Manage services remotely?

[edijs]

Specifically, on Windows XP Pro w/ SP3

Is there a way, besides using remote desktop, to start/stop services on a remote computer?

 

[RHochstenbach]

You can use a program like PsExec. Download the PsTools package from here: PsExec and extract it (for example to C:\PsTools)

Then open a command prompt and browse to that folder (where PsExec.exe is stored). Then enter this command:

psexec \\RemoteComputer cmd.exe

where RemoteComputer is the name of the remote machine. If it's located at an off-site location, you might need to establish a VPN connection first.

Once you're logged on, you can use the net start "service name" and net stop "service name" to start and stop services :)

You can even use this method to launch other applications on the remote computer, and even execute the Runas.exe command to execute any application or command prompt as a different user (for example when you're not logged on as an Admin on the remote system) :)

if it works, you can even create a custom desktop shortcut for it.

 

[edijs]

Interesting! What about the remote computer + VPN thing? I would need a VPN connection only if the remote computer is unreachable via the internet, right? I mean a computer that is hooked up right to the internet itself and isn't sitting behind a router or a firewall should be reachable by simply \\IP

 

[RHochstenbach]

Interesting! What about the remote computer + VPN thing? I would need a VPN connection only if the remote computer is unreachable via the internet, right? I mean a computer that is hooked up right to the internet itself and isn't sitting behind a router or a firewall should be reachable by simply \\IP

That's true, but if it's behind a router, you could either log on the network using a VPN connection or forward a port to the specified computer.