Apple Remote Desktop User Guide
Remote Desktop (ARD) is Apple’s remote management software. The software allows the user to perform many maintenance and management tasks without having to be physically present at each computer.
To open Remote Desktop, click on the icon that looks like a set of binoculars with red lenses on top of a blue desktop screen
Main Window
This is the main window of Remote Desktop.
The main window consists of three parts: toolbar, computer list pane, and computer list window. The top of the window is the Toolbar. This contains the most commonly used tools of ARD.
This is the computer list pane. It contains various lists of computers set up to be controlled in Apple Remote Desktop. It also shows tasks that are being or have been performed by ARD.
This is the computer list window. It shows what computers you can manage, their status, and other information.
Observing and Controlling Computers
The most common tasks for ARD are observing and controlling other computers.
This is done by clicking on the list you want to manage, then selecting the computer or computers to be managed.
To observe, click the observe icon on the toolbar,
or in the menu bar, click InteractObserve
Controlling the computer is the same process, using the control icon or menu item.
When you select either “Observe” or “Control”, a new window pops up displaying the desktop of the computer you selected. At the top of the window are several buttons for performing various tasks with the computer. The diagram on the following page gives a brief description of each of these buttons and their uses.
You can switch between Observe and Control by selecting/deselecting the Control icon at the top of the window.
Observing allows you to see what the students are doing without interrupting their work.
Controlling allows you to use the computer as if you were sitting in front of it. This is especially helpful if you have a student needing help. You can show them how to do an activity rather than trying to explain it to them and hope they understand.
You can observe multiple computers by selecting the computers in the main window, then clicking Observe on the toolbar or from the Interact menu.
Double-‐clicking a computer from this window opens up that computer in a new window, allowing you a better view and the opportunity to control the selected computer.
Lock the Screen
Locking a screen is another useful tool. You can lock the screens if you have the computers ready to be used by the students, but do not want the students using the computers when they first come into the lab.
To lock the screen, select the computer or computers you want to lock. Click the Lock icon on the toolbar,
or InteractLock Screen… in the menu bar.
When you lock a computer’s screen, the window below pops up. You can put in a message before locking the computer. This message will appear on the computer’s screen, along with a large padlock in the middle of the screen.
To unlock, simply select the computer or computers, click InteractUnlock Screen. The students will then be able to see the regular computer screen.
Curtain
Curtain is similar to lock. The difference is with curtain, you can control the computer while keeping the computer screen locked. A student will only see the lock and your message. You will see the computer’s screen and be able to control the computer as if sitting in front of it. ARD automatically changes from Lock to Curtain mode when you click Control after the computer has been Locked.
Curtain is done by selecting the computer you want, then click the Curtain icon on the toolbar or click Interact Curtain… .
The curtain button at the top of the Control window (see p. 4) can also be used to curtain and un-‐curtain the computer’s screen.
Curtain is useful when you need to control the computer, but
do not want the student to see what you are doing, such as putting in usernames and passwords, or accessing areas of the computer that are normally hidden to the student.
Sharing Screens
Sharing screens is another useful feature of Remote Desktop. You are able to show your screen or another computer’s screen on the screens of the other computers in the lab. You can then show the students how to run a program, where to click to get to a particular website, or how to open a document saved on the server.
To share a screen, in the main window, select the computers you want to share the screen with, then click Interact Share Screen… A new window will pop up.
This window will ask which computer screen you want to share, yours or another computer’s. To share your screen, click that option, then click Share Screen.
To share another computer’s screen, click that option, then choose the computer to you want to use, then click Share Screen.
To stop sharing screens, click Stop in the ‘Active Share Screen Tasks’ window.
Log Out/Shut Down
At the end of your class’ session, you can choose to log out or shut down all of the computers at the same time.
To do either command, go to Manage Log Out Current User… or Manage Shut Down…
You will be given the option to allow users to save their work or logout/shutdown immediately. Unless you know someone is still working on one of the computers you are working with, choose Users lose unsaved changes, then click Shut Down (or Log Out). The computers will then perform this task.
These are the main uses for Apple Remote Desktop in computer labs for classroom instruction. Please contact David Case at the Tech Office, 782-‐9548, if you have any questions or run into any
