Bitcoin Forum

I've been curious about this for some time - the ability to operate a mining rig that is not in your immediate vicinity. I've heard a lot about remote desktop software but I've never had the opportunity to try anything like this yet. I've tried the Windows 7 remote desktop feature, but couldn't figure out how to control another desktop from my main machine. I couldn't even be sure if this is the right type of software to utilize for the remote mining I have in mind. Anyway, here's my thought:

If I have a mining rig assembled and booted to whichever OS and connected to the internet using WiFi, for example, in the basement of my house, am I able to operate this machine remotely from, say, the second story of said house? If so, to what extent can I operate it? Aside from being able to run the relevant mining software, I'd also want to be able to reboot the system, write to its drives, etc.

I've got two monitors set up on my desk. Ideally, I'd like to configure the remote system to appear on my second monitor as if it were plugged into it physically.

Anybody familiar with this concept please fill me in on what you can, I would very much appreciate it.

Yes you can, I normally install VNC to access remotely and control the mining rigs.  If yours is a dynamic IP, you may want to get a dynamic DNS for easier maintenance.

logmein free works just fine as well you can manage everything through their website

The best but not easiest option would be to have the rig running linux on USB drive to cut down on power consumption.  Using VNC you can remotely access that rig just like it was plugged into your monitor. 

I remotely manage 4 rigs in my garage that way, although they rarely need any managing anymore with use of startup scripts.

There might be a bit of a learning curve if you are unfamiliar with linux, but Id recommend installing ubuntu (or running a live linux USB stick). If you install the full desktop, you can use VNC to remotely operate it, but you really dont need a graphical interface for mining. Instead, use SSH to log in to the remote machine. For windows you can use  putty (http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/putty/) as ssh client.

THen pick a miner like cgminer, and the result looks like this:

https://i.imgur.com/OIHhf.png

 A nice window that shows everything you need to know, temperatures, fan settings, hash rate, stales, etc. You can also configure about anything you need there, like overclock, fan, pools, etc.

you can use cgminer on windows too.

Sure, and I often do on my PC. But why would you run windows on a dedicated mining rig?

You wouldn't unless you weren't comfortable with linux, the op seems to have in mind some vnc type software which wouldn't occur to him if he was familiar with linux.

Many miners here seem to get their first exposure to linux by setting up mining rigs. Its a great opportunity to try it out. Its not exactly hard to install ubuntu and even easier boot a live usb stick with something like linuxcoin:
http://www.linuxcoin.co.uk/wiki/index.php/Main_Page

It has amd drivers, miners and everything preinstalled. Just plug the stick in and you are ready. At least I assume, I havent tried it yet.

I seems to be getting problems with guiminer in linuxcoin, have to use cgminer instead, other than that linuxcoin is extremely great for miners.

I switched from linuxcoin to bamt, but that was mostly because I wanted to setup multiple rigs quickly with very little config. My office with desktop is on the second floor, and my rigs are in the basement, so I mostly do exactly what you say, actually :p

I've got the computer set up with the appropriate software and I've been running it from my basement without any problems for a couple of days now. The GUI tends to sag a bit, especially at full screen mode on my second monitor, but that's okay since I only need to monitor the miners, temps, etc. The only missing feature I can think of would be the ability to run the program from my Android smartphone. It would be awesome to be able to access remote desktop from anywhere.

The ambient temperature is almost 10 degrees lower down there as well, which is definitely one of the advantages here. I've thought about moving the PC into my garage or patio enclosure to keep it at an even lower ambient temperature, especially with winter coming (located in Cleveland, OH whose climate borders on frozen tundra for most of the year). I worry about condensation though if its left in either of those rooms because neither of them have humidity control. Is this something to be concerned about or is it a non-issue?

Thanks to everyone for your input. I'm glad I got this figured out because it's much quieter in here now.

Use Team viewer! I run my machines from my droid3 with it. Easy to use, and free.
The only thing I can't do from my phone is, cold boot!

since your machine runs hot, condensation is not likely a problem (unless its humid enough in your basement for waterdrops to form say on the ceiling and drop down obviously).

Depending what remote desktop software you are using, most have some sort of android app available now. I haven't had to look that hard, I just use connectbot to SSH into my stuff at home.

I use team viewer. Its free to use and can get it on android phone to, so no matter where i am in the WORLD, i can control my bitminers just as if i was there on the computer ;)

It really is a neat pice of software ;) Try it, its free :)