AppleRemoteDesktop
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Daily Update for August 23, 2012
It's the TUAW Daily Update, your source for Apple news in a convenient audio format. You'll get all the top Apple stories of the day in three to five minutes for a quick review of what's happening in the Apple world. You can listen to today's Apple stories by clicking the inline player (requires Flash) or the non-Flash link below. To subscribe to the podcast for daily listening through iTunes, click here. No Flash? Click here to listen. Subscribe via RSS
Apple Remote Desktop Admin update
With all of the fanfare of a mouse creeping into a dark, dank basement, Apple updated the Apple Remote Desktop Admin app to version 3.6.1 a few days ago. Remote Desktop 3.6.1 requires either OS X Lion or OS X Mountain Lion. For Mountain Lion, the update is available via the Updates tab in the Mac App Store. For Lion, the update will be available in the Mac App Store if you purchased Apple Remote Desktop from the store originally, or as an automatic software update if purchased on disc. There's also a manual update available for direct download. What's in the update? Apple says that it will improve "the overall stability and reliability of the Remote Desktop application, and includes the following specific changes:" Faster launch speed when long computer lists are present. Reliability of migrated computer lists when upgrading from earlier versions of Apple Remote Desktop. Improves observing and controlling computers that have more than one display. More information about the update is available in KB articles HT5422 and HT1222.
Dear Aunt TUAW: Help! I bought my dad an iPad!
Dear Aunt TUAW, I wish I had never given my Dad that iPad. When he and my Mom were going on a driving trip, I asked if he wanted 3G service. He says "Sure", so I set it up. Now he's complaining about shelling out $30 a month to AT&T, so I'm telling him to cancel the service. Except he doesn't know what his password is and I think he's putting in the wrong email address (HE ONLY HAS TWO). And he doesn't read my emails explaining all this. I thought about installing 1Password, but my dad would forget that the application is on the iPad (or his Mac for that matter). Is there a way to do LogMeIn sessions to an iPad (controlling the iPad)? Without jailbreaking? Auntie needs to write an app: "Control Dad's/Mom's iPad." Help! Your loving nephew, Peter Dear Peter, In this world, there are things you can control (what's for dinner, what to watch on Netflix, what to wear for that hot date) and things you cannot (your dad, your cat, and your dad's iPad). This is, as you have probably already guessed, a human and not a technological problem. If you can, try calling instead of emailing. You might want to plan a trip out to visit your Dad (and fix up his iPad in person) or surrender to the knowledge that even if you call, the chances are slim that he will follow your directions or listen to your advice. There are things in life that cannot be fixed with technology. Unfortunately, Apple does not (yet) offer any remote administration tools for iPad. Their configuration tools for on-site administration provide a way to mass-configure large groups of iPads and iPhones, but there's no Apple Remote Desktop-like tool available for iOS devices. One of the members of Auntie's bridge club suggested using a combination of Skype, Reflector, mirroring and screen sharing to walk him through the problem, but if dear old Dad is having issues getting other things working, it's unlikely that he'd be able to get this setup without assistance. Your options might expand with jailbreaking and VNC, but it sounds like you've ruled that out completely. Do Auntie's other nieces and nephews have advice for Peter? Jump into the comments and share your thoughts. Hugs, Auntie T.
Apple updates OS X Server, Xcode, Remote Desktop
In addition to the flurry of other updates to go along with the release of OS X Mountain Lion, Apple has updated OS X Server, Xcode and Remote Desktop. OS X Server 2.0 is a $19.99 Mac App Store purchase that can be added to any Mac running Mountain Lion, enabling that machine to be used at a server. Features in the update include the following: File sharing for Macs, PC and iPad; Standards-based AFP, SMB and WebDAV file services; flexible file permissions and Spotlight searching Wiki Server including point-and-click page editor, access controls, tags and comments, revision history, document sharing and Quick Look previews Profile Manager, which includes configuration and management for OS X and iOS, over-the-air enrollment, mobile device management, web-based administration console and a self-service user portal Time Machine Mail Services Calendar, Contacts and Messages Servers Virtual Private Network Xsan Server app and other features Xcode 4.4 is an update for Lion and Mountain Lion and includes the following: SDKs for OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion and iOS 5.1. Enhanced for the MacBook Pro with Retina display. Code completion persists your selections to give more accurate suggestions. Objective-C @synthesize command is generated by default when using properties. Objective-C adds literal syntax for numbers, arrays, dictionaries, and expressions when developing for OS X. Apple LLVM compiler supports additional C++11 features, including lambdas. Assistant editor tracks caller or callee for the current selection. New localization workflow can share a single base .xib file for multiple locales on OS X. Source control can commit individually selected changes. ARC migration tool converts both retain/release and garbage collected code. Fixes an issue where code completion could fail, requiring the user to delete derived data. The Apple Remote Desktop update to 3.6 adds new attributes in the system overview report, support for IPv6 and addresses other concerns. [Via AppleInsider]
The iPad as an IT professional's tool
John Welch over at Ars Technica wrote a wonderful post about using an iPad as a system administrator's tool, noting that Apple's tablet is "an addition, not a replacement" to the many tools that IT pros currently use to complete their daily tasks. Welch brings up points that I discovered when I first started taking my iPad along on client visits -- the size is right, the battery life is wonderful, and it's much more handy than a laptop or an iPhone. Note-taking, for example, is much easier to accomplish on the iPad, and it's possible to prop up the iPad for easy reading at a distance instead of squinting at a small screen. Welch notes that he's able to easily analyze data from Cacti or Nagios with just a glance, keeping an eye on how things are doing. With Welch's iPad, there's no waiting for a laptop to start up every morning. Most devices can be monitored in the aforementioned Web-based systems, he has email to catch messages about systems going down, and once a problem is found, he can "get a lot done over SSH." Welch uses Prompt (US$7.99) as his SSH client of choice, perfect for logging into Mac or Linux servers and desktop machines. For other sysadmin tasks, Welch has some concerns. There's no iPad analogue to Apple Remote Desktop, for example, although Windows network admins have a wonderful tool available in WinAdmin ($7.99). Apple hasn't released any management tools for Mac OS X Server that run on the iPad, but there are some limited third-party tools available such as Server Admin Remote ($9.99). Still, there's a good-sized market for sysadmin tools for the iPad, and if Apple doesn't step up to the plate to deliver them, Welch hopes that third-party developers will. If you're a system administrator who uses an iPad regularly at work, let us know in the comments what tools you use or would like to see.
Apple Remote Desktop Admin updated to 3.5.1
Apple Remote Desktop allows IT professionals to manage multiple Macs on a network. Last month Apple released Apple Remote Desktop Client 3.5.1 to bring Lion compatibility. Today Apple has updated its Apple Remote Desktop Admin software to version 3.5.1. The delta update fixes an issue that could prevent reporting tasks from completing. You can read Apple's knowledge base article about the update here. Apple Remote Desktop is available from the Mac App Store for US$79.99.
Ask TUAW Video Edition: AirPort 101
Happy Tuesday everyone! Today I'm doing a beginners 101 class on how to set up your AirPort base station. My example shows an AirPort Extreme, but the basics can be used for both AirPort Express and a Time Capsule. We show you how to lock down your wireless and how to allow access from outside. As always, video is after the post -- and feel free to leave comments and email us to ask questions.
Updated terms specify number of installs from the Mac App Store
While researching the reduced price behind Apple's Remote Desktop -- $79.99 on the Mac App Store versus $299.99 for up to 10 seats through Apple's website -- we in the TUAW newsroom found ourselves debating the number of allowed installs. I perused the individual license attached to the Apple Remote Desktop app on the Mac App Store, and it said the app can be installed on computers you own or control in accordance with with the Mac App Store Product Usage Rules. These rules (which weren't on Apple legal's site as of yet, but you do see them when doing your first purchase in the Mac App Store) specify that "You may download and use an application from the Mac App Store for personal, non-commercial use on any Apple-branded products running Mac OS X that you own or control." So that shiny copy of Remote Desktop you just downloaded? It goes to any personal Mac you own. Granted, most people aren't going to own a plethora of Macs, but it's still a better deal than $299.99 just to even use the product. Same goes for Aperture, which is $79.99 on the Mac App Store, but $199.99 through the website. Commercial enterprises will still need to buy individual licenses. It answers a concern about whether or not Apple will restrict the number of installs you can do on the Mac. Likewise, iOS apps downloaded through the iOS App Store can be installed on any Apple-branded products running iOS.
Apple Remote Desktop 3.3.2 update now available
For management of large Mac deployments, one of the more venerable tools for administrators is Apple Remote Desktop. The application not only provides information on the status of every Mac on a network, but allows admins to push software loads, remotely control machines, and do detailed asset management. Yesterday, Apple updated Apple Remote Desktop to version 3.3.2. The new update provides better performance in terms of the remote management tools, as well as better overall stability. There's an update (4.21 MB) to the client software (which is part of the OS and enabled in System Preferences), as well as a much larger update to the administrative software (51.41 MB). The updates require Mac OS X 10.6 or later, Mac OS X 10.5.7 or later, or Mac OS X 10.4.11, or the equivalent Mac OS X Server version. The update requires at least Apple Remote Desktop 3.0 to be installed, although there is some limited compatibility with 2.x client software. So, what's fixed in 3.3.2? Setup is improved, with additional support for clients using Network Address Translation (NAT) and better reliability when new client computers are being authenticated to the admin software. Previous versions had issues with reporting failed software installations, issues with reporting of MacBook Air MAC addresses, and some problems with reliability of reporting systems configured with AirPort. Those issues have been addressed in 3.3.2. The fix also provides improvements with the remote assistance features, particularly with systems with dual graphics processors or two displays. Mouse cursor tracking while controlling remote systems has been improved, and there's more reliable drag-and-drop file copy to remote Macs. You can download the update at Apple's Support Downloads page, and it is also being delivered via Software Update. [via Macworld]
Apple Remote Desktop 3.3 now available
Apple has released version 3.3 of its remote administration tool, Apple Remote Desktop (ARD). The update is available both via Software Update, and from the Apple website. According to the release notes, the update comes with a number of improvements, including the long-desired ability to send function keys and system shortcuts (Force Quit, cmd-Tab for application switching, cmd-shift-Q to log out) to the remote Mac; previously those commands would execute on the administrator's machine, which could cause undesired behavior. Also included are support for wide-area Bonjour connections and improved performance when using a shared screen. If you're just starting out with ARD, be sure to check out some of the great tutorials Apple has posted online. From getting set up, to providing remote assistance to users, to automating routine tasks; as Apple might say, "there's a tutorial for that." Thanks to TUAW reader Jim for giving us the heads up!
SpyMe 2: Multiple Remote Management
If you need to remotely administer a bunch of Macs, the obvious solution is Apple Remote Desktop. There's just one problem: the pricetag. ARD runs $299 for 10 managed systems or $499 for an unlimited number of managed systems. Of course, if you're the geeky type you can use OS X's built-in VNC with something like Chicken of the VNC, but it can be a little tricky to set up, and generally only allows you to control one computer per window. Enter SpyMe 2 from ReadPixel. SpyMe offers similar functionality to ARD, allowing you monitor the screens a number of remote Macs simultaneously, take control of any one of them, or even lock all of them (so as to prevent the kids from surfing when they're supposed to be listening). Best of all, SpyMe 2 is reasonably priced at $15 (for 3 machines), $35 (for 10), or $95 (for an unlimited number) and a demo is available.[Via My Own Reality]
Apple Remote Desktop updated to 3.1
Mac Managers rejoice! Apple has updated both the Client and Admin packages of Apple Remote Desktop (ARD) to version 3.1. The update is said to address "numerous issues related to overall reliability, usability and compatibility." Specifically there's now support for the new Intel-based Xserve Lights Out Management feature and other improvements noted in the areas of software distribution, asset management, remote control, remote assistance and automation. The complete change log can be viewed on Apple's site.If you are updating from ARD 3.0 you can download the Client update here and the Admin Update here. Both require Mac OS X 10.3.9 or later and are Universal Binary.
Automator and Remote Desktop 3
As you may know, the US online Apple Store went down briefly this morning, and returned to reveal Apple Remote Desktop 3 (RD3). As we pointed out, this is a major update with a slew of changes. Automator World is pointing to a page at Apple's site that details the Automator-specific changes to RD3. Available actions include: Choose remote computer (sort of a no-brainer) Copy items to computers (nice) Execute new UNIX task (again, nice) Restart computers Send text message There's more, of course. I've already begged the finance department at my day job to let me order this. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
Getting ARD Admin to Run on Intel Macs
I spend a significant amount of time using Apple Remote Desktop Admin every day at work. Aside from Radmind, it's my most valuable and useful tool for managing hundreds of Macintosh workstations in our labs and classrooms. I also have a brand-new 20" Intel iMac sitting on my desk, but until today, I've been unable to switch to it as my main computer because the ARD Admin software refuses to run on the new Intel machines.Behold, a smart Mac admin somewhere has has figured out how to get ARD Admin to run on an Intel Mac, and it's as simple as removing the Intel version of the ARD agent, allow the Admin software to self-heal, and then relaunching the Admin app. More info and discussion here.Now I can make my Intel iMac my main Mac desktop! So exciting the life of a Mac admin! Heh.
