[NTLUG:Discuss] OT - Remote Linux Help Desk options, Bomgar?

[Tony]

On Tue, Nov 18, 2008 at 10:31 AM, Mike LaPlante <mike at dividia.net> wrote:
> Off topic, but I was curious if anyone here works for an IT group that
> uses the Bomgar Box (www.bomgar.com) as a Help Desk tool. My boss has
> asked me to look into them and do some comparison shopping. Problem is I
> can't find any apples to apples comparisons.
>
> I'm not opposed to software based services (GoToAssist, LogMeIn,
> CoPilot, etc), however most of those are Windows only AFAIK. Where as
> I've got about 350 CentOS servers spread around the US that I need to
> support. Some are headless sitting in server racks. Oh, and I of course
> run a linux workstation here at the office. So I need Linux -> Linux
> capabilities.
>
> Oh, and VNC is great, but it requires our customers open firewalls, or
> we get VPN access, or other trickery. Which sometimes just isn't
> possible. Plus we like the idea of customers being able to request
> support via a portal site.
>
> So, what do you guys use for such things?

Screen + ssh is all i use. Its all i have ever used. Do you really
need to manage those servers GUI desktops?