Remote Desktop Software - Uses

Uses

A main use of remote desktop software is remote administration. It can also be used for "headless computers": instead of each computer having its own monitor, keyboard, and mouse, or using a KVM switch, a monitor, keyboard and mouse can be attached to one computer with remote control software, and headless computers controlled by it. The duplicate desktop mode is useful for user support and education. Remote control software combined with telephone communication can be nearly as helpful for novice computer-users as if the support staff were actually there.

Since the advent of cloud computing remote desktop software can be housed on USB hardware devices, allowing users to connect the device to any PC connected to their network or the Internet and recreate their desktop via a connection to the cloud. This model avoids one problem with remote desktop software, which requires the local computer to be switched on at the time when the user wishes to access it remotely. (It is possible with a router with C2S VPN support, and Wake on LAN equipment, to establish a virtual private network (VPN) connection with the router over the Internet if not connected to the LAN, switch on a computer connected to the router, then connect to it.) The common name for USB devices with the capacity to remotely recreate a user's desktop is "secure portable office".