ARD Client on iMacIntel not supported...

Question

Hello !
I have a big pb
I can't manage my iMac with ARD client 2.2.1 on my local network by the server.
When I try to connect by ARD Admin 2.2 I receive this message : Failure with connection with "iMac INTEL"
Can you help me for resilve this pb ?
thank you
iMac Intel 17" Mac OS X (10.4.5)

Answer 1

OK, I'm not an expert in this area, but I can tell you that I've used the OSX VNC Server from Redstone Software (free) and Chicken of the VNC from GeekSpiff (also free) and they're quite good. Some say BETTER at observing and controlling than Apple Remote Desktop.
However -- the setup is a tiny bit more elaborate with those programs. Not much, but Tiger's built in Remote Desktop client does some critical setup for your clients. Supposedly. (I guess if it did it all correctly we wouldn't be here!).
My big suggestion is to follow the process that Apple's Tech Support gave:
Apple's Tech had me go ethernet cable DIRECTLY from my admin laptop to the affected iMac core duo. Once we did that, we saw the problem was firewall-related. Turning off the firewall on the affected machine did the trick. That gave us the CLUE as to where the problem was, so we could get the firewall settings back up again.
If you turn off all software firewalls, and connect via ethernet on the same subnet to the problem machine, then that takes out any potential router firewall issues and improperly set up port forwarding (not an easy task for those, like me, who haven't done a lot of that!).
If a direct connection with ethernet between the two machines doesn't work (set network TCP/IP to DHCP on BOTH machines) then the affected Mac probably has problems with the installation of Remote Access.
BTW, 90 days of free support comes with the purchase of Remote Desktop. There's a support code on the back of a card -- different than your serial number -- that you use when you call 800-APL-CARE. Make sure to get connected to the XSERVE group, as they support Remote Desktop.
I'm still testing to see if I can punch through my own firewall and observe my wife's iMac via the internet. I've done it with VNC but not yet with Remote Desktop. Once I get that working, I plan on writing an idiot's document on how to do it -- one that even I could've used.
While Apple has done a brilliant job of making these things fairly easy (compared to the Windows world) there's still much more to be done. In my case, I've been an Apple Certified Developer / Partner for 21 years, with my software on every shelf at every Apple Store, and I STILL couldn't figure out all the details without help. So don't feel bad -- and don't give up.
Stephen Greenfield
Write Brothers, Inc.