Some methods require you to know the IP address of the remote system to connect and may require special firewall configurations, while others will work without any special settings or knowledge – usually! Some remote control methods work across different versions of the Mac OS (or cross-platform), while others require the same OS version on local and remote machines. Needs and realities often dictate your options. Patience is a must, but remember it’s usually faster than traveling there!

Closing unnecessary windows on the remote system and using a flat single-color desktop (instead of a complicated picture or pattern) will speed up response. Minimizing the amount of data you need to transmit for screen sharing will make the process run more quickly. The method used, network bandwidth available, and types of traffic will determine the “sluggishness” factor. With any remote desktop method, access to the remote system is slower than when you are sitting in front of that computer. Remote control capabilities vary by method used and include remote desktop control (screen sharing), file transfers, and system management (patches and updates). Part 3 looks at on new options provided by Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard. Part 2 addresses some commercial solutions that also support multiple OS versions, along with how to force-reboot a remote Mac. Part 1 of this covers general considerations and Apple-supported methods available for remote system control that will generally work on any version of Mac OS X (Jaguar, Panther, Tiger, and Leopard).

Historically there have been fewer options to accomplish this for Macs than PCs, but the situation has been improving steadily. The screen of the shared host computer appears locally, and you use your mouse and keyboard to control the other system from afar. Remote control of your Macintosh allows you to access a remote (host) computer across a network or the Internet from a local (client) system.

Osx remote management