BOINC-AUSTRALIA FORUM

Public Category - Open to Public => OPEN DISCUSSION => Topic started by: chooka03 on December 21, 2023, 06:56:23 PM

Title: Chrome Remote Desktop
Post by: chooka03 on December 21, 2023, 06:56:23 PM
Did anyone else's remote desktop stop working?
Mine was fine but since doing a Chrome update, the pc's are there but not connecting.
Updated all the Chrome web browsers on each pc. Did all Windows updates and restarts.
Stumped.
It's flying blind!  :greet
Title: Re: Chrome Remote Desktop
Post by: Dingo on December 22, 2023, 02:56:17 PM
I had a problem a wile back.  I just deleted the remote machines and then re established the connection on each machine.  It has only happened once in the time I have been using it.
Title: Re: Chrome Remote Desktop
Post by: chooka03 on December 22, 2023, 04:44:27 PM
Well I deleted them all and reinstalled the remote desktop but it still won't establish a connection :(
Says they are online but won't connect.

Edit, just then it did connect but then drops out. I couldn't do anything, it was just frozen.
Title: Re: Chrome Remote Desktop
Post by: Dingo on December 22, 2023, 05:25:32 PM
I had a problem a while back with my VPN stopping connection but it went away after an update of the VPN.  If you have a VPN stop it and give it a try?

I just gave my remote access a try to make sure I still had access and all is OK here.  Sorry I am out of ideas..
Title: Re: Chrome Remote Desktop
Post by: chooka03 on December 22, 2023, 11:53:51 PM
Nope, no VPN.
It's really odd but also REALLY sucks when 2 of your pc's aren't found by BOINCtasks and not remote desktop stops working.  :banghead

I might try uninstalling Chrome and reinstalling.It's either my host with issues or one of the Windows/Chrome updates has stuffed it.
Title: Re: Chrome Remote Desktop
Post by: Dingo on December 23, 2023, 01:01:25 AM
Try the reboot of all machines ?  I have to do that on Windoz machines quite often.
Title: Re: Chrome Remote Desktop
Post by: tazzduke on December 23, 2023, 12:32:10 PM
Hi Chooka03

Every now and then, the IP of the controlling machine, usually gets changed for some random reason, so double check your ip settings, especially if you are using Boinctasks.

Sometimes the remote hosts config file on the remote pc's (for when using boinctasks) needs to be updated to the controlling PC

Regards
Title: Re: Chrome Remote Desktop
Post by: chooka03 on December 26, 2023, 02:36:36 PM
I do use BOINC tasks but 2 pc's just won't show up for whatever reason. Admittedly, these 2 pc's are the only 2 on my wireless network.
I'm not really sure how to check any of that stuff sorry Tazzduke.
The status in BOINCTASKS for these 2 pc's is "password" which I've seen many times before but I don't run a password so I don't understand why it says that?

BTW, I don't manually setup B/T, I just search for the ip addresses and it usually just connects.

Edit - I did a search for my pc's and yes, I discovered the 2 pc's with different ip addresses.... but still won't connect to those either.

I've tried everything with Chrome Remote. Just now, it did connect to a pc but then froze. Almost tempted to do the old, wipe C: drive and reinstall fresh.... but that's a lot of work.
Title: Re: Chrome Remote Desktop
Post by: tazzduke on December 26, 2023, 06:24:02 PM
Hi Chooka03

There is a program called boinctoolbox64, which you will find in the Boinctasks folder usually in the following windows directory

C:\Program Files\eFMer\BoincTasks

As you are using WIndows, you need to run this program on the remote PC's.

Okay, here is a few tips

check you IP of main controlling PC
right click on the internet icon (windows taskbar), check internet properities
There will be an something like IP4 Address starting with 192.168.x.xxx

Now on each remote machine, inside the Boinc folder there will be a config file called remote_hosts.cfg
Check that the ip address in that file matches the same for the controlling computer.

When you run the boinctoolbox64 program it will go through setting things up, even firewall setting, you will get asked to apply.

Once both PC's have been done with this Windows only program, redo your search on the boinctasks program on the controlling pc.

They should show up and should connect.

The password file is called - gui_rpc_auth.cfg

Put some letters in this file, then on the boinctasks program, on computet tab and where it says password
click on the line representing one of those computers put those same letters in.

Sometimes it takes a bit to catch up, even a reboot of machines.

Hopefully you have figured out my jibberish and gotten somewhere.
Title: Re: Chrome Remote Desktop
Post by: chooka03 on December 28, 2023, 07:59:56 PM
Hi Tazzduke, thank you for the reply!

Yep, I'm aware of boinctoolbox and it's on all my pc's.

"Now on each remote machine, inside the Boinc folder there will be a config file called remote_hosts.cfg"

I couldn't find this file in my boinc folder? Either on my host or other pc. Is it a hidden file or something?

Feel like I'm getting somewhere thanks.I would like to get BT working properly.
Having said that! Chrome has come good (TOUCH WOOD  :bloodshot  ) No idea what's changed.
Title: Re: Chrome Remote Desktop
Post by: Dingo on December 29, 2023, 02:34:25 PM
Quote from: chooka03 on December 28, 2023, 07:59:56 PMHi Tazzduke, thank you for the reply!

Yep, I'm aware of boinctoolbox and it's on all my pc's.

"Now on each remote machine, inside the Boinc folder there will be a config file called remote_hosts.cfg"

I couldn't find this file in my boinc folder? Either on my host or other pc. Is it a hidden file or something?

Feel like I'm getting somewhere thanks.I would like to get BT working properly.
Having said that! Chrome has come good (TOUCH WOOD  :bloodshot  ) No idea what's changed.

remote_hosts.cfg controls what IP addresses can access the BOINC.  I do not have that set on any of my machines. 
Title: Re: Chrome Remote Desktop
Post by: chooka03 on January 12, 2024, 06:01:30 PM
So the remote desktop started working again for some but not all of my pc's..... that was until yesterday when I did the Windows updates... now none of them work again.
Odd & frustrating.

I should just completely uninstall Boinctasks and reinstall in order to get it working on al my pc's again like it used too. I just don't have the time.
Title: Re: Chrome Remote Desktop
Post by: Dingo on January 12, 2024, 07:07:38 PM
Quote from: chooka03 on January 12, 2024, 06:01:30 PMSo the remote desktop started working again for some but not all of my pc's..... that was until yesterday when I did the Windows updates... now none of them work again.
Odd & frustrating.

I should just completely uninstall Boinctasks and reinstall in order to get it working on al my pc's again like it used too. I just don't have the time.

There isn't any link between BOINC Tasks and Chrome Remote Desktop unless you are calling BOINC Tasks Remote Desktop? 

You only need BOINC Tasks on one Machine and then link it to all the others.

On each machine in the file

LINUX
/etc/boinc-client/cc_config.xml
/var/lib/boinc-client/cc_config.xml

WINDOWS

C:/ProgramData/BOINC/cc_config.xml

make sure you have the entry <allow_remote_gui_rpc>1</allow_remote_gui_rpc> is under <options>

Also I change the password in these files on all my machines to something I can remember to make it easier to add them to BOINC Tasks.

LINUX
nano /etc/boinc-client/gui_rpc_auth.cfg 
nano /usr/bin/gui_rpc_auth.cfg         

WINDOWS

C:\ProgramData\BOINC\gui_rpc_auth.cfg


Title: Re: Chrome Remote Desktop
Post by: chooka03 on January 13, 2024, 08:37:39 AM
Hi Dingo,

No, I am talking about Chrome remote desktop. The only reason I started using remote desktop is so I can access my pc's which are in the garage. It worked fine with all my pc's for quite a while then just stopped working. Even now, remote desktop with open and I can see the remote pc desktop.... but it freezes straight away and then drops out.

Boinc tasks was all I used to use but I have some kind of issue where I can't see the 2 pc's in the garage. I don't know if that's a wifi thing or something.
Nothing I've tried fixes boinctasks so that I can get this working and I'm sorry but none of what you wrote makes any sense to me. (I have Windows)
I cant see or find things like C:/ProgramData/BOINC/cc_config.xml or C:\ProgramData\BOINC\gui_rpc_auth.cfg

I'd post a picture of what I have but even that's too difficult on here and isn't just a cut & paste option.

It's ok though, you don't have to explain it. I have zero knowledge on anything regarding stuff like that so I can't try it out. It's like trying to explain algebra to a 5yr old old..... I'll never understand it. :) I've given up.

Contemplating wiping my C drive or wiping B/T and doing a full reinstall to see if that fixes it.
I just don't have time. I don't have time for anything these days.
I've got 2 gpu's that are faulty & needs testing, another gpu needs the fans replacing because 1 has stopped working, B/T not working properly, Chrome not working properly........ the list goes on. In fact it's gotten worse in the last couple of days since the latest Windows updates.
I woke this morning to 2 pc's that had randomly restarted and were sitting idle.

Like all technology... great when it works before it randomly stops working. :)
Title: Re: Chrome Remote Desktop
Post by: Dingo on January 13, 2024, 11:13:42 AM
Looks like you setting are set to not show system files.

Windows 11
Open File Explorer from the taskbar.
Select the View tab. Go to the Show option, and select Hidden items.

Windows 10
Open File Explorer from the taskbar.
Select the View tab. Go to Options, and select the Change folder and search options.
Select the View tab. In Advanced settings, select Show hidden files, folders, and drives.
Select Ok.

Wiping the PC will not fix this as it is the default.  Wiping the PC is the very last thing you try.
Title: Re: Chrome Remote Desktop
Post by: chooka03 on January 13, 2024, 01:52:17 PM
Hi Dingo,

Thank you for that tip. I have actually just wiped C drive and am starting again. It's the only thing I know how to do. :(
I have now followed your steps and selected Show hidden files, folders, and drives but there's still no C:/ProgramData/BOINC/cc_config.xml

I have the BOINC folder but only a locale & skins folder with some other stuff but not a cc_config file.
Same with the C:\ProgramData\BOINC\gui_rpc_auth.cfg

For what it's worth, Boinctasks has now found all my pc's but they all now say "password"
I have boinctasks toolbox open on these pc's and it says under status details -
Boinc installed
Program folder: C blah, blah, blah
Data Folder: C: blah, blah, blah
Boinc is running,
Password file found:

Config file found: cc_config.xml
Allow remote (RPC) access for all computers

On another note, the complete wipe did not fix the Chrome Remote Desktop issue :(