Apple Remote Desktop 2.2 - Manual (Page 96)

96 Chapter 4 Interacting With Users
Controlling VNC Servers
Virtual Network Computing (VNC) is remote control software. It allows a user at one
computer (using a “viewer”) to view the desktop and control the keyboard and mouse
of another computer (using a VNC “server”) connected via the network. For the
purposes of these instructions, VNC-enabled computers are referred to as “VNC clients.”
VNC servers and viewers are available for a variety of computing platforms. ARD is a
VNC viewer and can therefore control any computer on the network (whether that
computer be running Mac OS X, Linux, or Windows) that is:
• Running the VNC server software
• In an ARD computer list
These instructions assume the observed computer has been added to an ARD
computer list (see “About ARD Computer Lists” on page 57). When adding a VNC server
to an ARD computer list, you only need to provide the VNC password and no user
name.
To control a VNC client computer:
1 Select a computer list.
2 Select one or more computers in the Remote Desktop window.
3 Choose Interact > Control.
If the controlled computer’s screen is larger than your control window’s, the screen will
scroll as the pointer approaches the edge of the window.
4 To switch between viewing full size and fitting to the window, click the Fit to Window
button.
5 Use your mouse and keyboard to perform actions on the controlled computer.
Regardless of your Apple Remote Desktop preferences, controlled VNC servers share
keyboard and mouse control. The remote computer’s keyboard and mouse are active
and affect the computer just as the administrator computer’s keyboard and mouse do.
Configuring an ARD Client to Be Controlled by a VNC Viewer
When configured to do so, an Apple Remote Desktop client can be controlled with a
non-Apple Virtual Network Computing (VNC) viewer.
Allowing a non-Apple VNC viewer access to an ARD client is less secure than using
Remote Desktop to control the client. The non-Apple VNC software expects the
password to be stored in a cyptographically unsecure form and location.
Note: If you are observing a client, you can click the Share Control button to switch to
controlling that client.