====== Shadowing a Device Using Reverse VNC ====== ---- **Xcalibur W** offers //shadowing//, enabling the system administrator to take control of any enrolled device using VNC as the underlying protocol. The service is self-managing, allowing one-click usage. **Xcalibur W** uses HTLM5 for the rendering of the remote session, therefore administrator is required to use an HTLM5 webbrowser. ===== How It Works ===== ---- **Xcalibur W** features a //VNC Proxy// that acts as a gateway between the administrator console and the device being managed. As shown below, the VNC session is actually two separate VNC connections: * one reverse-VNC connection, from the device to **Xcalibur W** Server; and * one direct-VNC connection, from the administrator console to **Xcalibur W** Agent {{ :advanced:shadowing_a_device_using_reverse_vnc.png }} The port numbers for the outbound VNC connections to the **Xcalibur W** Server can be customized as below. ===== Initiating the VNC session ===== ---- Right-click a device in the Device List and select **Remote desktop (VNC)** from the [[:installation_guide:first_time_use:main_device_list#context_menu|Contextual Menu]]. {{ advanced:chippc_vnc1.png }} A task is published to the selected device, requesting it to initiate a reverse VNC session to the **Xcalibur W** proxy VNC server. The device will pick up the published task and then process it. Once complete, a dialog box - **Available VNC sessions** - appears, indicating that the device is ready to be shadowed. {{ advanced:chippc_vnc2.png }} From the **Available VNC sessions** window, the administrator can start a remote assistance session, end a session, or start a view-only session, as shown below. {{ advanced:vnc_window.png }} Click on the VNC connection to open a new browser window (using **HTLM5**) to shadow the selected device. {{ advanced:chippc_vnc3.png }} |{{:tip.png |}} Note that even if you close the VNC window, the reverse VNC connection will remain active on the server, potentially allowing other **Xcalibur W** users to access it. To close the reverse VNC connection, use the {{:advanced:delete.png|}} button in the **Available VNC connections** dialog box.| ===== Advanced Settings ===== ---- Configure VNC-related settings on the //Settings// page (**Views > Manager Options > Settings**). {{ advanced:vnc4.png }} **VNC Proxy Automatic Close** Sets the delay after which the proxy will close all active VNC connections on the server. **Range of Ports - HTLM5 Viewers** Defines the range of ports used for the TCP outbound connections from the Administrator Console to the **Xcalibur W** Server. **Range of Ports - Agents Connections** Defines the range of ports used for the TCP outbound connection from the remote device to the **Xcalibur W** Server. **Ensure the following TCP ports are opened** on each device: ^ ^ | |**Remote Device**|Outbound TCP 5980~5999| |**Xcalibur W Server**|Inbound TCP 5900~5918 & 5980~5999|