A while back, Mac OS X Hints (via MacWorld online) posted an awesome article on how to get the most out of Leopard’s built-in screen sharing:
First, here’s a potentially easier way to share the screens of other Macs on your network. First, realize that the screen sharing feature is just an application. It resides in /System/Library/CoreServices, under the tricky name of Screen Sharing. Find it now, and drag it onto your Dock, or into your sidebar, or your toolbar – whichever you prefer for quick launch access.
Out of Leopard’s 300+ new features, the ability to remotely view and control any Mac on a local network (including 10.4 machines) is easily my favorite. With three Macs in my household, such things as opening applications on another computer or helping a family member cajole Word into behaving used to be a major pain, as they entailed either unwiring me from my web of AT paraphernalia and wheeling me to said computers, or telling someone step by step what to do and then sending them off, hoping for the best. Now, thanks to 10.5′s screen sharing, I can control all the Macs on my network from one computer, as long as they are awake. From simple things like opening iTunes, to more complex procedures like copying mail messages between computers, practically any task can be performed just like you were sitting in front of the actual machine. Who says you can’t be in more than one place at the same time?
Website: Mac OS X Hints (via Macworld online) – Add more power to 10.5′s screen sharing
- Joe Barnick, AssistiveGaming.com
When you have a sleeping mac and need them to be awake, there are applications like Wake 550 (http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/7271/wake550-for-osx)
The only catch is that the mac to be awaken needs to be connected by ethernet.
I am using screen sharing, is there a way so that the remote computer i am viewing will not know I am viewing his computer (hide the status icon on the status bar)? Thanks
@emcue: I’m not sure whether this is possible or not, but it could be used for nefarious purposes so I’m not inclined to answer it unless you have a really good assistive-technology-related reason that you need to do it.
Basically we are using Macs in the company, I need to monitor some computers because some are downloading harmful software when browsing. Thanks!!
@emcue: I suggest that you just configure your users properly so they don’t have admin access on the machines. There isn’t any malware around that’s able to be run without admin access because OS X malware are all trojan horses.
Yes…im having the same problem with the person above. I see how it is a rather dodgy thing to be able to do. YET i need help with the fact that i want to catch these people downloading the software so I can discipline them accordingly. Otherwise..do you have any other advice?
Many thanks
Sam
@Sam: I suggest the same thing I suggested to emcue – configure your users properly so they don’t have admin access on the machines. There isn’t any malware around that’s able to be run without admin access because OS X malware are all trojan horses.
If they’re downloading software that isn’t malware, deal with it some other way.
I would like to know how to hide the icon because i run an all mac internet cafe. I have 4 machines and when someone’s time is up i put the machine to sleep using screen sharing until they pay for more time. Some of my more savvy customers discovered they could simply “disconnect ***.***.***.***” so if there is a way to do so i would love to know.
You could send a terminal sleep command via ssh. You could also send a command to log the user out, like the kill loginwindow answer (2) on this page:
http://superuser.com/questions/40061/what-is-the-mac-os-x-terminal-command-to-log-out-the-current-user
That’s easier anyway, because you don’t have to fight over mouse control.
how do i send a message to someone that appears on their screen via screen sharing. i know apple remote desktop will do it, but will screen sharing?