Farsighter V2.0 by Sureshot - Users manual

Table of contents
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1. Introduction
2. About the registered and demo version
3. Basic architecture

Server
4. Installing the Farsighter Server
5. Uninstalling the Farsighter Server
6. Using the Farsighter Server

Client
7. Installing the Farsighter Client
8. Uninstalling the Farsighter Client
9. Using the Farsighter Client

10. Final words
11. FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

1. Introduction
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Farsighter monitors a remote computer invisibly by streaming video to a viewer on your computer. You will know exactly what is happening on the remote computer as you see it in real-time.

Some applications are:
- Monitor your computer from a remote location.
- Parents can monitor what their children are doing.
- Demonstrate programs remotely.

Farsighter has two parts. A server that invisibly captures screen video and sends it to a remote viewer. The client (viewer) displays the video from the server.

What makes Farsighter different from other remote spy/control systems are:
- The server can execute invisibly.
- It doesn't require a video hook driver.
- Farsighter has a very low impact on system performance.
- Farsighter comes in a very small package, server 0.8 MB and client 1.4 MB.

Farsighter is Windows 95/98/ME/NT/2000/XP compatible.

Farsighter was previously named "Windows Spy".

2. About the registered and demo version
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The demo version can't run invisible. Please find information of how to purchase the full invisible version at http://www.bysoft.se/sureshot/farsighter/index.html

3. Basic Architecture
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Farsighter consist of two parts, a server and a client. The server is installed on the target computer to monitor and can be run invisibly in the background. The client is installed on your computer to watch the target computer. The client will connect to the server and recieve streaming video. Basically, install the server on the computer you want to monitor and the client on the computer where you want to watch the monitored computer.

4. Installing the Farsighter Server
-----------------------------------
1. Download the Farsighter zip file.
2. Open the zip file by double-clicking it.
3. This zip file includes both the client and the server. To install the server double-click the file server.zip.
4. A new Winzip window should appear. In that window double-click the file setup.exe and follow the instructions.

If you don't have Winzip installed on your computer, it can be downloaded for free from http://www.winzip.com

5. Uninstalling the Farsighter Server
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Run the "uninstall.bat" file located in the Farsighter directory, the default is "C:\Program Files\Farsighter Server\".

This script will:
1) Stop the execution of Farsighter Server.
2) Remove all Farsighter Server entries from the registry.

After running the uninstall.bat file please remove the entire Farsighter Server directory.

6. Using the Farsighter Server
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The server is running on the monitored computer. When a client connects, the server will stream video to the client. The client will get a complete view of what the user is doing on the monitored computer. The server is started through its config application.

Start the server
Follow this step-by-step procedure to start the Farsighter Server.

1. Find the folder where you installed Farsighter Server. The default is "C:\Program Files\Farsighter Server\"
2. Double-click the file serverconfig.exe to start the config application.
3. Enter a password. If this is the first time you enter the config application, please choose a password.
4. Configure the server (you can skip this step to use default settings).
5. Press the "Start server" button. The server should now be running.

You know that the server is running if the "Start server" button is disabled and the "Stop server" button enabled.

Server settings
Invisible
Specifies if the server should be invisible. If it's invisible no window will show up. On windows 95/98/ME it will also be hidden in the task manager (CTRL+ALT+DEL).

Add / Remove users
By default there is a user called "guest" with password "guest". You can also add and remove users by pressing the "Add" or "Remove" button. You may have up to 30 users. IMPORTANT! Notice that you should change the guest user to something else. If you don't, someone else might log onto the server.

New login password
Change the server config application's login password.

Advanced settings->Start automatically when computer is restarted
The server will automatically be started every time you start Windows, so you don't have to do it manually.

Advanced settings->Reports events/errors in a log file
If an error occurs it will be reported to a log file. This logfile is called log.txt and you can find it in the Farsighter system folder. This option is good for debugging purposes. The logfile will be saved in the Farsighter Server system directory, which by default is "c:\Program Files\Farsighter Server\system".

Advanced settings->Server listen port
The port the server listens at. This is the port clients will connect to.

Advanced settings->Screencapture
There are two different algorithms that can be used to send screenshots. The mask algorithm works much faster but requires more video memory than the linear. If the mask algorithm is in use and the server consumes a lot of the CPU time it's probably because your video card hasn't got enough memory. The solution to this is either to change algorithm to the linear or reduce the resolution. E.g. changing resolution from 1024x768 to 800x600 or decreasing the colour depth from 32 bits to 16 will give you more free video memory. Currently only 16-bit and 32-bit colour depth is supported.

7. Installing the Farsighter Client
-----------------------------------
1. Download the Farsighter zip file.
2. Open the zip file by double-clicking it.
3. This zip file includes both the client and the server. To install the client double-click the file client.zip.
4. A new Winzip window should appear. In that window double-click on the file setup.exe and follow the instructions.

If you don't have Winzip installed on your computer, it can be downloaded for free from http://www.winzip.com

8. Uninstalling the Farsighter Client
-------------------------------------
Navigate to the control panel and double-click the icon "Add/Remove Programs". Find the entry called Farsighter Client and remove it.

9. Using the Farsighter Client
------------------------------
The client lets you monitor any remote computers running the Farsighter Server application. The Connection manager is the address book, containing your collection of spyable remote computers. From the Connection Manager you can add, remove or edit connections to remote computers.

Start the client
Press the Start button->Programs->Farsighter Client->Farsighter

How to connect to a remote computer
Follow this step-by-step procedure to connect to a Farsighter Server.

1. Click "Connect" in the File menu or press "CTRL+C". This will bring up the Connection manager.
2. Add the computer to monitor by pressing the "Add address" button. (See below for details).
3. Select the icon of the computer you want to connect to, then press the "Connect" button. Or directly double-click the icon.

Add a new connection
Click on the "Add address"button in the Connection manager and fill out the form.

1. The "Name" field names the connection, choose a suitable name.
2. The "IP-address" field must contain a correct IP-address for a remote computer running the Farsighter Server application.
3. The default port number is 50505 if not specified differently in the server configuration.
4. Enter the login name and password to access the Farsighter Server. Use the server configuration to create users. 
5. Press the "Ok" button and an icon will appear with your connection.

Edit a connection
If you want to change data in a connection, just select its icon and then click the "Edit" button.

Remove a connection
To remove a connection from the "Connection Manager" select the connection and then press the Delete key on your keyboard.

Disconnect
To disconnect you can click "Disconnect" from the File menu or directly press "Ctrl+D".

Fullscreen
You can toggle between full-screen and window mode by pressing "Ctrl+F" or from the View menu.

10. Final words
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If you have questions about the software, would like to make a comment or just like to say hi, send us an email! Take care.