Automating Functions | Apple 3 specification

152

ÂDeactivate Remote Desktop access for a computer:

$ sudo /System/Library/CoreServices/RemoteManagement/ARDAgent.app/ Contents/Resources/kickstart -deactivate -configure -access -off

Automating Functions

You can automate any command or function in Remote Desktop. Additionally, Remote Desktop supports scripting (either UNIX or AppleScript) to help automate their client management.

Setting the Client’s Data Reporting Policy

To speed up reporting and allow reporting from offline clients, Apple Remote Desktop uses saved client system and file information. You can automate the collection of this information by setting the data reporting policy. This schedule determines how often the client updates its system and file information for reports.

In accordance with the collection schedule you set, each client computer connects to a central reporting database and uploads the information you designate. There are certain trade-offs to the frequency of these updates. If you require all the clients to update their information too often, you run the risk of added network traffic and slower client performance during updates. If you don’t require the clients to update often enough, the report data that you receive may be out of date. You should take care to balance your reporting needs and your network and client performance needs.

The collection policy includes four kinds of information: system data, file data, user accounting data, and application usage data.

System data includes all possible reported information for the following reports:

ÂSystem Overview

ÂStorage

ÂUSB Devices

ÂFireWire Devices

ÂMemory

ÂPCI Cards

ÂNetwork Interfaces

The file data includes all possible reported information for the following reports:

ÂFile Search

ÂSoftware Version

ÂSoftware Difference

Chapter 8 Administering Client Computers

Image 152

Apple 3 manual Automating Functions, Setting the Client’s Data Reporting Policy

Contents

Administrator’s Guide Apple Computer, Inc Apple Computer, Inc. All rights reserved Contents Administrator Computer Understanding and Controlling Access PrivilegesApple Remote Desktop Administrator Access Using Local Accounts Setting Up the Network and Maintaining Security Setting Up the NetworkRemote Desktop Authentication and Data Transport Encryption Switching Between Control and Observe Modes Administering Client Computers Using the Task Feedback DisplayKeeping Track of Task Progress and History Enabling a Task Notification Script Appendix a 161 Icon and Port Reference Client Status Icons Appendix B Appendix CAppendix D Index What Is Apple Remote Desktop? About This Book Notation Conventions Using This GuideRemote Desktop Help Where to Find More Information About Apple Remote Desktop Terminal Command Conventions Preface About This Book Using Apple Remote Desktop Administering Computers Using Apple Remote Desktop Distributing Installer Packages Deploying Software Using Network Install Images Using NetBoot Images Using Unix Shell Scripts Verifying InstallationsDistributing Preference Files Distributing Drag-and-Drop Applications Taking Inventory ARD SQL Administration Settings Report File Search ReportSpotlight File Search Software Version Report Generating Your Own Reports Application Usage ReportNetwork Test Report Managing Power State Housekeeping Supporting Users Providing Help Desk Support Requesting HelpChatting with the User Screen Monitoring Using Reports Screen ControllingScreen Sharing Deploying New Software or Files Using Text Messages Interacting with StudentsMonitoring Student Computers Sharing Screens Finding More Information To learn more about See information for Starting on Getting to Know Remote Desktop Remote Desktop Human Interface Guide Remote Desktop Main Window Getting to Know Remote Desktop Getting to Know Remote Desktop Task Dialogs ABG Control and Observe Window C D E F G HI Multiple-Client Observe Window HA B CI Report Window DEF Changing Report Layout To change what information is displayed Configuring Remote Desktop Customizing the Remote Desktop ToolbarTo customize the application toolbar To open the Preferences window Interface Tips and Shortcuts Computers can be selected from any window Saved Tasks and Task Templates save you time Drag and drop works on configuration dialogsMaking lists from reports or other lists System Requirements for Apple Remote Desktop Administrator and client computersNetBoot and Network Install optional Installing the Remote Desktop Administrator Software Network Requirements Upgrading the Remote Desktop Administrator Software Method #1-Remote Upgrade Installation Upgrading the Client Software To manually upgrade the client software Method #2-Manual InstallationUpgrading Apple Remote Desktop Clients Using SSH To create the client installer Creating a Custom Client InstallerTo upgrade existing client software using SSH Installing Apple Remote Desktop Uninstalling the Administrator Software To remove the administrator softwareConsiderations for Managed Clients Removing or Disabling Apple Remote Desktop To disable the client software on a client computer Disabling the Client Software Uninstalling the Client Software from Client Computers To uninstall client software Computer Lists To search for clients on the local network Finding Clients by Searching the Local NetworkFinding Clients by Searching a Network Range To search for a specific address Finding Clients by Network AddressTo search a range of network addresses Finding Clients by File Import Making a New ScannerTo import a list of computers from a file To make a custom search list Making and Managing Lists About Apple Remote Desktop Computer Lists Creating an Apple Remote Desktop Computer List Deleting Apple Remote Desktop ListsCreating a Smart Computer List To create an Apple Remote Desktop computer list Editing a Smart Computer List To create a smart computer listTo edit a smart computer list To create an list of computer lists Importing and Exporting Computer Lists To transfer the computer lists To transfer the computer lists To transfer the computer lists Access Privileges Apple Remote Desktop Administrator Access Select To allow administrators to To set administrator privileges on a computer Method #1 Creating Administrator Access GroupsTo create an administrator access group Understanding and Controlling Access Privileges Understanding and Controlling Access Privileges Apple Remote Desktop Guest Access Enabling Directory Services Group AuthorizationTo enable Apple Remote Desktop authorization by group Method #2 Limiting Features in the Administrator Application Apple Remote Desktop Nonadministrator AccessTo allow guest access Virtual Network Computing Access To enable User Mode To allow VNC access Command-Line SSH AccessManaging Client Administration Settings and Privileges Getting an Administration Settings Report Changing Client Administrator PrivilegesTo get an administration settings report To change administrator privileges on each computer Understanding and Controlling Access Privileges Setting Up the Network Maintaining Security Setting Up the Network Setting Up the Network and Maintaining Security Getting the Best Performance Maintaining Security User Privileges and Permissions Security Administrator Application SecurityPassword Access Security Encrypting Observe and Control Network Data Remote Desktop Authentication and Data Transport EncryptionPhysical Access Security To enable Observe and Control transport encryption To set a default encryption preference for file copies Interacting with Users Controlling Controlling Apple Remote Desktop Clients Control Window Options To control an Apple Remote Desktop client Switching Between Control and Observe Modes To switch between control and observe modesTo switch between complete control and shared mouse modes Sharing Control with a User To switch between standard control and curtain modes To switch between full screen and in-a-window modesHiding a User’s Screen While Controlling Capturing the Control Window to a File To share clipboard content with the client Sharing Clipboards for Copy and PasteControlling VNC Servers To control a VNC client computer Apple Remote Desktop Control and the PC’s Ctrl-Alt-Del Setting up a Non-Mac OS X VNC ServerBasic steps are To set a custom VNC port when adding a computer by address VNC Control OptionsTo set a custom port on an existing computer list member To designate a display to control To configure a client to accept VNC connections Observing Dealing With Many Client Screens Getting More Information on Observed Clients Changing Observe Settings While Observing To change your observe settings Changing Screen Titles While Observing Viewing a User’s Account Picture While ObservingTo change your observe window titles To view a user’s account picture Icon Indicates Shortcuts in the Multiple Screen Observe Window Observing a Single ComputerTo show system status in the observe window To observe a single computer To observe using Dashboard Observing Multiple ComputersObserving a Computer in Dashboard To observe multiple computers Sending Messages Sending One-Way MessagesInteractive Chat To send a one-way text message Sharing Screens Viewing Attention RequestsSharing a Screen with Client Computers To view attention requests Interacting with Your Apple Remote Desktop Administrator Requesting Administrator AttentionTo request administrator attention Monitoring a Screen Sharing Tasks Canceling an Attention Request To cancel an attention requestTo change your login icon Changing Your Observed Client Icon Administering Client Computers Keeping Track of Task Progress and History To enable a task notification script Enabling a Task Notification Script Stopping a Currently Running Task Using the Task Feedback DisplayGetting Active Task Status Getting Completed Task History Saving a Task for Later UseTo stop a currently running task To get status on a completed task To apply a task template Creating and Using Task TemplatesTo create a task template Installing Software Using Apple Remote Desktop Installing by Package and MetapackageEditing a Saved Task To edit a saved task To copy and install software using a .pkg file Installing Software on Offline Computers To install software on offline clients Installing by Using the Copy Items Command Using Installers from Other CompaniesTo install software by copying To install software with third-party installers To upgrade software on client computers Upgrading Software Copying Files Copy Options Copying from Administrator to Clients More Options When the Item Already ExistsPost-Copy Action To copy items to clients Copying Using Drag and Drop To copy items from a client to the administrator’s computerCopying from the Finder to a Client To copy items from the Finder to a client To restore files using the Copy Items command Restoring Items from a Master Copy Creating Reports Collecting Report Data Using a Task Server for Report Data Collection To set up a Task Server, you need to Report Database Recommendations and Bandwidth Usage Generating a User History Report Auditing Client Usage InformationSystem Report Size To generate an Application Usage report To generate a User History reportGenerating an Application Usage Report Finding Files, Folders, and Applications Using Spotlight to Find ItemsTo search for software items using Spotlight Generating a File Search Report To search for software items Comparing Software Generating a Software Version ReportTo generate a Software Version report Generating a Software Difference Report To get a basic System Overview report Auditing HardwareTo generate a Software Difference report Getting Serial Numbers To generate a serial number reportGetting Storage Information To generate a Storage report Getting USB Device Information Getting FireWire Device InformationTo generate a FireWire Devices report To generate a Network Interfaces report To generate a USB Devices reportGetting Network Interface Information Getting PCI Card Information Getting Memory InformationTo generate a Memory report Testing Network Responsiveness To generate a PCI Cards reportTo generate a Network Test report Evaluating the Network Test Report Exporting Report Information To export a report Using Report Windows to Work with Computers To delete an item from a client Maintaining SystemsDeleting Items Setting the Startup Disk Emptying the TrashTo empty the Trash To set the startup disk To rename a computer Renaming ComputersSynchronizing Computer Time To synchronize client computer clocks Setting Computer Audio VolumeTo set a computer’s audio volume Repairing File Permissions Adding Items to the DockTo repair a computer’s file permissions To add an application or other item to the Dock Changing Energy Saver Preferences To change the Energy Saver preferences To change the Remote Login sharing preference Changing Sharing Preferences for Remote LoginSetting Printer Preferences To set up printer preferences using Copy Items To set up printer preferences using Send Unix Command Managing Computers Opening Files and Folders To open an application Opening ApplicationsTo open an item Quitting Applications Without Logging Out the User Putting a Computer to SleepTo quit an open application To put a computer to sleep To wake a computer Waking Up a ComputerLocking a Computer Screen Displaying a Custom Picture on a Locked Screen Unlocking a Computer ScreenTo lock a computer screen To create a custom locked screen picture Logging In a User at the Login Window To disable a computer screen while you workDisabling a Computer Screen To log in a user Logging Out the Current User Restarting a ComputerTo log out a user To restart a computer Shutting Down a Computer To shut down a computer Unix Shell Commands Send Unix Command Templates Template sub-menu Template name Executing a Single Unix Command Executing Scripts Using Send Unix CommandTo execute a single Unix command Executing Shell Scripts with Remote Desktop To execute an AppleScript using the Send Unix Command To copy and execute a scriptExecuting AppleScripts with Remote Desktop To send and execute an AppleScript Built-in Command-Line Tools Using networksetup Few of the capabilities of networksetup are listed below Using systemsetup Few of the capabilities of systemsetup are listed below 150 Using kickstart Shut down the Apple Remote Desktop Agent process Setting the Client’s Data Reporting Policy Automating Functions Creating a Template Data Reporting Policy To set a client’s data reporting policy To set the default data reporting policy template Setting Scheduled Tasks Scheduled TasksTo set the Task Server location To schedule a task Using AppleScript with Remote Desktop Editing Scheduled TasksTo edit a task schedule Deleting Scheduled Tasks Using the Remote Desktop AppleScript Dictionary Remote Desktop’s AppleScript BasicsComputer list n inh. item a list which holds computers Add v Add a computer to a task To access the full AppleScript dictionary for Remote Desktop Sample AppleScript Using Automator with Remote Desktop 160 Apple Remote Desktop Status Icons Appendix List Menu Icons Task Status Icons System Status Icons Basic System Status Icons Detailed TCP and UDP Port Reference Port Protocol Function Report Field Definitions Reference B System Overview Report 166 167 Storage Report HFS, HFS+, UFS FireWire Devices Report USB Devices ReportMemory Report PCI Cards Report Network Interfaces Report 171 Administration Settings Report Network Test Report Application Usage Report User History Report Control v Start a control session with the computer Execute v Executes a taskObserve v Start an observation session Remove v Remove a computer from a task Elements Computer n inh. item a physical computer Contained by application Message Unicode text Message to display on the screens Restart task n inh. task item Restart the target computers Shutdown task n inh. task item Shutdown the target computers Wake up task n inh. task item Wake up the target computers Sample list of main database schema Sample list of system information table Sample list of property names Sample list of table from one computer Index 183 184