Remote connectivity has grown from a luxury to a requirement
in the few short years since Windows XP helped popularized the feature. Staff now rely on remote connectivity to office systems to
complete work from home, after-hours or on weekends.

Fortunately, Apple tree systems benefit from remote connectivity
capabilities, too. Windows-based offices that deploy Macs, whether for one
employee or entire departments, will find Macs capable of completing painless secure
remote desktop connections to Windows systems and VPNs,
too as to other Macs.

Apple Remote Desktop

Apple Remote Desktop, shown in Figure A, is aimed primarily at administrators as a management tool.
It provides a seamless method of remotely accessing one Mac desktop from
some other. In addition to supporting software distribution, real-time user
support, detailed performance reporting capabilities, and the ability to
automate routine tasks (such every bit updating software applications and the Mac Os),
the Apple tree Remote Desktop enables performing Spotlight searches across multiple
systems, script deployment and execution, and inventory reporting.

Effigy A


Apple tree Remote Desktop, while requiring a dissever license purchase, boasts a
powerful, piece of cake-to-utilize interface.

Priced at $499 for the Unlimited Managed Systems edition or
$299 for the 10 Managed Systems version, Apple's remote desktop software isn't
exactly free. Regardless, it's a strong remote connectivity application that
whatsoever administrator charged with maintaining for than a vi
Mac systems should consider deploying. The expense is quickly start, thanks to
the application's power to automate common tasks and enable centralized administration.

Apple tree Remote Desktop version 3 runs on both PowerPC and
Intel-powered Mac systems. All the same, Mac OS X version x.3.9 or later is
required.

Should administrators wish, they can also cull to remotely
administer other platforms using Apple'south remote software.
Any VNC-enabled computer can exist remotely managed using Apple Remote Desktop,
including Windows- and Linux-based boxes.

Microsoft'southward Remote Desktop Connectedness

More ofttimes than not in many organizations, administrators and
users must connect to Windows systems. Fortunately, Microsoft provides Mac
users with a free Remote Desktop Connexion Client For
Mac awarding. Once installed on the Macintosh, the software makes it piece of cake
for Mac users to connect to and command Windows systems.

Microsoft's remote desktop utility offers Mac users a broad
variety of configuration options. From specifying screen size and the number of
colors to optimizing remote connection performance, Apple computer users tin can
customize remote sessions with ease.

Using the Local Resources tab, Mac users can specify where
sounds play, whether local drives and printers should be connected to the
remote system session, and the key to exist used as the Windows [Alt] key. This
concluding chemical element is particularly of import, every bit Windows use often requires use of the
[Alt] key, which Mac keyboards don't supply. By default, the Mac'south [Option] key
is set to serve every bit Windows' [Alt] replacement key (although Mac users tin can opt
for some other selection, should they wish).

The Programs tab is used to specify programs (and accompanying
plan locations) that should be run upon starting a session. The Operation
tab, meanwhile, is used to optimize remote desktop connections. Mac users can
configure the speed of their network connectedness, too as specify whether
desktop backgrounds, themes and other items (all which can slow a remote
session) should be displayed.

In one case connected, the remote Windows desktop appears inside
Mac OS X in its own window, as shown in Effigy
B. However, Mac users receive total-featured control over the Windows
desktop (receiving essentially all the same capabilities as if they were
physically seated at the Windows system).

Figure B


The Windows Remote Desktop Mac customer disables wallpaper and other items,
by default, to help speed operation.

While Apple Remote Desktop supports connecting only to Mac
systems from an Apple computer or server, the software also enables connecting
to and administering other Apple servers. Whether administrators seek to administer
a single arrangement remotely or perform software installations or updates on
multiple Macs simultaneously, the Apple Remote Desktop proves flexible.

Past creating computer lists, administrators tin utilise the
remote connectivity application to configure a specific machine or numerous
systems at once. Past creating customized figurer lists (such as grouping
systems past department), administrators tin leverage Apple Remote Desktop to
distribute installation images, deploy updates, distribute elevate-and-drop
applications to clients, execute UNIX shell scripts, and more than.

Since Apple's remote administration utility supports sharing
the end user's mouse and allows administrators to conversation and share an end user's
screen, the tool provides a complete remote support solution. By observing the
steps or processes an ambassador demonstrates, users (and even large numbers
of students or staff) can receive instruction on performing specific actions
simultaneously.

Apple'south Internet Connect powers VPN connections

Frequently traveling and mobile employees require access to
documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and e-mail powered past or stored on
corporate servers. In the past, the Mac'south VPN capabilities were somewhat
limited, but continued refinements in Mac Os X have brought the Mac upward to speed
with Windows.

Apple tree includes the Cyberspace Connect application natively
with Mac OS 10. In addition to powering Bluetooth, Airport and internal modem
connections, Cyberspace Connect besides enables configuring Windows-uniform VPN
connections.

When starting Internet Connect, Mac users are greeted with a
fairly unproblematic bill of fare. However, the menu's basic interface belies its potential.
In addition to supporting L2TP VPNs, this software
also supports PPTP connections.

Internet Connect walks users through configuring a VPN
connection. Before completing a VPN link, Mac users volition probable need to obtain
several pieces of information from their network administrators, simply Information technology
professionals volition observe the tool simple to configure.

Internet Connect begins by asking whether users wish to
create an L2TP over IPSec or PPTP VPN connexion. Side by side, users must specify a
username/password on the Mac system possessing administrative rights. This is a
security precaution that helps prevent regular Mac users from creating VPN
connections without proper authorization.

Apple tree users can then typically consummate a VPN connexion by
supplying the server address, an account proper noun and an appropriate password, and pressing
the Connect button.

Once connected, Mac users can browse server shares using the
Finder, their favorite Web browser,and
a host of other applications.

Networks featuring more complex network configurations may
require that boosted parameters be fix or specified, however. Depending upon
the type of VPN in use (L2TP or PPTP), the available options differ within
Cyberspace Connect.

For L2TP connections, administrators and users akin tin
specify the server address, an account name, the user authentication method
(which includes password, RSA SecurID, Document,
Kerberos, and CryptoCard), automobile hallmark
method (Shared Secret versus Certificate), Grouping Name, and fifty-fifty whether the VPN
should be enabled on demand. All of these settings are configured by pressing on
the Configuration drib-down menu and selecting Edit Configurations.

For PPTP connections, administrators and users can specify
server address, business relationship proper noun, user authentication method, encryption level, and
more than. Over again, the PPTP configuration options are ready by pressing the
Configuration driblet-down carte du jour and selecting Edit Configurations.

Other alternatives

A host of providers develop applications, utilities, and
resources aimed at ameliorate integrating Macs with other platforms. Every bit a outcome,
many third-party remote administration tools exist for the Mac, including a
wide variety of VNC programs. Chicken
Of The VNC is i leading VNC port on the Apple
platform; OSXvnc is another.

NetOp Remote Control, manufactured
by Danware, is yet another selection. The cantankerous-platform
remote connectivity utility supports numerous operating systems, including
Windows clients and servers, Macintosh, Linux, and more. In addition to
providing remote control functionality for Mac OS 10, NetOp
Remote Command also features file transfer capabilities.

Perhaps the best known product for connecting Windows
systems, meanwhile, to Macs is Symantec'south PCAnywhere.
Version 12.1 of the software supports connecting everything from Windows XP and
Vista PCs (among others) to Mac OS X computers, whether the Macs are PowerPC or
Intel-based. Besides including file transfer capabilities, Symantec'south PCAnywhere includes 256-bit encryption, remote direction
tools, and connectivity wizards to simplify administration.

Summary

No longer practice Macs pose remote connection or VPN liabilities.
Numerous tools, including gratuitous applications from both Microsoft and Apple, aid
ensure Mac users savor the same freedom of mobility as do
Windows staff.