About This Book, What Is Apple Remote Desktop? | Apple 3 guide

About This Book

What Is Apple Remote Desktop?

Preface

Apple Remote Desktop is easy-to-use, powerful, open standards-based, desktop management software for all your networked Macs. IT professionals can remotely control and configure systems, install software, offer interactive online help to end users, and assemble detailed software and hardware reports for an entire Mac network.

You can use Apple Remote Desktop to:

ÂManage client computers and maintain, update, and distribute software

ÂCollect more than 200 system-information attributes for any Mac on your network

ÂStore the results in an SQL database and view the information using any of several hardware or software reports

ÂControl and manage multiple computer systems simultaneously, making shutdown, restart, and sending UNIX commands fast and easy

ÂProvide help and remote assistance to users when they encounter problems

ÂInteract with users by sending text messages, observing and controlling users’ screens, and sharing their screens with other client users

You can use Apple Remote Desktop to manage your client systems. IT administrators use Remote Desktop in education and business to simplify and empower the management of their organizations computer assets. For system administrators, Apple Remote Desktop can be used to administer large numbers of servers, like a virtual Keyboard-Video-Mouse (KVM) sharing unit. In computer administration environments, it’s the ideal solution for managing remote systems, reducing administration costs, and increasing productivity.

Apple Remote Desktop can also be used by educators to facilitate instruction in computer labs or one-on-one learning initiatives. Used in a classroom, Apple Remote Desktop enhances the learning experience and allows teachers to monitor and control students’ computers.

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Apple 3 manual About This Book, What Is Apple Remote Desktop?

Contents

Administrator’s Guide Apple Computer, Inc Apple Computer, Inc. All rights reserved Contents Understanding and Controlling Access Privileges Administrator ComputerApple Remote Desktop Administrator Access Using Local Accounts Setting Up the Network Setting Up the Network and Maintaining SecurityRemote Desktop Authentication and Data Transport Encryption Switching Between Control and Observe Modes Using the Task Feedback Display Administering Client ComputersKeeping Track of Task Progress and History Enabling a Task Notification Script 161 Icon and Port Reference Client Status Icons Appendix a Appendix C Appendix BAppendix D Index About This Book What Is Apple Remote Desktop? Using This Guide Remote Desktop HelpNotation Conventions Terminal Command Conventions Where to Find More Information About Apple Remote Desktop Preface About This Book Administering Computers Using Apple Remote Desktop Using Apple Remote Desktop Deploying Software Distributing Installer Packages Using NetBoot Images Using Network Install Images Verifying Installations Using Unix Shell ScriptsDistributing Preference Files Distributing Drag-and-Drop Applications ARD SQL Taking Inventory File Search Report Administration Settings ReportSpotlight File Search Software Version Report Application Usage Report Network Test ReportGenerating Your Own Reports Housekeeping Managing Power State Supporting Users Requesting Help Providing Help Desk SupportChatting with the User Screen Monitoring Screen Controlling Using ReportsScreen Sharing Deploying New Software or Files Interacting with Students Using Text MessagesMonitoring Student Computers Sharing Screens Finding More Information To learn more about See information for Starting on Remote Desktop Human Interface Guide Getting to Know Remote Desktop Getting to Know Remote Desktop Remote Desktop Main Window Getting to Know Remote Desktop ABG Task Dialogs C D E F G HI Control and Observe Window HA B CI Multiple-Client Observe Window DEF Report Window To change what information is displayed Changing Report Layout Customizing the Remote Desktop Toolbar Configuring Remote DesktopTo customize the application toolbar To open the Preferences window Computers can be selected from any window Interface Tips and Shortcuts Drag and drop works on configuration dialogs Making lists from reports or other listsSaved Tasks and Task Templates save you time Administrator and client computers NetBoot and Network Install optionalSystem Requirements for Apple Remote Desktop Network Requirements Installing the Remote Desktop Administrator Software Upgrading the Remote Desktop Administrator Software Upgrading the Client Software Method #1-Remote Upgrade Installation Method #2-Manual Installation Upgrading Apple Remote Desktop Clients Using SSHTo manually upgrade the client software Creating a Custom Client Installer To upgrade existing client software using SSHTo create the client installer Installing Apple Remote Desktop To remove the administrator software Uninstalling the Administrator SoftwareConsiderations for Managed Clients Removing or Disabling Apple Remote Desktop Disabling the Client Software To disable the client software on a client computer To uninstall client software Uninstalling the Client Software from Client Computers Computer Lists Finding Clients by Searching the Local Network Finding Clients by Searching a Network RangeTo search for clients on the local network Finding Clients by Network Address To search a range of network addressesTo search for a specific address Making a New Scanner Finding Clients by File ImportTo import a list of computers from a file To make a custom search list About Apple Remote Desktop Computer Lists Making and Managing Lists Deleting Apple Remote Desktop Lists Creating an Apple Remote Desktop Computer ListCreating a Smart Computer List To create an Apple Remote Desktop computer list To create a smart computer list Editing a Smart Computer ListTo edit a smart computer list To create an list of computer lists To transfer the computer lists Importing and Exporting Computer Lists To transfer the computer lists To transfer the computer lists Apple Remote Desktop Administrator Access Access Privileges Select To allow administrators to To set administrator privileges on a computer Creating Administrator Access Groups To create an administrator access groupMethod #1 Understanding and Controlling Access Privileges Understanding and Controlling Access Privileges Enabling Directory Services Group Authorization Apple Remote Desktop Guest AccessTo enable Apple Remote Desktop authorization by group Method #2 Apple Remote Desktop Nonadministrator Access To allow guest accessLimiting Features in the Administrator Application To enable User Mode Virtual Network Computing Access Command-Line SSH Access Managing Client Administration Settings and PrivilegesTo allow VNC access Changing Client Administrator Privileges Getting an Administration Settings ReportTo get an administration settings report To change administrator privileges on each computer Understanding and Controlling Access Privileges Setting Up the Network Setting Up the Network Maintaining Security Setting Up the Network and Maintaining Security Maintaining Security Getting the Best Performance Administrator Application Security Password Access SecurityUser Privileges and Permissions Security Remote Desktop Authentication and Data Transport Encryption Physical Access SecurityEncrypting Observe and Control Network Data To set a default encryption preference for file copies To enable Observe and Control transport encryption Interacting with Users Controlling Apple Remote Desktop Clients Controlling To control an Apple Remote Desktop client Control Window Options To switch between control and observe modes Switching Between Control and Observe ModesTo switch between complete control and shared mouse modes Sharing Control with a User To switch between full screen and in-a-window modes To switch between standard control and curtain modesHiding a User’s Screen While Controlling Capturing the Control Window to a File Sharing Clipboards for Copy and Paste To share clipboard content with the clientControlling VNC Servers To control a VNC client computer Setting up a Non-Mac OS X VNC Server Basic steps areApple Remote Desktop Control and the PC’s Ctrl-Alt-Del VNC Control Options To set a custom VNC port when adding a computer by addressTo set a custom port on an existing computer list member To designate a display to control Observing To configure a client to accept VNC connections Getting More Information on Observed Clients Dealing With Many Client Screens To change your observe settings Changing Observe Settings While Observing Viewing a User’s Account Picture While Observing Changing Screen Titles While ObservingTo change your observe window titles To view a user’s account picture Icon Indicates Observing a Single Computer Shortcuts in the Multiple Screen Observe WindowTo show system status in the observe window To observe a single computer Observing Multiple Computers To observe using DashboardObserving a Computer in Dashboard To observe multiple computers Sending One-Way Messages Sending MessagesInteractive Chat To send a one-way text message Viewing Attention Requests Sharing ScreensSharing a Screen with Client Computers To view attention requests Requesting Administrator Attention Interacting with Your Apple Remote Desktop AdministratorTo request administrator attention Monitoring a Screen Sharing Tasks To cancel an attention request Canceling an Attention RequestTo change your login icon Changing Your Observed Client Icon Keeping Track of Task Progress and History Administering Client Computers Enabling a Task Notification Script To enable a task notification script Using the Task Feedback Display Getting Active Task StatusStopping a Currently Running Task Saving a Task for Later Use Getting Completed Task HistoryTo stop a currently running task To get status on a completed task Creating and Using Task Templates To create a task templateTo apply a task template Installing by Package and Metapackage Installing Software Using Apple Remote DesktopEditing a Saved Task To edit a saved task To copy and install software using a .pkg file To install software on offline clients Installing Software on Offline Computers Using Installers from Other Companies Installing by Using the Copy Items CommandTo install software by copying To install software with third-party installers Upgrading Software To upgrade software on client computers Copying Files Copy Options More Options When the Item Already Exists Copying from Administrator to ClientsPost-Copy Action To copy items to clients To copy items from a client to the administrator’s computer Copying Using Drag and DropCopying from the Finder to a Client To copy items from the Finder to a client Restoring Items from a Master Copy To restore files using the Copy Items command Collecting Report Data Creating Reports To set up a Task Server, you need to Using a Task Server for Report Data Collection Report Database Recommendations and Bandwidth Usage Auditing Client Usage Information System Report SizeGenerating a User History Report To generate a User History report Generating an Application Usage ReportTo generate an Application Usage report Using Spotlight to Find Items To search for software items using SpotlightFinding Files, Folders, and Applications To search for software items Generating a File Search Report Generating a Software Version Report Comparing SoftwareTo generate a Software Version report Generating a Software Difference Report Auditing Hardware To generate a Software Difference reportTo get a basic System Overview report To generate a serial number report Getting Serial NumbersGetting Storage Information To generate a Storage report Getting FireWire Device Information To generate a FireWire Devices reportGetting USB Device Information To generate a USB Devices report Getting Network Interface InformationTo generate a Network Interfaces report Getting Memory Information To generate a Memory reportGetting PCI Card Information To generate a PCI Cards report Testing Network ResponsivenessTo generate a Network Test report Evaluating the Network Test Report To export a report Exporting Report Information Using Report Windows to Work with Computers Maintaining Systems Deleting ItemsTo delete an item from a client Emptying the Trash Setting the Startup DiskTo empty the Trash To set the startup disk Renaming Computers Synchronizing Computer TimeTo rename a computer Setting Computer Audio Volume To set a computer’s audio volumeTo synchronize client computer clocks Adding Items to the Dock Repairing File PermissionsTo repair a computer’s file permissions To add an application or other item to the Dock To change the Energy Saver preferences Changing Energy Saver Preferences Changing Sharing Preferences for Remote Login Setting Printer PreferencesTo change the Remote Login sharing preference To set up printer preferences using Send Unix Command To set up printer preferences using Copy Items Opening Files and Folders Managing Computers Opening Applications To open an itemTo open an application Putting a Computer to Sleep Quitting Applications Without Logging Out the UserTo quit an open application To put a computer to sleep Waking Up a Computer Locking a Computer ScreenTo wake a computer Unlocking a Computer Screen Displaying a Custom Picture on a Locked ScreenTo lock a computer screen To create a custom locked screen picture To disable a computer screen while you work Logging In a User at the Login WindowDisabling a Computer Screen To log in a user Restarting a Computer Logging Out the Current UserTo log out a user To restart a computer To shut down a computer Shutting Down a Computer Send Unix Command Templates Unix Shell Commands Template sub-menu Template name Executing Scripts Using Send Unix Command Executing a Single Unix CommandTo execute a single Unix command Executing Shell Scripts with Remote Desktop To copy and execute a script To execute an AppleScript using the Send Unix CommandExecuting AppleScripts with Remote Desktop To send and execute an AppleScript Using networksetup Built-in Command-Line Tools Few of the capabilities of networksetup are listed below Few of the capabilities of systemsetup are listed below Using systemsetup 150 Shut down the Apple Remote Desktop Agent process Using kickstart Automating Functions Setting the Client’s Data Reporting Policy To set a client’s data reporting policy Creating a Template Data Reporting Policy To set the default data reporting policy template Scheduled Tasks Setting Scheduled TasksTo set the Task Server location To schedule a task Editing Scheduled Tasks Using AppleScript with Remote DesktopTo edit a task schedule Deleting Scheduled Tasks Remote Desktop’s AppleScript Basics Using the Remote Desktop AppleScript DictionaryComputer list n inh. item a list which holds computers Add v Add a computer to a task Sample AppleScript To access the full AppleScript dictionary for Remote Desktop Using Automator with Remote Desktop 160 Appendix Apple Remote Desktop Status Icons Task Status Icons List Menu Icons System Status Icons Detailed System Status Icons Basic Port Protocol Function TCP and UDP Port Reference System Overview Report Report Field Definitions Reference B 166 167 HFS, HFS+, UFS Storage Report USB Devices Report FireWire Devices ReportMemory Report PCI Cards Report Network Interfaces Report 171 Network Test Report Administration Settings Report User History Report Application Usage Report Execute v Executes a task Control v Start a control session with the computerObserve v Start an observation session Remove v Remove a computer from a task Computer n inh. item a physical computer Elements Contained by application Message Unicode text Message to display on the screens Restart task n inh. task item Restart the target computers Wake up task n inh. task item Wake up the target computers Shutdown task n inh. task item Shutdown the target computers Sample list of system information table Sample list of main database schema Sample list of table from one computer Sample list of property names Index 183 184