EchoServer is a packet relay server that connects echoWare enabled applications together across the Internet, regardless of intervening firewalls or NAT'ing routers. From the client application point of view -- on *both* sides of the connection -- all transmissions to the echoServer appear to be "outgoing", meaning those connections will be allowed by most consumer-grade firewalls or NAT'ing routers. Thus, echoWare-enabled applications can connect with each other without any "port-forwarding" or firewall adjustements required at either end of the client connection.

Current echoWare-enabled applications include Kaboodle (www.Kaboodle.org) and EchoVNC (www.echovnc.com).

Kaboodle is a LAN Management and LAN-to-LAN connectivity tool for Windows. With it, you can quickly and continously discover all active PC's and devices on your LAN. You can also securely connect your LAN with another, enabling remote-control and file-transfers from LAN to LAN.

EchoVNC is a firewall-friendly remote access solution based on VNC. With EchoVNC on both sides of a connection, a PC user can take remote control of another computer across the Internet, regardless of firewall or router configuration. VNC becomes "firewall friendly" -- no more port-forwarding!