Installation manual
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You can automate any command or function in Apple
Remote Desktop, and AppleScript or UNIX scripts.
This chapter describes Remote Desktop automation capabilities and how to use them.
Working with the Task Server
A dedicated Task Server acts as an always-on, automated administrator.
The Task Server installs packages and changes client settings without direct control
from the Remote Desktop application. It also lets you install software packages and
change settings on clients that aren’t currently available on the network.
The Task Server also collects data from Remote Desktop clients and acts as a central
repository for cached report data. The Remote Desktop application console doesn’t
need to be open and active, and you can spread report data collection over a longer
period of time than with an intermittent network connection on an administrator
computer.
There are a few constraints on using a Task Server for administration. If you want to run
a Task Server on a computer other than the one that runs Remote Desktop, you need a
separate Unlimited Managed Systems license. Also, the Task Server performs only two
of the many tasks available from Remote Desktop.
Preliminary Planning for Using the Task Server
Before you use Task Server to automate administration, you should rst make sure that
the network settings and infrastructure are congured properly.
To prepare for the Task Server:
1 Check the network settings on the server.
The server should have a static IP address.
2 Check the rewall settings on the server.
9
Automating Tasks