Apple Remote Desktop 3 - Manual (Page 3)

3 Technology Overview
Apple Remote Desktop 3
Desktop Management Made Easy
Every Mac computer is easy to use and simple to maintain—thanks to advanced
Mac OS X features like Software Update, powerful preferences, and built-in networking.
Now with Apple Remote Desktop 3, you can enjoy the same ease of use when you’re
managing more than one Mac. Whether you’re responsible for a small business with a
few computers, a midsize creative group, or an educational institution with a network
of thousands, Apple Remote Desktop 3 enables you to manage all these computers—
all from your own Mac.
Apple Remote Desktop 3 is a suite of integrated desktop management tools that facilitate
a wide range of IT tasks. Using a single affordable product, you can distribute software,
control and configure computers, offer live online help and training, run detailed reports,
and implement security policies. Because Apple Remote Desktop allows you to work
remotely and efficiently, you can accomplish more in less time—without ever needing
to leave your desk and often without interrupting your users.
Software distribution. Apple Remote Desktop 3 makes it easy to install or copy soft-
ware across a network of Mac computers, including remote systems. You can ensure
that all systems in your organization are running the most current version of Mac OS X
or running the same applications, fonts, and templates.
Asset management. Using the Spotlight technology in Mac OS X Tiger, Apple Remote
Desktop 3 can perform detailed searches on all your Mac OS X systems. You can quickly
generate comprehensive user histories and application usage reports, as well as hard-
ware and software inventories about servers, desktop systems, and portable computers.
Remote administration. Apple Remote Desktop 3 gives you the tools to perform
administration tasks from the comfort of your own office. Configure systems, run
applications, empty the Trash, log out current users, set the startup disk, and lock
screens—from anywhere on the network.
Remote assistance. Apple Remote Desktop 3 enables you to observe or control any
number of remote Mac or Virtual Network Computing (VNC)–enabled computers. New
features for managing Mac computers include easy drag and drop of files, remote copy
and paste of text and images, and Curtain Mode for concealing sensitive information
from users. And thanks to innovative screen sharing, you can provide help and training
to users without leaving your desk.
Apple integrates these essential IT management capabilities in an accessible interface
designed for first-time users—making it easy to discover and manage computers on
your network and to perform multiple management commands in sequence. For any-
one managing a group of Mac computers, Apple Remote Desktop 3 is an innovative
application that streamlines your workflow while reducing support costs, improving
system management, and increasing security.
Introduction
Managed computers have 40 percent lower
total cost of ownership.
Source: Summary TCO Analysis for Windows XP. Table 1
and Table 3, “Use Best Practices to Reduce Desktop PC TCO,
2005–2006 Update,” 8 December 2005, Michael A. Silver,
Federica Troni, Gartner, Inc.
Managed
Unmanaged
$0 $1000 $2000 $3000 $4000 $5000 $6000
Hardware and software
Operations
Administration
End-user IT costs
Downtime