Apple Remote Desktop enables Administrators or Mac Users to connect remotely to an Apple OS X computer and interact with that computer as though sitting at the console. Apple Remote Desktop requires Apple OS X 10.3.9 or higher (10.4 or higher for all features).
Apple Remote Desktop encrypts aspects of ARD traffic including Authentication, Administration, Observe and Network Control Data
learn about Encryption in Apple Remote Desktop here
learn about what is NOT encrypted in Apple Remote Desktop here
Install Apple Remote Desktop on the Administrators Computer
On the Administrators Computer create an Apple Remote Desktop user account (i.e. ARDuser) and password (i.e. P@ssword)
- System Preferences | Users | Add Users
- select checkbox to All user to administer this computer
On each Remote Client Computer (the target systems for Apple Remote Desktop) – Create an Apple Remote Desktop user account with the exact same credentials as the Administrator system (i.e. ARDuser) and password (i.e. P@ssword)
- System Preferences | Users | Add Users
- select checkbox to All user to administer this computer
Select the Services available to the Apple Remote Desktop User (i.e. ARDuser) on that client machine. Apple Remote Desktop services available to Users through System Preferences | Sharing | Apple Remote Desktop can allow the user to do the following:
- Generate Reports
- Open and quit applications
- Change settings
- Delete and replace items
- Send text messages
- Restart and shut down
- Copy items
- Observe
- Control
- Show when being observed
You can also “pre-define” these settings in a Client Installer for Apple Remote Desktop and deploy these same settings and the User Account for Apple Remote Desktop to multiple machines simultaneously.
Downloads
Apple Remote Desktop Technology Overview
Apple Remote Desktop Administrators Guide
Tutorials
Apple Remote Desktop – Remote Assistance