Running a program from ASP.net

[zeocrash]

Ok, I'm writing a user database for my company's intranet.

The database uses an sql file to store user details. These details are displayed in a data grid.

At the end of the datagrid, there is a button that allows the administrator to vnc onto a user's computer.

Now when i run the application through visual studio, it works fine.

 

When the application is run through iis, over the intranet though. nothing happens when the button is clicked.

 

   Protected Sub usergrid_RowCommand(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.Web.UI.WebControls.GridViewCommandEventArgs) Handles usergrid.RowCommand
       ' If multiple ButtonField column fields are used, use the
       ' CommandName property to determine which button was clicked.
       If Not Session("doneonce") Then 'stops the code running twice
           If e.CommandName = "vncuser" Then 'if the button is pressed

               ' Convert the row index stored in the CommandArgument
               ' property to an Integer.
               Dim index As Integer = Convert.ToInt32(e.CommandArgument)

               ' Get the last name of the selected author from the appropriate
               ' cell in the GridView control.
               Dim selectedRow As GridViewRow = usergrid.Rows(index)
               Dim contactCell As TableCell = selectedRow.Cells(6)
               Dim contact As String = contactCell.Text
               If Session("superuser") = True Then


                   vnc_connect(contact)
               Else
                   authtxt.Text = "<font color=red>You are not authorised to use VNC</font>"
               End If
               ' Display the selected author.
               'Message.Text = "You selected " & contact & "."

           End If
       End If
       If Session("doneonce") = True Then
           Session("doneonce") = False
       Else
           Session("doneonce") = True
       End If
   End Sub
   Private Sub vnc_connect(ByVal ip As String)
       Dim vncfile As String
       'vnc file contents
       vncfile = "[Connection]" & vbCrLf & "Host=" & ip & vbCrLf & "Password=password" & vbCrLf & "[Options]" & vbCrLf & "UseLocalCursor=1" & vbCrLf & "UseDesktopResize=1" & vbCrLf & "FullScreen=0" & vbCrLf & "FullColour=1" & vbCrLf & "LowColourLevel=1" & vbCrLf & "PreferredEncoding=hextile" & vbCrLf & "AutoSelect=1" & vbCrLf & "Shared=0" & vbCrLf & "SendPtrEvents=1" & vbCrLf & "SendKeyEvents=1" & vbCrLf & "SendCutText=1" & vbCrLf & "AcceptCutText=1" & vbCrLf & "DisableWinKeys=1" & vbCrLf & "Emulate3=0" & vbCrLf & "PointerEventInterval=0" & vbCrLf & "Monitor=\\.\DISPLAY1" & vbCrLf & "MenuKey=F8" & vbCrLf & "AutoReconnect=1"
       Try
           Kill("C:\Program Files\RealVNC\VNC4\user.vnc") 'delete old vnc file
       Catch ex As Exception

       End Try
       'create new vnc file
       My.Computer.FileSystem.WriteAllText("C:\Program Files\RealVNC\VNC4\user.vnc", vncfile, False, Encoding.ASCII) 'must be ascii encoded otherwise hidden characters are inserted at the begining of the file
       'run vnc with vnc file
       Shell(ChrW(34) & "C:\Program Files\RealVNC\VNC4\vncviewer.exe " & ChrW(34) & "-config " & ChrW(34) & "c:\program files\realvnc\vnc4\user.vnc", AppWinStyle.NormalFocus, False, -1) ' & ChrW(34) & is ascii code for quote. must be added for command line to work

   End Sub

 

I think it may be due to my inappropriate use of the shell command. any ideas??

[PlausiblyDamp]

The shell command will run the application on the IIS box itself (as whatever user the web-server is configured to run as).

 

Rather than trying to launch the .vnc file on the server you could have it downloaded to the client and run from there - that should launch the vnc viewer on the destop.

[zeocrash]

so how would i go about loading the vnc file onto the client system and running vnc viewer client side??

[PlausiblyDamp]

Something like

Dim vncfile As String

'vnc file contents
vncfile = "[Connection]" & vbCrLf & "Host=" & ip & vbCrLf & "Password=password" & vbCrLf & "[Options]" & vbCrLf & "UseLocalCursor=1" & vbCrLf & "UseDesktopResize=1" & vbCrLf & "FullScreen=0" & vbCrLf & "FullColour=1" & vbCrLf & "LowColourLevel=1" & vbCrLf & "PreferredEncoding=hextile" & vbCrLf & "AutoSelect=1" & vbCrLf & "Shared=0" & vbCrLf & "SendPtrEvents=1" & vbCrLf & "SendKeyEvents=1" & vbCrLf & "SendCutText=1" & vbCrLf & "AcceptCutText=1" & vbCrLf & "DisableWinKeys=1" & vbCrLf & "Emulate3=0" & vbCrLf & "PointerEventInterval=0" & vbCrLf & "Monitor=\\.\DISPLAY1" & vbCrLf & "MenuKey=F8" & vbCrLf & "AutoReconnect=1"

Response.Clear()
Response.ClearHeaders()
Response.ContentType = "application/text"
Response.AppendHeader("Content-Disposition", "attachment; filename=Run.vnc")
Dim b() As Byte = System.Text.ASCIIEncoding.ASCII.GetBytes(vncfile)
Response.BinaryWrite(b)

Response.End()

on the server side should generate the relevant content and send it down to the browsers as a .vnc file - as long as the client has the vnc viewer installed it should prompt them to open it with the correct app and that should be that.

 

You may need to change the line

Response.ContentType = "application/text"

to

Response.ContentType = "VncViewer/Config"

though - I don't have vnc installed here so I couldn't test it for sure.