Remote administration of a Windows machine is accomplished using Remote Procedure Calls (RPCs). Linux also uses RPCs, but they are performed outside the kernel. Windows incorporated the RPC inside protected kernel space, which can lead to data corruption and crashes. When you configure a Windows client to allow remote administration, you are installing a set of Dynamic Linked Libraries (DLLs) on the client machine.

When a sysop wants to remotely administer a computer, the sysop's machine sends an RPC to the client machine, requesting to run a particular procedure using the client's DLL files. If approved by the client machine, the DLL is run. The level of access of the client depends on the configuration. Most Win9x setups enable share-level security, which is the default. Some systems are installed with user-level security, and the sysop or admin person should have set up their access when they installed the OS.

To enable remote administration on a Win95 computer, go to the Passwords icon in the Control Panel.

There are four useful tools that can be installed in a Win95 system from the OS CD.

Net Watcher
Net Watcher allows the administration of shared resources on a remote workstation.

Remote System Monitor
This tool allows the viewing of performance information and statistics of the remote workstation.

Administer
The Administer tool allows access to a special hidden shared directory called C$. This is in the root of the boot partition of the remote workstation.

Remote Registry Editor
This tool allows modifications for the remote workstation's registry file. This is a dangerous tool, and security must be in place to prevent abuse.