Virtual Network Clients and other high risk behaviors

I've always wanted to be able to control my multimedia computer by a VNC. I finally succeed, though I'm not quite where I want to be yet. But here are the basic steps.

1. I installed TightVNC server on the Windows Vista 64 Bit computer we use as our media center.
2. I installed xtightvncviewer on my Mini. Ubuntu told me it was not installed at first, and then told me how to get it. How cool is that?
   
3. I set the passwords on the TightVNC server, both for admin and for access.
4. I started xtightvncviewer on the Mini, typed in the IP address given by TightVNC on the Vista machine, followed it with a password, and voila, remote access.
   

I'll admit, I'm excited as all get out about this, though not really for me. I expect that when I show my wife that she can adjust Media Center recordings, start conversion of recorded TV to iPod format from her computer without turning on the TV and going through the machinations of our surround sound system selection of computer input (including whether sound will work without a reset of computer or cycling power to TV), that she will be overcome with joy. Or at least will stop beating me so much (again, I kid, I kid!).

I'm not quite happy with the setup though. I feel relatively secure in that if I understand routers correctly none of this is actually leaving my router, as both machines connect there. But regardless, I'm going to try a ssh approach to tunnel the VNC on. I'll keep you posted on how that goes. But the above works. And works surprisingly well.