Apple Remote Desktop Administrator’s Guide Version 3 K Apple Computer, Inc. © 2006 Apple Computer, Inc. All rights reserved. The owner or authorized user of a valid copy of Apple Remote Desktop software may reproduce this publication for the purpose of learning to use such software. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted for commercial purposes, such as selling copies of this publication or for providing paid for support services. The Apple logo is a trademark of Apple Computer, Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Use of the “keyboard” Apple logo (Option-Shift-K) for commercial purposes without the prior written consent of Apple may constitute trademark infringement and unfair competition in violation of federal and state laws. Apple, the Apple logo, AirPort, AppleScript, AppleTalk, AppleWorks, FireWire, iBook, iMac, iSight, Keychain, Mac, Macintosh, Mac OS, PowerBook, QuickTime, and Xserve are trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Apple Remote Desktop, Bonjour, eMac, Finder, iCal, and Safari are trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc. Adobe and Acrobat are trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated. Java and all Java-based trademarks and logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the U.S. and other countries. UNIX is a registered trademark in the United States and other countries, licensed exclusively through X/Open Company, Ltd. 019-0629/02-28-06 Contents 3 Preface 9 About This Book 10 Using This Guide 10 Remote Desktop Help 10 Notation Conventions 11 Where to Find More Information About Apple Remote Desktop Chapter 1 13 Using Apple Remote Desktop 13 Administering Computers 15 Deploying Software 18 Taking Inventory 21 Housekeeping 22 Supporting Users 23 Providing Help Desk Support 25 Interacting with Students 26 Finding More Information Chapter 2 28 Getting to Know Remote Desktop 28 Remote Desktop Human Interface Guide 29 Remote Desktop Main Window 31 Task Dialogs 32 Control and Observe Window 33 Multiple-Client Observe Window 34 Report Window 35 Changing Report Layout 36 Configuring Remote Desktop 36 Customizing the Remote Desktop Toolbar 36 Setting Preferences for the Remote Desktop Administrator Application 37 Interface Tips and Shortcuts Chapter 3 39 Installing Apple Remote Desktop 39 System Requirements for Apple Remote Desktop 40 Network Requirements 40 Installing the Remote Desktop Administrator Software 41 Setting Up an Apple Remote Desktop Client Computer for the First Time 3 41 Upgrading the Remote Desktop Administrator Software 42 Upgrading the Client Software 42 Method #1—Remote Upgrade Installation 43 Method #2—Manual Installation 43 Upgrading Apple Remote Desktop Clients Using SSH 44 Creating a Custom Client Installer 46 Considerations for Managed Clients 46 Removing or Disabling Apple Remote Desktop 46 Uninstalling the Administrator Software 47 Disabling the Client Software 48 Uninstalling the Client Software from Client Computers Chapter 4 49 Organizing Client Computers Into Computer Lists 49 Finding and Adding Clients to Apple Remote Desktop Computer Lists 50 Finding Clients by Searching the Local Network 50 Finding Clients by Searching a Network Range 51 Finding Clients by Network Address 52 Finding Clients by File Import 52 Making a New Scanner 53 Making and Managing Lists 53 About Apple Remote Desktop Computer Lists 54 Creating an Apple Remote Desktop Computer List 54 Deleting Apple Remote Desktop Lists 54 Creating a Smart Computer List 55 Editing a Smart Computer List 55 Creating a List of Computers of from Existing Computer Lists 56 Importing and Exporting Computer Lists 56 Transferring Computer Lists from Apple Remote Desktop 3 to a New Administrator Computer 57 Transferring Remote Desktop 2 Computer Lists to a New Remote Desktop 3 Administrator Computer 57 Transferring Old v1.2 Computer Lists to a New Administrator Computer Chapter 5 59 Understanding and Controlling Access Privileges 59 Apple Remote Desktop Administrator Access 61 Setting Apple Remote Desktop Administrator Access Authorization and Privileges Using Local Accounts 62 Apple Remote Desktop Administrator Access Using Directory Services 62 Creating Administrator Access Groups 65 Enabling Directory Services Group Authorization 65 Apple Remote Desktop Guest Access 66 Apple Remote Desktop Nonadministrator Access 67 Virtual Network Computing Access 4 Contents 68 Command-Line SSH Access 68 Managing Client Administration Settings and Privileges 69 Getting an Administration Settings Report 69 Changing Client Administrator Privileges Chapter 6 71 Setting Up the Network and Maintaining Security 71 Setting Up the Network 72 Using Apple Remote Desktop with Computers in an AirPort Wireless Network 73 Getting the Best Performance 73 Maintaining Security 75 Remote Desktop Authentication and Data Transport Encryption 75 Encrypting Observe and Control Network Data 76 Encrypting Network Data During Copy Items and Install Packages Tasks Chapter 7 77 Interacting with Users 78 Controlling 78 Controlling Apple Remote Desktop Clients 79 Control Window Options 80 Switching the Control Window Between Full Size And Fit-To-Window 80 Switching Between Control and Observe Modes 80 Sharing Control with a User 81 Hiding a User’s Screen While Controlling 81 Capturing the Control Window to a File 81 Switching Control Session Between Full Screen and In a Window 82 Sharing Clipboards for Copy and Paste 82 Controlling VNC Servers 83 Setting up a Non–Mac OS X VNC Server 84 VNC Control Options 85 Configuring an Apple Remote Desktop Client to be Controlled by a VNC Viewer 85 Observing 87 Changing Observe Settings While Observing 88 Changing Screen Titles While Observing 88 Viewing a User’s Account Picture While Observing 88 Viewing a Computer’s System Status While at the Observe Window 90 Shortcuts in the Multiple Screen Observe Window 90 Observing a Single Computer 91 Observing Multiple Computers 91 Observing a Computer in Dashboard 92 Sending Messages 92 Sending One-Way Messages 92 Interactive Chat 93 Viewing Attention Requests 93 Sharing Screens Contents 5 93 Sharing a Screen with Client Computers 94 Monitoring a Screen Sharing Tasks 94 Interacting with Your Apple Remote Desktop Administrator 94 Requesting Administrator Attention 95 Canceling an Attention Request 95 Changing Your Observed Client Icon Chapter 8 96 Administering Client Computers 96 Keeping Track of Task Progress and History 97 Enabling a Task Notification Script 98 Getting Active Task Status 98 Using the Task Feedback Display 98 Stopping a Currently Running Task 99 Getting Completed Task History 99 Saving a Task for Later Use 100 Creating and Using Task Templates 101 Editing a Saved Task 101 Installing Software Using Apple Remote Desktop 101 Installing by Package and Metapackage 103 Installing Software on Offline Computers 104 Installing by Using the Copy Items Command 104 Using Installers from Other Companies 105 Upgrading Software 106 Copying Files 107 Copy Options 108 Copying from Administrator to Clients 109 Copying Using Drag and Drop 110 Restoring Items from a Master Copy 111 Creating Reports 111 Collecting Report Data 112 Using a Task Server for Report Data Collection 113 Report Database Recommendations and Bandwidth Usage 114 Auditing Client Usage Information 116 Finding Files, Folders, and Applications 118 Comparing Software 119 Auditing Hardware 124 Testing Network Responsiveness 125 Exporting Report Information 126 Using Report Windows to Work with Computers 127 Maintaining Systems 127 Deleting Items 128 Emptying the Trash 128 Setting the Startup Disk 6 Contents 129 Renaming Computers 129 Synchronizing Computer Time 130 Setting Computer Audio Volume 131 Repairing File Permissions 131 Adding Items to the Dock 132 Changing Energy Saver Preferences 133 Changing Sharing Preferences for Remote Login 133 Setting Printer Preferences 135 Managing Computers 135 Opening Files and Folders 136 Opening Applications 137 Quitting Applications Without Logging Out the User 137 Putting a Computer to Sleep 138 Waking Up a Computer 138 Locking a Computer Screen 139 Displaying a Custom Picture on a Locked Screen 139 Unlocking a Computer Screen 140 Disabling a Computer Screen 140 Logging In a User at the Login Window 141 Logging Out the Current User 141 Restarting a Computer 142 Shutting Down a Computer 143 UNIX Shell Commands 143 Send UNIX Command Templates 145 Executing a Single UNIX Command 145 Executing Scripts Using Send UNIX Command 147 Built-in Command-Line Tools 152 Automating Functions 152 Setting the Client’s Data Reporting Policy 153 Creating a Template Data Reporting Policy 154 Designating the Task Server and Setting the Report Data Collection Location 155 Scheduled Tasks 156 Using AppleScript with Remote Desktop 159 Using Automator with Remote Desktop Appendix A 161 Icon and Port Reference 161 Client Status Icons 161 Apple Remote Desktop Status Icons 162 List Menu Icons 162 Task Status Icons 163 System Status Icons (Basic) 163 System Status Icons (Detailed) 164 TCP and UDP Port Reference Contents 7 Appendix B 165 Report Field Definitions Reference 165 System Overview Report 167 Storage Report 169 USB Devices Report 169 FireWire Devices Report 169 Memory Report 169 PCI Cards Report 170 Network Interfaces Report 172 Network Test Report 172 Administration Settings Report 173 Application Usage Report 173 User History Report Appendix C 174 AppleScript Remote Desktop Suite 174 Classes and Commands for the Remote Desktop Application. Appendix D 180 PostgreSQL Schema Sample Index 182 8 Contents About This Book e c a f e r P What Is Apple Remote Desktop? 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:  Manage client computers and maintain, update, and distribute software  Collect more than 200 system-information attributes for any Mac on your network  Store the results in an SQL database and view the information using any of several hardware or software reports  Control and manage multiple computer systems simultaneously, making shutdown, restart, and sending UNIX commands fast and easy  Provide help and remote assistance to users when they encounter problems  Interact 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. 9 Using This Guide The Apple Remote Desktop Administrator’s Guide contains chapters to help you use Remote Desktop. It contains overviews and explanations about Apple Remote Desktop’s features and commands. It also explains how to install and configure Apple Remote Desktop on clients, how to administer client computers, and how to use Remote Desktop to interact with computer users. This guide is provided on the Apple Remote Desktop installation disc and on the Apple Remote Desktop support website as a fully searchable, bookmarked PDF file. You can use Apple’s Preview application or Adobe (Acrobat) Reader to browse the contents of this guide as well as search for specific terms, features, or tasks. Remote Desktop Help Remote Desktop Help is available using Help Viewer. To open Remote Desktop Help, choose Help > Remote Desktop Help. The help files contain the same information found in this guide, and are useful when trying to accomplish a task when this guide is unavailable. Additionally, the Remote Desktop Help contains new information, corrections, and late- breaking information about Apple Remote Desktop. The most up-to-date information is available through Remote Desktop Help before it’s available on the web as an updated PDF file. Notation Conventions This guide and Remote Desktop Help contain step-by-step procedures to help you use Remote Desktop’s commands effectively. In many tasks shown in this manual and in Remote Desktop Help, you need to choose menu commands, which look like this: Choose Edit > Clear. The first term after Choose is the name of a menu in the Remote Desktop menu bar. The next term (or terms) are the items you choose from that menu. 10 Preface About This Book