i'm not sure 640kB is even nearly close to what a simple vnc implementation might require; You have to have a copy of the entire screen at all times;
i also wonder how much time such a machine would require to pull an entire picture from network

There is a VNC client for the Apple IIgs. It works, but is very limited and slow.

https://github.com/sheumann/VNCviewGS

An XT would be a bit more limited inuse. At least the IIgs can address more RAM and has better than CGA video.

Besides RAM protocols like VNC need quite a bit of CPU as well. Also, you need a TCP stack and a NIC...

FreeDOS includes a VNC client, as well as TCP/IP stack.

But will it run on a 8086? I thinkmquite a few FreeDOS features require a 386.

How were servers remotely administered in those days?

Errius wrote:

How were servers remotely administered in those days?

🤣
there was no such thing exactly, luckily

Well, there were UNIX servers, using telnet, as mentioned above, or even teletypes over networks/phone. DOS/NetWare servers were not so much administered remotely...

DESQView /X supported X11 on DOS. Some sort of remote desktop functionality should have been there.
Also, PC-Tools had some remote feature, I recall. I'm speaking under correction, however.

Edit: These likely require 286 or 386 systems, however. 8086 PCs were better terminals at best.

IF you have PCI you can get out of band management cards, HP/Compaq ilo cards are the best known but other brands exist. They actually work on any PC.
I've got a first generation ILO (RILOE)card but haven't got it working on anything later then IE6 (Haven't tried very hard either though)

Jo22 wrote on 2018-09-24, 06:09:

Also, PC-Tools had some remote feature, I recall. I'm speaking under correction, however.

Re: Remote DOS shell

😇

There were quite a lot of programs of the PCAnywhere / Carbon Copy type. At least earlier versions supported 640K machines, but they'd be finnicky to use by today's expectations.

For server administration though, graphics typically weren't needed. I'd be highly surprised if most network server software couldn't enable a Telnet / BBS-door-like functionality.

Edit: didn't notice age of thread. Oh well 😀

VileR wrote on 2020-07-28, 23:16:

There were quite a lot of programs of the PCAnywhere / Carbon Copy type. At least earlier versions supported 640K machines, but they'd be finnicky to use by today's expectations.

For server administration though, graphics typically weren't needed. I'd be highly surprised if most network server software couldn't enable a Telnet / BBS-door-like functionality.

Edit: didn't notice age of thread. Oh well 😀

Thank you very much for the information! 😁
Seems PC Anywhere was originally made by Dynamic Microprocessor Associates, Inc.,
before it was bought by "evil" Symantec, so I may give it a try.

Here's some description that I found:

Version 4.5 adds the ability to control Windows 3.0 remotely from DOS, scripting, and Ethernet IPX networking support.

It boasted the fastest, most responsive remote sessions of all competing remote control applications. It competed against CO/Session, Close Up, Commute, and Carbon Copy.