double-click on "Chicken of the VNC". Once it opens, click on "Chicken of the VNC" Menu. Check to see if there is a checkmark next to "Use Bonjour". If it is checked, you are good to go.

Now the window that should appear is the VNC Login window. If it does not appear, click on the menuitem labeled "Connection" and click on "Open Connection...". If the computer that you want to share the screen with appears here, click on the name of the computer and type in the password. If you are not monitoring children, click on the checkboxes that say "Remember Password" and "Allow other clients to connect". Leave the Default Profile alone. Click on the button labeled "Connect" and enjoy Screen Sharing on Panther and Tiger.

If you are monitoring children, leave "Remember Password" and "Allow other clients to connect" unchecked.

PC Screen Sharing

Now for you Windows users who want to screen share like Mac users can do. There is a free program called TightVNC, which can be downloaded from www.tightvnc.com. Click on the download link on the page, and select the first link. It must be installed on the other computer(s) as well. TightVNC will ask you to setup a password. Once you have the password setup, start TightVNC Viewer, right-click on "VNC Viewer" and choose "New Connection...". Click on the options button, and check your settings to make sure it will work right. Now type in the IP address of the computer you want to connect to and click on the button labeled "Connect", and type in the password provided by the person you are helping. If you want to monitor your children, you have to be careful not to move your mouse into the observation window because if you do, they will see their mouse cursor jump.

Mac to PC

On the Mac, using Leopard, Tiger or Panther, open a new browser (or Chicken of the VNC) window or tab, then type in the IP address of the PC you want to connect to. In the window that appears, click on the "Connect" button and the next window that should appear is the Windows desktop, or if you use Linux, the Linux desktop.

PC to Mac

On the PC, using Windows and TightVNC, open the VNC Viewer and choose "New Connection...". Type in the IP address of the Mac you want to connect to. Click on the button labeled "Connect" and the window that should appear is the Mac desktop.

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