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General| Developer | Apple Inc. |
|---|---|
| Platform | macOS |
| Category | Remote Desktop Software |
| License | Proprietary |
| Latest Version | 3.9.5 |
| Functionality | Remote management of Macs, software distribution, asset management, and remote assistance. |
| Features | Remote control, software deployment, reporting |
| System Requirements | macOS 10.15.7 or later |
Explains the core functionality and purpose of Apple Remote Desktop software.
Details how to navigate and utilize the administrator guide effectively.
Describes how to access and use the built-in help system for Remote Desktop.
Explains the symbols and formatting used in the guide for clarity.
Defines the notation used for terminal commands and their elements.
Lists external resources and websites for additional information.
Covers remote hardware and software administrative activities for client computers.
Details distributing software, configuration files, and scripts to client computers.
Explains capturing and reporting client computer attributes and software/hardware details.
Describes remote control tasks for maintaining client computers.
Outlines methods for interacting with users for help and instruction.
Provides references to other sections for further details on tasks.
Provides an overview of the administrator application's interface elements and layout.
Describes the primary window components and their functions.
Explains the dialogs used for configuring and confirming tasks.
Details the window for controlling and observing remote client screens.
Covers observing multiple client screens simultaneously in one window.
Describes the window for viewing and managing generated reports.
Explains how to customize the display and sorting of report columns.
Covers customizing the application's toolbar and list columns for efficiency.
Details the various application preferences that affect client interaction.
Offers productivity tips and shortcuts for using the interface.
Guides through the installation of administrator and client software for Remote Desktop.
Lists the necessary hardware and software configurations for installation.
Outlines the network prerequisites for Remote Desktop functionality.
Step-by-step instructions for installing the main administrator application.
Instructions for initial setup of client software on new computers.
Details the process of upgrading the administrator application.
Covers methods for updating the client software on managed computers.
Explains how to upgrade client software remotely using the application.
Describes manual methods for installing or upgrading client software.
Provides instructions for upgrading clients via SSH.
Guides on creating custom installer packages for client deployment.
Details how to enable remote management on client computers.
Step-by-step guide to completely remove the administrator application.
Explains how to temporarily disable client software without removal.
Instructions for removing client software components from systems.
Explains how to discover and add client computers to lists for management.
Details using Bonjour for discovering clients on local networks.
Describes searching the local network for available client computers.
Instructions for scanning IP address ranges to locate clients.
How to add clients using their specific IP address or domain name.
Importing lists of IP addresses from files to add clients.
Locating clients known by a Task Server for administration.
Using directory servers to find and organize client computers.
Creating custom scanners for specific search criteria to find clients.
Modifying attributes such as login, ports, and labels for single or multiple clients.
Covers creating, organizing, and managing lists of client computers.
Explains the capabilities and default list structure of Remote Desktop.
Steps to create new, targeted lists of computers from existing ones.
Procedures for removing computer and scanner lists.
Building dynamic lists based on custom criteria that update automatically.
Modifying existing smart lists to adjust their criteria or contents.
Combining multiple lists into a single aggregate list.
Transferring lists between different administrator computers or versions.
Explains access privileges for administrators to add and interact with computers.
Details setting access privileges using local accounts on Mac OS X v10.5.
Details setting access privileges using local accounts on Mac OS X v10.4.
Grants administrator access via group authorization with directory services.
Guides on creating groups and assigning privileges through MCXSettings or predefined groups.
Enables group-based authorization using Directory Services master domain.
Configures temporary, one-time access for administrators without user credentials.
Explains operating in "user mode" for nonadministrator users.
Restricts features available to nonadministrator users in user mode.
Accessing VNC servers and interacting with their screens.
Managing SSH access which is separate from Remote Desktop's management.
Auditing and changing administrator privilege settings on client computers.
Querying clients for a report on accepted commands and access types.
Modifying administrator access privileges for multiple computers via client settings.
Guidelines for configuring networks to optimize Remote Desktop performance and reliability.
Tips for achieving best performance with AirPort wireless connections.
Strategies to maximize performance when using Share Screen, Observe, and Control.
Discusses security features and best practices for Remote Desktop.
Securing the administrator application using user mode and keychain.
Disabling or limiting administrator access and managing permissions.
Guidelines for creating and managing strong, secure passwords.
Recommendations for securing the computer when the application is open.
Explains authentication methods and data encryption for secure communication.
Options for encrypting all network traffic for enhanced security.
Describes how to control remote computers as if present in front of them.
Step-by-step guide to controlling clients with Remote Desktop permissions.
Details the toggle and action buttons available in the control window.
Explains how to switch between full-size and fit-to-window display modes.
How to switch between control and observe sessions for user interaction.
Options for taking full control or sharing mouse/keyboard control with a user.
Using "curtain mode" to disable the client screen while preserving administrator view.
Saving a picture of the remote screen to a file on the administrator computer.
Switching between full-screen and in-a-window control modes.
Transferring data between administrator and client computer clipboards.
Controlling computers running VNC server software using Remote Desktop.
Basic steps for setting up non-Mac OS X clients to be viewed with Remote Desktop.
Setting custom ports and designating displays for VNC communication.
Setting a custom VNC port when adding a computer by address.
Specifying which display to control on a VNC server.
Setting up a client to accept control from non-Apple VNC viewers.
Monitoring remote computer screens without direct control.
Managing and viewing multiple observed client screens efficiently.
Adjusting observe settings like page delay and image quality.
Customizing the titles displayed underneath observed desktops.
Displaying user account pictures beneath observed desktops.
Displaying system status information like CPU usage and disk usage.
Accessing commands via icons and customizing the observe window.
Viewing the screen of a single remote computer in a dedicated window.
Viewing scaled client screens simultaneously, cycling through pages.
Using the Dashboard widget to observe a single client computer.
Communicating with users via text messaging and interactive chat.
Sending announcements or information to client computers.
Starting a two-way text chat for instant feedback and collaboration.
Reading attention requests sent by client users.
Showing your screen or a client's screen to other computers for demonstration.
Sharing administrator or client screens with multiple clients.
Tracking active share screen tasks and their status.
How client users can contact or request attention from an administrator.
Client users requesting attention from the administrator via a message.
Client users canceling a previously sent attention request.
Monitoring the progress, results, and history of executed tasks.
Setting up a script to run automatically when a task completes.
Viewing the current status and progress of running tasks.
Utilizing task feedback to retry or cancel tasks in progress.
Procedure for halting tasks that are currently in progress.
Accessing the history list of completed tasks and their results.
Saving configured tasks for repeated execution.
Saving task settings as templates for reuse in future tasks.
Modifying previously saved tasks, including parameters and target computers.
Methods for installing software using packages, copy commands, and other sources.
Automating installation of .pkg or .mpkg files on remote clients.
Using a Task Server to install software on computers not currently online.
Installing applications by simply copying them to the client computer.
Installing software using third-party installers with different file formats.
Methods for upgrading software, depending on the original installation.
Easy copying of items like applications or folders to client computers.
Customizing copy operations for location, ownership, and error handling.
Copying items to multiple client computers simultaneously.
Copying items by dragging between Finder, Remote Desktop, and control windows.
Copying files and applications from administrator Finder windows to remote computers.
Copying files and applications from remote computers to the administrator's Finder.
Restoring non-system software on client computers from a master copy.
Querying client computers for information and generating valuable reports.
Collecting new or cached information for reports, using Spotlight database.
Using a dedicated server to collect report data efficiently.
Optimizing database usage and managing network bandwidth for reports.
Gathering detailed information about client computer usage and user activity.
Tracking who logged into a computer, login times, and access methods.
Reporting on applications run, launch/quit times, and user activity.
Searching client computer hard disks for specific files, folders, or applications.
Utilizing Spotlight search for live, interactive item finding on clients.
Finding up to 32,000 items on selected computers with various search parameters.
Comparing software versions and installed packages between clients and the administrator.
Comparing application versions on clients against the administrator computer.
Comparing applications, fonts, and packages between clients and the administrator.
Generating reports on client computer hardware using various report types.
Adding comments or notes to supplement System Overview reports.
Retrieving computer serial numbers via System Overview Report or command-line.
Collecting information about client computer's internal hard disks and volumes.
Reporting on FireWire devices connected to client computers.
Gathering information about Universal Serial Bus devices connected to clients.
Reporting on all network interfaces, including status and statistics.
Collecting specific information about installed memory modules in client computers.
Reporting on installed expansion cards like PCI and ExpressCards.
Testing network responsiveness between administrator and client computers.
Diagnosing task failures potentially caused by network congestion.
Exporting reports into text files for analysis or use in other applications.
Using report windows to select computers for further actions like creating lists or initiating tasks.
Tools for maintaining client computers, including deleting files and emptying Trash.
Deleting files from client computers, which are then moved to the client's Trash.
Freeing up disk space by emptying the Trash on client computers.
Changing the startup disk on client computers to a local disk or NetBoot volume.
Setting the file-sharing name for client computers, useful for differentiation.
Ensuring synchronized clocks across clients for management reliability and audit precision.
Standardizing or configuring output volume for computers using commands.
Repairing corrupted or changed system file permissions on client computers.
Workaround for adding installed applications or items to the user's Dock.
Adjusting computer sleep times and other Energy Saver options remotely.
Enabling or disabling SSH login access to computers via Remote Desktop.
Setting the default printer for client computers using Copy Items or Send UNIX Command.
Controlling multiple client computers simultaneously using various commands.
Opening specific items like files, folders, and applications on client computers.
Launching applications on client computers remotely.
Closing running applications on client computers without logging out the user.
Putting client computers into sleep mode remotely.
Waking computers from sleep mode using network packets.
Locking client computer screens to prevent unauthorized use.
Displaying a custom picture on client screens when they are locked.
Restoring desktop access by unlocking computer screens locked by Remote Desktop.
Disabling client computer screens while preserving administrator view ('curtain mode').
Logging in users on client computers simultaneously from the login window.
Logging out the current user on a client computer, returning it to the login window.
Restarting client computers remotely, with options for saving changes or forcing restart.
Shutting down client computers remotely, useful with Energy Saver preferences.
Starting up clients that support lights-out management (LOM) on different subnets.
Executing UNIX commands and scripts on client computers.
Using built-in templates for common UNIX commands to simplify scripting.
Sending a single UNIX command to selected client computers.
Executing shell scripts and AppleScript scripts using the command line.
Copying and executing complex shell scripts on client computers.
Saving and executing AppleScript scripts as applications or via command line.
Utilizing tools like networksetup and systemsetup for system configuration.
Configuring client network settings, IP addresses, and proxies.
Configuring non-network system settings like time zones and sleep preferences.
Installing, uninstalling, activating, and restarting Remote Desktop components.
Utilizing a dedicated Task Server for automated administration and report collection.
Ensuring proper network settings and infrastructure for Task Server operation.
Installing and configuring Remote Desktop on a computer to act as a Task Server.
Configuring an administrator computer to query the Task Server for data.
Configuring clients to connect to the Task Server for reporting and management.
Automating client data collection and upload based on a set schedule.
Automating client system and file information updates for reports.
Setting a default time and frequency for report data collection.
Preventing clients from uploading reports to non-existent administrator computers.
Automating and scheduling tasks for regular execution on client computers.
Scheduling tasks for execution at specific times or intervals.
Modifying existing scheduled tasks, including parameters and target computers.
Removing unneeded scheduled tasks.
Leveraging AppleScript and Automator for automating tasks and creating custom workflows.
Using AppleScript to create shortcuts and automate repetitive tasks.
Understanding objects and messages that Remote Desktop's AppleScript dictionary supports.
Example script for cleaning up client computers, locking screens, and emptying trash.
Creating custom workflows in Automator to automate Remote Desktop tasks without coding.
Creating Automator services to perform Remote Desktop tasks on selected computers.
Icons indicating the status of computers in a scanner search results list.
Icons in the menu bar indicating the status of the client computer.
Icons used in the Apple Remote Desktop list area of the main window.
Icons used in task list areas of the Remote Desktop main window.
High-level status indicators for observed client computers (red, yellow, green icons).
Detailed icons showing CPU usage, disk usage, and free memory status.
Lists the TCP and UDP ports used by Apple Remote Desktop functions.
Describes available fields related to AirPort, AppleTalk, Computer, and Network settings.
Details fields related to drive manufacturer, model, protocol, and volume options.
Defines fields for USB devices, including product name, vendor ID, and device speed.
Details fields for FireWire devices, including speed, version, and manufacturer.
Defines fields for memory information, such as slot identifier, size, speed, and type.
Details fields for expansion cards, including card name, speed, and vendor ID.
Describes fields for network interfaces, including active status, IP address, and domain.
Defines fields for network responsiveness tests: min/max/avg time, lost/total packets.
Details fields for privileges, data settings, and general version information.
Defines fields for application usage: computer name, app name, launch date, and run time.
Details fields for user history: computer, user name, login type, and session length.
Lists scriptable objects and commands for Remote Desktop application automation.
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