Playing DR Secretly at Work on 01/04/2011 10:22 AM CST
Links-arrows 1
Reply Reply
So, I do data mining here at work so often I find myself sitting and waiting for data pulls to finish and calculations to complete. As a result, I frequently also find myself playing DR from the flash drive I bring here during this downtime; however, I do it secretly so everyone in the room thinks it's just a Developer Reporting program or something, wink wink. The problem is that the game is running slow as hell because the front end program I use is on my external USB flash drive.

I'm thinking about moving the front end program over to a folder on my desktop so that I can play without any super-lag, but I don't want it to show up on IT's radar as some sort of hax program that's sucking their bandwidth. My question is, will the IT team here be able to detect that I'm playing the game more if it's saved in a hidden folder on my desktop rather than just keeping it in my external USB flash drive?

__
~Leilond
http://www.elanthipedia.com/wiki/Leilond
http://soundsoftime.bravehost.com
Reply Reply
Re: Playing DR Secretly at Work on 01/04/2011 10:31 AM CST
Links-arrows 2
Reply Reply
As an IT security guy, the fact that you can run programs from a USB stick indicates that you're not dealing with "stringent" levels of security policy. If they haven't already noticed an odd process name running on the system, and it connecting to Simu's servers, I wouldn't worry too much.

Having done incident responses and data forensics, I can tell you that when someone gets "creative" with their folder naming / hiding, it does tend to pretty much nerf their "oh, sorry, I didn't realize it was a policy violation to have this installed. I swear I only used it on breaks, etc..." defense. You took steps to hide it, that's usually no bueno.

Depending on your work situation, much of these potential pitfalls can be overcome with <insert tasty adult beverages of choice>.


Ryken
--
lolbard 3.0
Reply Reply
Re: Playing DR Secretly at Work on 01/04/2011 10:34 AM CST
Links-arrows 3
Reply Reply
Another potential option to save you some grief and exposure: use some of the freely available ramdisk software to turn some of your RAM into storage temporarily and copy down the files to that.

You'll probably need to turn off logging, and copy any changes from that ramdisk back to your USB stick if you store anything locally.


Ryken
--
lolbard 3.0
Reply Reply
Re: Playing DR Secretly at Work on 01/04/2011 10:35 AM CST
Links-arrows 4
Reply Reply
>> My question is, will the IT team here be able to detect that I'm playing the game more if it's saved in a hidden folder on my desktop rather than just keeping it in my external USB flash drive?

Not to be a negative jerk here, but I really don't think that this is something you really should be soliciting help from on the official Simutronics forums.

You're complaining about lag while asking for advice on how to do something that nearly all of us want to, while trying to ascertain if your company will be able to detect you installing a hidden game on their systems.

Maybe I'm way off here, but as much as I'd really like to do the same, there are some boundaries there.

- Aristron
Reply Reply
Re: Playing DR Secretly at Work on 01/04/2011 10:41 AM CST
Links-arrows 5
Reply Reply
>>You're complaining about lag while asking for advice on how to do something that nearly all of us want to, while trying to ascertain if your company will be able to detect you installing a hidden game on their systems.

The problem is, these are the same people who get their panties in a bunch when people try to stream Yahoo! music.

tl;dr If I'm being productive and playing DR is done in my -downtime- there shouldn't be an issue.

Also,

>>Another potential option to save you some grief and exposure: use some of the freely available ramdisk software to turn some of your RAM into storage temporarily and copy down the files to that.

Huh? Are you talking about the RAM of the flash drive? I don't think I'd be able to alter the RAM on this computer without admin rights :P

__
~Leilond
http://www.elanthipedia.com/wiki/Leilond
http://soundsoftime.bravehost.com
Reply Reply
Re: Playing DR Secretly at Work on 01/04/2011 10:44 AM CST
Links-arrows 6
Reply Reply
I meant the local computer RAM. I have encountered immensely odd versions of local policy restriction. It was just a thought.

Shoot me an email and I can send you an alternative method that may be more useful (or not, a lot depends on your setup and tech aptitude).


Ryken
--
lolbard 3.0
Reply Reply
Re: Playing DR Secretly at Work on 01/04/2011 10:54 AM CST
Links-arrows 7
Reply Reply
Thanks a million Ryken for the suggestions!

__
~Leilond
http://www.elanthipedia.com/wiki/Leilond
http://soundsoftime.bravehost.com
Reply Reply
Re: Playing DR Secretly at Work on 01/04/2011 10:59 AM CST
Links-arrows 8
Reply Reply
I think there are also programs that set up a flash drive to better allow programs to be run from them, but I'm betting Ryken can help you more than I can.

Solomon


Be our Facebook Pal!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/DragonRealms/60215414412
Reply Reply
Re: Playing DR Secretly at Work on 01/04/2011 11:08 AM CST
Links-arrows 9
Reply Reply
Ahh interesting, totally didn't know that. Thank you for that bit of information as well Solomon :)

__
~Leilond
http://www.elanthipedia.com/wiki/Leilond
http://soundsoftime.bravehost.com
Reply Reply
Re: Playing DR Secretly at Work on 01/04/2011 12:00 PM CST
Links-arrows 10
Reply Reply
I could be totally wrong, too, but I know there are programs that allow you to run browsers and other programs from a thumb drive that you normally wouldn't be able to run. Just making a wild guess that it would help ya. :)


Solomon


Be our Facebook Pal!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/DragonRealms/60215414412
Reply Reply
Re: Playing DR Secretly at Work on 01/04/2011 12:04 PM CST
Links-arrows 11
Reply Reply
<<I could be totally wrong, too, but I know there are programs that allow you to run browsers and other programs from a thumb drive that you normally wouldn't be able to run. Just making a wild guess that it would help ya. :)

Hmmm, that may just be giving me a false hope, but I'd be in the market for something that lets programs that require .NET framework to be run from a thumb drive on a computer that doesn't have the .NET framework installed. I.e. the Genie front end. Anyone know if something like that exists?

-Evran

"RAGE + TEAR + EYE + RESO + HARM + DRUM + MISD + PRIDE + Your choice of Cyclic + AoE stun/knockdown as needed without losing buffs = OMG! I just crapped my pants!" -Evran
Reply Reply
Re: Playing DR Secretly at Work on 01/04/2011 12:08 PM CST
Links-arrows 12
Reply Reply
There's VMWare Player, dunno if you need admin rights to run a player instance once you set it up at home.

RDP + SSH has always been the simplest answer for me, but it requires a bit more tech-fu and such to setup. It also leaves very little footprint.


Ryken
--
lolbard 3.0
Reply Reply
Re: Playing DR Secretly at Work on 01/04/2011 12:24 PM CST
Links-arrows 13
Reply Reply
Well I can tell you that where I work the IT dept is fairly strict and haven't said a peep about me playing on my lunch hour or if I am compiling a manual or other mundane task that takes forever. :P

Using Genie helps for me too I think as the program name sounds like something that should be on there and pretty generic.

What I did is opened the game for about 10 min and then closed it...then waited to see if I would get a message or mention from the IT guys...and nothing. Then again I am on pretty good terms with them too, so maybe they saw it and figured it was harmless.
Reply Reply
Re: Playing DR Secretly at Work on 01/04/2011 12:34 PM CST
Links-arrows 14
Reply Reply
>>if I am compiling a manual or other mundane task that takes forever. :P

Obligatory link:

http://xkcd.com/303/
Reply Reply
Re: Playing DR Secretly at Work on 01/04/2011 01:45 PM CST
Links-arrows 15
Reply Reply
>>Hmmm, that may just be giving me a false hope, but I'd be in the market for something that lets programs that require .NET framework to be run from a thumb drive on a computer that doesn't have the .NET framework installed. I.e. the Genie front end. Anyone know if something like that exists?

I know VMware Thinapp can do it. I only use it for work, so I don't know how practical it is to get Thinapp for personal use.


__
* Sahfra was just struck down!
Tachid smugly says, "I'm telling Lyras. We should replace you.
Reply Reply
Re: Playing DR Secretly at Work on 01/04/2011 01:59 PM CST
Links-arrows 16
Reply Reply
Ah, just so I'm understanding it correctly, it looks like that program packages all the necessary executable and system files into a stand-alone program that can be run on any computer? The computer that is used to create the compiled package would need all the required files installed, but once compiled the package could be used on any computer even if it doesn't have those files.

Anywhere close to what it actually does?

-Evran

"RAGE + TEAR + EYE + RESO + HARM + DRUM + MISD + PRIDE + Your choice of Cyclic + AoE stun/knockdown as needed without losing buffs = OMG! I just crapped my pants!" -Evran
Reply Reply
Re: Playing DR Secretly at Work on 01/04/2011 02:29 PM CST
Links-arrows 17
Reply Reply
bah just use telnet!

http://elanthipedia.com/wiki/Telnet
Reply Reply
Re: Playing DR Secretly at Work on 01/04/2011 02:36 PM CST
Links-arrows 18
Reply Reply
lol. I already use eScape just fine, but I want my Genie fix back. ;)

-Evran

"RAGE + TEAR + EYE + RESO + HARM + DRUM + MISD + PRIDE + Your choice of Cyclic + AoE stun/knockdown as needed without losing buffs = OMG! I just crapped my pants!" -Evran
Reply Reply
Re: Playing DR Secretly at Work on 01/04/2011 04:44 PM CST
Links-arrows 19
Reply Reply
I think this is the one I was thinking about, but not sure it will work in your situation.

http://www.mojopac.com/


Solomon


Be our Facebook Pal!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/DragonRealms/60215414412
Reply Reply
Re: Playing DR Secretly at Work on 01/04/2011 06:11 PM CST
Links-arrows 20
Reply Reply
It looks like MojoPac needs admin login access, which they probably don't have on the work machine.

Cool find though, I game one night a week with friends (using my work laptop) and this would be perfect to put on a USB drive with whatever game we are playing, rather than install it, then uninstall it before work the next day :P
Reply Reply
Re: Playing DR Secretly at Work on 01/04/2011 06:32 PM CST
Links-arrows 21
Reply Reply
I've heard people report great success with remote desktop as well. Whenever I'm out gaming I always remote into my primary machine, so I never have to worry about transferring settings.

If you have control of your home router it's pretty easy to set up, and if your internet connection's decent the lag is minimal.


--

"The ninety and nine are with dreams, content but the hope of the world made new, is the hundredth man who is grimly bent on making those dreams come true." -E.A.P.
Reply Reply
Re: Playing DR Secretly at Work on 01/04/2011 06:33 PM CST
Links-arrows 22
Reply Reply
You can also use an IPAD.

Buy the Log me in App and set it up to your home computer.

Run Genie or your front end on your home computer, and then log in on your IPAD using Log Me In, it works really great. You can actually do this on your Iphone as well but its really hard to type. The ipad is tough, but if you have enough macro's its doable. Also you can add the keyboard and it works really well.

Dont even need to use the companies internet in these situations.
Reply Reply
Re: Playing DR Secretly at Work on 01/04/2011 06:34 PM CST
Links-arrows 23
Reply Reply
remote desktop also has the benefit of not pushing your DR traffic through your work network, come to think of it.


--

"The ninety and nine are with dreams, content but the hope of the world made new, is the hundredth man who is grimly bent on making those dreams come true." -E.A.P.
Reply Reply
Re: Playing DR Secretly at Work on 01/04/2011 06:37 PM CST
Links-arrows 24
Reply Reply
>> Lots of pro-DR at work posts.

Hrm. I obviously am seriously out of touch. I need to become a civilian again.

- Aristron
Reply Reply
Re: Playing DR Secretly at Work on 01/04/2011 06:42 PM CST
Links-arrows 25
Reply Reply
>>mojopac.com

If that isn't just the perfect name for a program that lets a Bard primary to play the game with the FE he wants then I don't know what is.

-Evran

"RAGE + TEAR + EYE + RESO + HARM + DRUM + MISD + PRIDE + Your choice of Cyclic + AoE stun/knockdown as needed without losing buffs = OMG! I just crapped my pants!" -Evran
Reply Reply
Re: Playing DR Secretly at Work on 01/04/2011 08:15 PM CST
Links-arrows 26
Reply Reply
>>remote desktop also has the benefit of not pushing your DR traffic through your work network, come to think of it.

I use Teamviewer running in stand alone mode. Of course, I work in IT and do some small amount of remote support so it's not odd for me to have that running on my system.
Reply Reply
Re: Playing DR Secretly at Work on 01/04/2011 08:15 PM CST
Links-arrows 27
Reply Reply
>Hrm. I obviously am seriously out of touch. I need to become a civilian again.

Working is for suckers.

~ Pansophist Kougen

Knowledge is not power. Power is a trinket, a mere bauble, a distraction. Knowledge is an end unto itself.
Reply Reply
Re: Playing DR Secretly at Work on 01/04/2011 08:32 PM CST
Links-arrows 28
Reply Reply
>>Anywhere close to what it actually does?

That's pretty much what it does. Basically it takes a snapshot of the system, then you install whatever you want to be in the package(so .NET, Genie, etc). Then it creates the package that you can use on most computers.

It's usually done on a clean virtual machine because it will only grab new files. So if you did it on your home computer, it wouldn't pick up .NET since you have it installed already.

If you end up trying Thinapp and have questions, I can help you out.

That mojopac software looks nice too, but unfortunately it requires admin access to run.
__
* Sahfra was just struck down!
Tachid smugly says, "I'm telling Lyras. We should replace you.
Reply Reply
Re: Playing DR Secretly at Work on 01/05/2011 01:06 PM CST
Links-arrows 29
Reply Reply
One thing with Remote Desktop is that your home computer needs to have Professional or Ultimate (Vista, 7, XP) running on it for this to work right?

I can only find the blurb about Vista and XP but am assuming that 7 is the same.

"You cannot use Remote Desktop Connection to connect to computers running Windows Vista Starter, Windows Vista Home Basic, Windows Vista Home Basic N, or Windows Vista Home Premium. You cannot use Remote Desktop Connection to connect to computers running Windows XP Home Edition."
Reply Reply
Re: Playing DR Secretly at Work on 01/05/2011 05:41 PM CST
Links-arrows 30
Reply Reply
You can use http://www.tightvnc.com/ I'm what passes for the IT guy at my fire department and county EMA, and that's what I use for computers someone needs access to remotely. Very easy setup. Not sure if it's the best free remote desktop software out there, but I like it better than logmein.

DRPrime - Celeres Turrance
DRPrime - NecroUnknown
Reply Reply
Re: Playing DR Secretly at Work on 01/05/2011 05:44 PM CST
Links-arrows 31
Reply Reply
>One thing with Remote Desktop is that your home computer needs to have Professional or Ultimate (Vista, 7, XP) running on it for this to work right?

Correct.

~ Pansophist Kougen

Knowledge is not power. Power is a trinket, a mere bauble, a distraction. Knowledge is an end unto itself.
Reply Reply
Re: Playing DR Secretly at Work on 01/05/2011 09:09 PM CST
Links-arrows 32
Reply Reply
I use Gbridge when I'm at work, it's really easy to use for people that aren't all that technical (i.e. me).



You hear the ghostly voice of Katralyn say, "I have plenty of idea."

You are Peak Destroyer Devoria Myth, Protector of Ilithi, an Elf.
Reply Reply
Re: Playing DR Secretly at Work on 01/05/2011 10:52 PM CST
Links-arrows 33
Reply Reply
Yeah, the admin rights were why I was not sure MojoPac would work for you. Oh well!


Solomon


Be our Facebook Pal!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/DragonRealms/60215414412
Reply Reply
Re: Playing DR Secretly at Work on 01/06/2011 10:25 PM CST
Links-arrows 34
Reply Reply
>>bah just use telnet!

DR via telnet is DR Hardcore!

Back when I worked in an office instead of telecommuting, I used GoToMyPC and it worked very well
Reply Reply
Re: Playing DR Secretly at Work on 01/21/2011 08:26 AM CST
Links-arrows 35
Reply Reply
>>Hrm. I obviously am seriously out of touch. I need to become a civilian again.

I find that not having to worry about anything beyond e-mail at work is the best part of being at work.

No cell/phone calls from the SO, no constant SMS drone from friends and family, no instant messaging. It's like being an ascetic for 8-12 hours a day.

The only bad part is leaving and having 3-4 missed calls; I forward SMS to my e-mail to read/ignore at my leisure (since nobody knows I get them via e-mail, nobody necessarily expects a response).

I use a VPN or remote desktop for a lot of things, but it can be a bit of a pain. My desktop is set up for four 28" monitors, so it's a lot of extra scrolling on a 15" laptop monitor until I start a game up.

If you're not a SCIFer, there are a few ways to bypass network security. Besides marrying your IMO, I mean.
Reply Reply