Karnex

Remote support software for IT teams and MSPs

Karnex is remote support software for IT teams and managed service providers who look after Windows and Linux computers. Help someone on the spot with a short code, or install the agent once and reach the computer any time, with end-to-end encrypted remote desktop sessions, background tools that don't interrupt the user, and a full audit trail.

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Why teams need this

Most support requests start with "can you take a look?". The person is waiting, the computer may be in another building or another city, and the fix often needs an administrator prompt, a restart or a file from somewhere else. A good remote support tool gets you onto that screen in seconds, keeps working through the moments that usually break a session, and leaves a record of what was done.

How Karnex handles it

Attended support with Quick Assist. Generate a short code in the web console and read it to the person who needs help. They run a small download (on Windows) or paste one command (on Ubuntu, Debian or Raspberry Pi OS); it names your organization and asks them to confirm before anything is installed, and you're connected. When you're done, remove Karnex from their computer or keep it as a managed machine. Quick Assist is part of every paid plan.

Unattended access with the agent. Install the Karnex agent once and the computer stays in your fleet, ready whenever you need it, even with nobody at the keyboard. The agent connects out to Karnex, so there are no inbound firewall ports to open and no port forwarding. See unattended remote access with an outbound agent for what else the agent does.

The session itself. The Karnex Viewer (Windows 10/11, Linux, and an Android app) shows the remote screen with mouse and keyboard, every monitor, chat, clipboard and sound. On Windows you keep control through UAC prompts and the lock screen, can send Ctrl+Alt+Del, reboot into Safe Mode and back without losing the session, and can drive administrator windows even when a standard user is signed in. A colleague can join the same session.

Key capabilities

  • Files both ways. Send and receive files and folders up to 5 GB, each checked end to end with a SHA-256 checksum, or copy and paste files between the two computers.
  • Background tools. Processes and services, files, the registry, the event log and a remote command line work from the web console without opening a session or disturbing the person at the computer.
  • Scripts. Save scripts and programs once and run them on one machine or many, from the console or the Viewer.
  • Machines without an agent. Reach servers, kiosks and appliances over Remote Desktop or VNC through a nearby Karnex machine, in the same Viewer.
  • Recording. Record a session to your PC; on Karnex Elevate recordings are also archived, and can be encrypted on the technician's PC before upload.
  • Tickets. With the KarnexDesk add-on, requests arrive already linked to the person's computer, so a technician connects from the ticket in one click. See RMM with a built-in help desk.

Security and deployment

Remote desktop sessions are end-to-end encrypted between the agent on the remote computer and your Viewer: the screen, input, clipboard, session file transfers, chat and sound. Karnex's servers relay that traffic but can't read it. Each computer has its own identity key, and the Viewer warns you if it ever changes. Commands, the web console's file browser and other management traffic go through Karnex over TLS, as in any hosted service. Read the secure remote desktop overview or the full security architecture.

The agent runs on Windows 7 SP1 and later (including Windows Server) and on Linux on Intel/AMD or ARM, including Raspberry Pi. Mac computers aren't supported yet.

Who this is for

  • Internal IT teams supporting employees in an office, at home or across several sites.
  • Managed service providers supporting many clients from one console, with technicians limited to the clients they work for. See remote support and RMM for MSPs.
  • Help desks that want attended support and ticketing in one place.

Frequently asked questions

Do the people I support need an account?

No. They run a Quick Assist download, which names your organization and asks them to confirm, or you install the Karnex agent on their computer once.

Can Karnex see my remote sessions?

No. Live sessions are end-to-end encrypted between your Viewer and the remote computer; Karnex's servers only relay traffic they can't read.

How is Karnex priced?

Per technician, not per device. A seat is one technician connected at a time, everyone else on your team signs in free, and remote access covers unlimited machines on Core and up. See pricing.

Which computers can I support?

Windows 7 SP1 and later, Windows Server, and Linux on Intel/AMD or ARM, including Raspberry Pi. Technicians work from the web console, the Karnex Viewer for Windows 10/11 or Linux, or the Android app.

Try Karnex

Start a free 14-day trial with no card: the plan you choose with one seat, plus the RMM Automation and Endpoint Security add-ons. Start a free trial