Screen Sharing through iChat over VPN

Does anybody know how to make screen sharing with iChat work over a VPN? It used to work for me but now it only seems to work in one direction. I was testing it earlier today and this is what I saw:
VPN client shares their screen with a machine on the physical local network - OK
VPN client requests the screen of a local machine - Fails with "did not receive data error" after a brief audio-only connection.
Local clients shares their screen with VPN clients - Fails with "dd not receive data"
Local clients requests the screen of a VPN client - Fails with "did not receive data"
The VPN is definitely the culprit, the machines can screen-share fine outside of it, and can curiously screen-share fine with the server on our local network when they are VPN'ed in, just not with each other. The server is running 10.5.4.
Anybody have any experience in making this work?

Livebox devices tend to be actually made by Sagem
See this list http://portforward.com/routers.htm
IS the model you have listed ?
It may help if the ports are opened by UPnP as Screen Sharing tends to use more random ports that basic Video/Audio chats.
10:23 PM Monday; January 21, 2008

Similar Messages

IChat screen sharing through Orange livebox (UK)

I am able to establish video connection through iChat with my father in the UK, but cannot establish screen sharing. After spending time on the phone with Apple support here in Canada, Apple in the UK, and my father's ISP Orange, it appears that the problem is with the Orange "livebox." Orange are telling us that they don't support the feature.
Has anyone else been able to find a workaround so that they can establish screen sharing through a livebox?
Thanks for your help.

Livebox devices tend to be actually made by Sagem
See this list http://portforward.com/routers.htm
IS the model you have listed ?
It may help if the ports are opened by UPnP as Screen Sharing tends to use more random ports that basic Video/Audio chats.
10:23 PM Monday; January 21, 2008

No video or screen sharing on iChat 4 between identical MBP's and OS

Hi, like many others, i'm experiencing problems with audio/video calls and screen sharing on iChat 4.
It's really important since my dad lives abroad and is 80 years old, so i need to help him out by taking over control of his MacBookPro when he needs me to.
Here's our setup when it DID work:
We were both in my house, on my network, through my Airport Exreme. We're both running 2009 MacBook Pro's with OSX 10.5.8 on it, and were signed in to iChat through our google account (jabber).
Then he returned back to his home (i'm in Holland, he's in Austria), and since then we can only do text chats on iChat. Whenever we invite eachother for video chat or screen sharing, we get the same error message about a communication error, or telling us the other one 'didn't reply' or something like that. I'll copy-paste the exact message + error details the next time we try.
We tried to solve it by changing services, meaning i signed in through my @mac.com account and he signing in through his AIM account, but with no luck. Also AIM to AIM didn't help.
I'm still on my Airport Extreme, connected to a DSL modem which is branded by my provider, so no idea what it is.
He is on a Speedtouch ST585 wireless DSL router, which he also got from his provider.
Any settings we should check/change? i've read all sorts of stuff about port forwarding, SIP/NAT compatibility and UPNP but that all works rather confusing than clarifying..
Any suggestions would be highly appreciated.
Thanks,
Lexxy
Message was edited by: TheRealLexxy

HI,
Thomson-Alcatel, to give them their Full name, make the Speedtouch Series of Modems
As a Brand they will work with each other no matter if they are a Cable (non routing) modem or a Speedtouch DSL Modem.
So, 2 to 3 (or 3 to 2) will work as they are Alcatels
The computer 1 and computer 2 situation (with said modems) has about a 1 in 5 chance of working based on my personal knowledge of Version 4.3.5 firmware and mush less with later firmware from threads on this board.
The Airport Express does or can do something called Port Mapping Protocol.
It is turned On in the Airport Admin Utility > Internet pane > NAT tab
In some circumstances this can be an issue. (It open ports like UPnP does but in a different way) - IF - the Express in not in Bridge (Off) Mode.
Is the DSL modem you have Routes then the Express should be set to Bridge (Off) Mode so that there is only one DHCP server on your LAN (unless you set the devices to do Static routing)
You could try it without the Express, but I am sure you will get the same results.
Can your Dad reach any of the names in Table 1 http://www.ralphjohns.co.uk/ContactTesters.html ?
(He adds them to his Buddy list and tries Video chats (they Auto Answer) )
There maybe a conflict between the two lots of NAT at your end if the modem and Express are doing DHCP (Share An IP) and your Dad's Alcatel.
It may still be there if it is your modem only and his.
My Personal experience with an Thomson-Alcatel Speedtouch Modem, answering on these boards and doing regular testing with people and work Bosie on this forum which Defcom and I have been involved with - tells me it is the Speedtouch that is the problem.
8:02 PM Saturday; November 14, 2009
Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"

Is screen sharing through Messages limited to third-party accounts in Yosemite like it is in Mavericks?

So I was told this by an Apple support member through the online chat, but everything else I've been reading seems contradictory. Every blog post I've read, and even Apple's own website makes it seems like you can screen share on Messages with any contact with an iMessage account (in Mavericks, it was limited to third-party accounts signed into Messages like Google, Jabber, AIM, etc...).
I was able to screen share through the iMessages account if the two computers were on the same network (both on wifi, or both tethered to the same phone), but not if they were on separate networks. Which seems almost next to useless. It'd be nice to just get a breakdown of what's possible with screen sharing through Messages.
So far it seems like:
1. Screen sharing is possible using a third-party account (as per in Mavericks).
2. Screen sharing is possible using an iMessages account only within the same network (added in Yosemite). <- if this is really all that was "added", they really should make that clear, rather than making it seem like iMessage accounts have the same utility as third-party ones.
Just want someone to confirm this. Thanks!

Hi,
Screen Sharing only works with an AIM Account (AOL) or a Jabber ID when the person at the other end is also using the same sort of Account and a Mac with iChat or Messages.
The Bonjour Account which is used for LAN based Mac to Mac Chats can also Screen Share.
The Yahoo account (if you have one) is Text only. It does not even do File Sharing. It does not do Video Chat, Audio Only ones or Screen Sharing.
The iMessages account does not do Video chats (or Audio Only)
What it does do is invoke the FaceTime App.
FaceTime does not Screen Share.
Links to the info you have read would be useful.
The Messages Help info.
Text (if the pic does not show)
Share your screen
You and a friend with Mac OS X v10.5 Leopard or later can share a screen, making it easy to collaborate on a project.
When you share a screen, you and your friend can do anything on the shared desktop, such as opening folders, creating documents, and copying files by dragging them from one desktop to another. Messages automatically starts an audio chat.
You can share screens using AIM, Jabber, Google Talk, and Bonjour. You can’t share screens using Yahoo! or iMessage.
Important: When you share your screen, your friend has the same access to your computer that you have. Share your screen only with people you trust, and be careful if you receive a request to share your screen from someone who isn’t in your buddy list. If the request comes from someone using Bonjour, remember that the name shown for the person in Bonjour does not necessarily match the person’s real name.
See the Line above the one where the word "important" is in bold text.
OS X 10.5 is the one with iChat 4.x.x with it.
To be clear:-
iChat 1 was an AIM client but also had the Bonjour account under it's previous name of Rendezvous
iChat 3 added Jabber capabilities
iChat 6 added Yahoo ones. (extremely limited)
Messages brings the Name change and the focus on the iMessages account with the associated window changes.
This means Messages can join 5 "services"
Opening Messages asks you for an Apple ID to register with iMessages.
It also has the Bonjour account present but not turned On.
You can add anything you used in iChat
Some Apple Issued ID are valid AIM Screen Names
GoogleTalk and Facebook Chat IDs works as Jabber IDs
Apple IDs
These can be considered in some ways to be separated into different functions or layers.
The first difference is between external emails and Apple Issued ones that end in @mac.com, @me.com and @icloud.com (Some people are using a small number of pre Email linked Apple IDs - about 15 years or older accounts.)
The Apple Issued ones can be used as AIM Screen Names.
You can also distinguish between iCloud Linked ones and plain Apple IDs
As Apple changed from MobileMe to iCloud they used and linked @me.com IDs to iCloud as people registered for iCloud.
Later they issued iCloud ending emails (you may have both)
This leaves you with "All iCloud IDs are Apple IDs, but not all Apple IDs are iCloud ID ones".
The short answer is if an Account in Messages can Video within the app (not invoke another app) then it can Screen Share.
10:05 pm Friday; November 14, 2014
 iMac 2.5Ghz i5 2011 (Mavericks 10.9)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
 Couple of iPhones and an iPad

Remove little window "my computer" screen when screen sharing with iChat?

Anyone know if it is possible to remove or minimize the little window when screen sharing with iChat? if you try to drag it off the screen, it just pops back. It does not seem possible to close it without getting booted out of the screen sharing.

As the "little Screen" is either your Desktop or the other Desktop depending which you have as the current one you are working in it seems silly to have no access to changing back and forth.
But as you say or rather imply it does sometimes occupy the space you want someone at the other end to see and you can not access that part of the screen or if the other end is trying to show you something it can be hidden my your own desktop.
AT present Not Even Chax does what you want.
7:31 PM Monday; March 10, 2008

Screen Sharing in iChat stopped working

To begin with, I have iChat 4.0.3 but I do not see any categories for that version.
The screen sharing feature in iChat was a really great tool that allowed me assist my family from remote locations to help them trouble shoot issues on their Macs. This feature mysteriously stopped working after the release of the 10.5.3 Mac OS X update. Prior to that, the feature worked perfectly and was able to connect each and everytime after all the proper settings were configured correctly at each end. Now, the feature does not work at all in iChat. I have confirmed and I am able to use the screen sharing features in "Back to my Mac" so I can still screen share with my desktop at home when traveling using my laptop, but I cannot screen share trying to connect using iChat. I have double checked the proper settings for sharing and those are good, I have double checked the settings in Quick Time preferences and those are set to 1.5 Mbps T1 as suggested. I have also gone back and applied the 10.5.3 combo update to both my laptop and the iMac that I am trying to connect to. The router settings have all been verified and the ports are open. The firewalls are all set and both allow connections using iChat, File Sharing, and Remote Log In. Still, after all of this, the screen sharing feature in iChat will not connect and results in a timeout error after about 15 seconds. Is this a known bug in 10.5.3 and can I expect some relief in the next update? Are there any other tricks that may be applied? This is a feature I relied on pretty heavily and now it is gone. Thanks in advance for any assistance.
I have read several posts regarding the issue of screen sharing in iChat not working properly and I have tried every solution offered in those threads and none of them have worked for me.

Upon further testing with a different iMac user I was finally able to determine that the problem is router related. I am going to go back again and double check the port settings to make sure they are configured correctly. The router that is giving the problems is a Linksys router and the router that tested fine is an Apple Airport Extreme router. I suspect the LInksys router probably needs to be tweaked further to get it to work properly.

Is screen sharing through the Messages app encrypted?

The Messages app in Mavericks has the option to share your screen (Buddies > Share my screen...). Just learned about it today.
I've been wondering how secure it is to use over the internet.
Any thoughts as to if the screen sharing session is encrypted?
I'm using Mavericks, and haven't found anything that says if the sessions are encrypted or not.

Hi,
The Messages app can use different ID to use the different services.
It can use Apple IDs to use the iMessages service (Text Only) But you can invoke FaceTime from an existing conversation.
By default you also get the Bonjour Account.
If you have other Macs on your LAN (and they use iChat or Messages with Bonjour Enabled) you can Screen Share with them (in addition to Video Or Audio Only chats).
You can join the AIM service with some Apple IDs (ending in @me.com and @icloud.com in most cases and sometime @mac.com depending on your OS version) and of course with AIM or AOL registered Screen Names.
Mac to Mac (iChat or Messages) these can Screen Share over the internet.
Whilst the Login may be SSL (AIM almost insist on in nowadays) the Video chats, Audio Only chats and Screen Sharing are Peer-to Peer connections.
There are steps in the connection process to make sure you are not vulnerable to "Man-in-the-Middle" attacks.
They will only work AIM to AIM.
Jabber (Or XXMP) accounts can include GoogleTalk or Google Mail IDs in reality or Facebook chat IDs are valid Jabber IDs.
You can of course register for a Jabber ID on any other Jabber server you know about.
These will work Jabber to Jabber must be to a Mac using iChat or Messages and not other apps or web Browser logins (As you can do with both Facebook and Google).
The Yahoo account is text only.
8:55 pm Wednesday; July 16, 2014
 iMac 2.5Ghz i5 2011 (Mavericks 10.9)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
 Couple of iPhones and an iPad

Screen sharing in ichat 4 works on my MacBook Pro and does'nt work on imac

I am outside the US and Canada and I have a MacBook Pro and 3 imacs, 2 at my office and 1 at home. I used to use screen sharing among all of them but suddenly the imac at home does not allow sharing its screen, it only can share screens on other units, the (share my screen with...) command is faded but all other ichat features like video, speech and text are fine.
I reinstalled ichat again thinking that it could be corrupted but it is still the same.
I don't have a network or a firewall problem because when I use the same wireless network at home and login with my MacBook, the MacBook works perfectly.
I matched the settings of all units but still no progress.
I need help to restore that feature again.

If this happensd in the future go to USers/(your account)/Library/Preferences.
Delete com.apple.ichat.plist and restart iChat
If that does not work delete com.apple.ichatAgent.plists and restart iChat
It will be one or the other most likely the second.
Deleting them one at a time with a restart will pin point which one it is.
8:15 PM Sunday; December 16, 2007

No Video or Screen sharing in iChat since last update.

I recently purchased a new MacBook Pro 15.4" laptop.
When I first started up, iChat worked beautifully. But after I installed the series of updates, I chat will not send or receive video, and will not allow screen sharing. It's telling me that there's no response from whoever I am trying to connect with. I've tried with three other Mac users, and no luck.
Has anyone else had this problem? Is there a fix for this?

Did you install http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/apple/application_updates/compatibilityupd ateforquicktime.html

Screen Sharing in iChat not working

iChat under Leopard seems to work fine, I got everything running including video chats and theatre but screen sharing (which works via Finder locally without problem) does not work. I cannot get to see any screen of my iChat partner while he gets a inital 'screenshot' which is not updating, nothing else.
It cannot be a firewall issue as both Macs have been moved to the firewall DMZ and Leopard Firewall is off.
Any ideas?

Hi,
Since the earlier post I have managed to Screen Share.
I did put the Mac Firewall On.
It was then as simple as using the item in the iChat Buddies menu (The option to allow sharing has to be On in the Video menu)
It replaced the Video I was having and does not go back to the Video when the Keystroke of Control+ESC is used and the Video chat has to be re-established.
I do not have Encryption.
9:04 PM Tuesday; November 13, 2007

Screen sharing via iChat

Not really a server question I know, but I wondered if anyone was experimenting with iChat screen sharing as a support tool. Most of my customers are set up for iChat using my own server and IM me with questions from time to time. I've just started installing Leopard on a few clients and wanted to try out the screen sharing. My own machine is a 17 inch Powerbook and it is looking as if there's a limit to the desktop size of the remote machine. Trying it with this particular client's machine, which is a 15 inch Macbook Pro with an attached 20 inch Cinema display, iChat screen sharing never finishes initialising. But if I reduce the resolution of the Cinema display from its default to, say, 1344x840 it works - and shows both remote screens (the Macbook display and the Cinema display).
Am I discovering that it'll only work where there are no displays connected to the remote system that have a higher resolution than the local one(s), or is there a glitch here that can be fixed? Given that it just 'hangs' I'm tempted to think it's a glitch and not some designed-in limit.

...should have mentioned - the connection is jabber of course, the server is 10.4.11 and both machines are 10.5.1 with 2Gb RAM.

Enabling screen sharing through .mac or VNC

I want to enable screen sharing on my desktop computer from another network (so I can connect to my home machine from the office, or on the road). I have successfully enabled my router to allow VNC traffic, and have been able to connect from my laptop on another network. Everything seems to be working fine besides the fact that I am concerned about having port 5900 open on my home router. Is connecting using a .mac account more secure? I suppose I would be able to turn off port 5900 on my router, but I'd also have to pay $100 a year, and worry about someone hacking my .mac account also (I really wish that apple would come out with [FREE] remote desktop software like windows!).

My last effort
turn on process accounting:
"mkdir /var/account"
"touch /var/account/acct"
"accton /var/account/acct" or reboot
"chmod o-rx /usr/bin/lastcomm"
"chmod -R o-rx /var/account"
Everything has to be run in sudo. If you do the above, then run sudo lastcomm and check what that says.

Error Using Screen Sharing (Not iChat)

I have a PowerBook and a G4 tower, both 10.5.6 and when I am using screen sharing I get an error: "Connection Failed to "********" Please make sure that Screen Sharing (in the Sharing Preferences section of System Preferences) is enabled on the computer you're connecting to...). This worked at one time. Sharing is enabled on both computers, the firewall has been turned off. Still it will not connect. Anyone have any ideas?

If you see: Apple Remote Desktop in the Services list in the the Sharing pane, select it. Also, you might need to assign permissions.
Setting permissions for screen sharing
Use the Sharing pane of System Preferences on the computer you want to share to set up screen sharing accounts and assign permissions to them.
To set up screen sharing accounts and permissions:
On the computer you want to control, choose Apple > System Preferences, and then click Sharing.
Select the Screen Sharing checkbox.
Select “All users” or “Only these users,” depending on who will be allowed to share this computer.
If you select “Only these users,” click Add + and select Sharing Users, Network Users, or Address Book from the list, and then choose a user. Or click New Person and assign a name and password to create a new sharing user.
Click Computer Settings and select to allow anyone to request permission to control the screen of this computer, or to allow Virtual Network Computing (VNC) users to access the screen after entering a password.
Carolyn
Message was edited by: Carolyn Samit

Screen Sharing in iChat / iMessage - not on PC?

So my question is how are we able to do screen share with iChat / iMessage using the google talk servers as I don't think Windows users can use this feature using a chat client - is it just tying it VNC or somthing in OSx?
(I've just figured out how to add the share screen feature back to iMessage (buddies list view) after it was removed. Hint - add agoogle talk user in iMessage preferences then hit command-1 and you will see the screen share option at the bottom of the buddy list.)

Hi,
The Screen Share feature is Buddy to Buddy (AIM to AIM or Jabber to Jabber) when the Buddy is using either iChat (4 and Above) or Messages in Mountain Lion.
You cannot do it to PCs.
You cannot do it to Jabber Accounts such as Google IDs when they are logged in via a web Browser.
In Messages you have to add an Non iMessage Account to have Buddy List.
This adds a "Buddies" item to the Window Menu of Messages.
In the General Section of the Messages Preferences is an items that refers to gathering the accounts into one List. Unticking this will separate out AIM, Bonjour, Jabber/Google and Yahoo Accounts in to separate Buddy lists.
Yahoo Accounts cannot Screen Share as they are Text Only.
Bonjour accounts can Screen Share as they can Video and Audio Only chat.
The process involves invoking the Apple Remote Desktop engine along side an standard Audio Only chat in iChat or Messages.
The Apple Remote Desktop bit is a VNC connection on a random port.
For this reason it is best to use UPnP on most routers or Port Mapping Protocol in Apple Base Stations.
8:27 PM Monday; March 25, 2013
 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Mountain Lion 10.8.3)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
 Couple of iPhones and an iPad
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

Screen Sharing through Messages

I'm having a bit of an issue with screen sharing. I'm running the latest version of Yosemite as is the other machine. (Mac Mini 2011)(MBP 2009) On both machines: Firewall was turned off and it didn't work, then I turned it on and allowed screen sharing(no change). I went into preferences and allowed all sharing(no change).
When I try to initiate screen sharing I get the option in Messages. The other person never gets the alert. When they try to initiate it with me using Messages, it's greyed out and they can't send any requests.
Any ideas if this is a known bug or something else I'm missing?

Messages Help
Share your screen
You and a friend with Mac OS X v10.5 Leopard or later can share a screen, making it easy to collaborate on a project.
When you share a screen, you and your friend can do anything on the shared desktop, such as opening folders, creating documents, and copying files by dragging them from one desktop to another. Messages automatically starts an audio chat.
You can share screens using AIM, Jabber, Google Talk, and Bonjour. You can’t share screens using Yahoo! or iMessage.
Important: When you share your screen, your friend has the same access to your computer that you have. Share your screen only with people you trust, and be careful if you receive a request to share your screen from someone who isn’t in your buddy list. If the request comes from someone using Bonjour, remember that the name shown for the person in Bonjour does not necessarily match the person’s real name.
Open Messages for me
Share your screen or a friend’s screen
Respond to an invitation
Screen sharing in Messages is independent of screen-sharing settings in System Preferences. You can share screens using Messages even when Screen Sharing is deselected in the Sharing pane of System Preferences.
SEE ALSO
Audio chat, video chat, and screen-sharing requirements
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Screen Sharing through iChat over VPN

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