Apple Remote Desktop 3.3 Management Software (Unlimited-Client License)

What's New

Remote Spotlight search allows you to perform Spotlight searches on remote client systems. Summary results for each client are updated instantly. You'll be able to view details on results or refine searches via qualifiers to help improve remove results. Results can be viewed on remote client systems, copied back to your administrator system, or deleted.

Includes a Dashboard widget that gives you an instant, at-a-glance view of the remote computers in your network. It's fully integrated with the Apple Remote Desktop administrative application, so a click on a particular computer will allow you to select and start working with any computer in the system.

Use Automator actions to automate tasks via any of the 40 supplied actions, numerous third-party actions, or your own custom actions. Automator actions can be combined to streamline frequent tasks.

AutoInstall allows you to stage software to install on remote, mobile, or offline systems. Once staged, the software will be automatically installed on a system when it rejoins the network.

Curtain mode blocks a system's physical screen with a virtual curtain when you are controlling it remotely, perfect for times when work needs to be done on public-facing systems.

Transfer files and folders with ease thanks to Remote Drag and Drop. Drag files from one Finder window to another, or copy and paste information between systems.

The file copy engine supports 64-bit file sizes, network bandwidth limits, and optional encryption of data streams. Power Copy supports network copy performance that is up to 11 times faster than found in previous versions of the software.

System status indicators allow you to keep an eye on systems in your network. These indicators display the name of the computer, the name of the current user, and their account picture. System status is represented by shaped or colored indicators, depending on your preference. A single click shows you details on startup disk usage, memory utilization, and CPU utilization.

The Application Usage report shows you which applications have been used on remote systems, detailing the number of launches, the duration of launches, and who executed the launches, helping you to stay in compliance with your software license agreements.

User History reports shows you who has been using your network. The report details who has been using a computer, when they logged in and out, and the method in which they accessed the computer.

Smart Computer Lists track computers in a way that makes the most sense for you. You can specify a set of rules, based on 11 attributes, and any computer that matches those rules is added to the list. You can create a list to track all of computers on the network that are still running Tiger, or of all Mac mini systems that have 512MB physical memory.

You'll be able to save frequently-used tasks for future use as a Task Template. More than 30 sample UNIX scripts are included as templates, performing a range of tasks that range from setting desktop pictures to adjusting Energy Saving settings.

Software Distribution

Remote Desktop allows you to install software programs and applications, and perform updates on an unlimited number of Macs in your network simultaneously, without leaving your workstation.

You'll be able to schedule tasks without interrupting a user or requiring any interaction. Simply initiate the process and Remote Desktop will do the rest, including restarting systems as required. Tools are available to create custom install packages that Remote Desktop can copy and install onto remote systems. You can even specify successive installations of multiple packages with no waiting in between installations.

AutoInstall allows you to stage software for installation on systems that are offline. Laptops that are on the road, or desktops that are powered down, will receive the installation package as soon as they rejoin the network.

Remote Desktop's Copy Items task is powered by a file copy engine that supports 64-bit file sizes. PowerCopy allows you to set the amount of network bandwidth that the copy may consume. It also lets you define user and group membership and permissions of the files on the remote computer. There is an option to encrypt the data stream for secure copying. If PowerCopy finds a duplicate copy of a file that is already on the system, it will issue an alert with options as to how to address the duplicate file issue.

Asset Management

Remote Spotlight search allows you to harness the power of OS X's Spotlight technology on remote systems. Remote Spotlight performs lightning-fast, user-specified searches on remote client systems. It's the easiest way to locate specific files or folders. Adding additional qualifiers with different metadata can further refine searches. Once you find what you're looking for, copy files from the search results back to your own system or delete where appropriate.

You'll be able to use the software to create reports, as it collects data on more than 200 hardware and software attributes on each Mac on your network. The data is stored in a powerful SQL database, from which 12 different report types can be generated. Third-party reporting tools are available, facilitating the creation of custom reports. Remote Desktop can be integrated with other data sources, including help desk trouble ticketing systems.

You'll be able to collect information on everything from what applications are being used in your network to who is using which systems, what version of the OS is running, and exactly what is installed on each Mac in your network. The user history report tracks who has logged onto a computer, when they logged in and out, and if the computer was accessed via the console or remotely via SSH. The application usage report details which applications have been used on report systems. This information can be used to ensure compliance with your software licenses and identify any unauthorized use of applications in your organization.

You'll be able to set OS X computers to rebuild and send data on their hardware or software settings on a regular schedule, or only as needed. It's no problem to keep track of system profiles, even when systems are not connected to the network. Simply specify how often these systems should update their information in the database. When they reconnect, system data will be automatically recorded and sent to you.

Remote Assistance

Screen sharing allows you to observe 1, 10, or even up to 50 screens simultaneously, allowing you to closely monitor your network. You're not restricted to monitoring Macs in this manner; any system with a Virtual Network Computing (VNC) program can be viewed. VNC software is available for Windows, Linux, and UNIX systems. When a user needs assistance, you can take control of any individual screen, viewing the remote desktop in full-screen mode as you would your own.

The Remote Desktop Dashboard widget allows you to quickly access a remote screen. The widget is fully integrated with the administrative application, allowing you to select a specific system from the list of computers under your control.

Screen sharing is a two-way street. If you want to demonstrate something to a single user or an entire group, you can do so by sharing your own screen. Show them exactly how to accomplish a task by walking through the steps on your system.

Remote Drag and Drop allows you to transfer files and folders between your computer and a user's computer via a simple drag-and-drop, or copy-and-paste, operation. You can graphically copy files to a particular location in the Finder, or directly into any application or document window on the remote computer.

System status indicators allow you to check on all of your systems with ease. A summary view gives you insight on the overall health of a specific system. Detailed views give color-coded status of CPU, disk, and memory usage. Color indicators change from green to yellow to red when usage levels reach a defined threshold.

Curtain Mode allows you to hide a remotely-controlled screen from local display. You'll be able to take full control of the system as your normally would, but anyone looking at the computer screen will simply see a closed red curtain.

You'll be able to send text messages to an individual or to all of your clients, ensuring that "mandatory upgrade" announcements are always seen. If your clients ever need your attention, they can send the same type of message to your system. For more detailed communication, you can initiate a private real-time, one-to-one text chat.

Remote Administration

Remote Desktop features more than a dozen commands that you can use to control remote systems with ease. You can shut down all systems simultaneously, put to sleep, wake up, or restart any or all computers, without having to leave your desk.

You'll have the ability to remotely designate the startup disk for client Macs. Set any number of Macs to start up from a NetBoot image or from a local hard disk. You'll find this indispensable if you are in charge of a computer lab or cluster-computing environment where startup disks are often changed.

Remote Desktop lets you schedule any admin tasks to be completed at a time when they will cause minimal disruption. Simply save deployment settings and set a time for the software to initiate them.

The software gives you the power to execute UNIX shell scripts or commands on remote client systems. You can view a summary or the complete results of the command's output. This lets you script many standard functions built into UNIX systems or into third-party tools. You can also take advantage of the command-line interfaces included in OS X.

Automation

Remote Desktop takes advantage of the OS X Automator, and includes more than 40 sample Automator actions to help you accomplish time-consuming, repetitive tasks with quickness and ease

You'll be able to create custom workflows by linking individual actions together. Save these workflows as self-running applications, or as plug-ins that can be used whenever you need them.

You may find that you regularly need to configure a group of systems all at once. Instead of manually setting a corporate desktop wallpaper, Finder preferences, and adjusting time zones, you can create and save a plug-in that accomplishes all those tasks exactly the same way each time. This can be used each time you need to configure a new system.

Automator actions provide you with a basic toolkit that can be customized to suit your needs. They can make it easy to eject all disks, empty the Trash, restart computers, enable or disable the Dashboard, hide applications, and execute AppleScripts.

Automator actions are not restricted to administrators. Workflows can be shared with anyone in your organization with an Apple Remote Desktop license. In schools teachers can use Automator actions to lock screens or set the desktop picture, without needing to know anything about the software. This helps to ensure consistent system administration standards across your organization.