ARD incorrectly showing clients 'offline'

We re-add the computers when this happens and that solves the problem.

that option used to work for me too, until all the machines I look after suddenly had 'Access Denied' next them.

Has anyone had luck in finding out why 10.4.11 / 10.5 has broken ARD? It's the only thing I can think of that makes any sense to why I'm having these problems.

Has there been a response from Apple?

One reason we have found for this is the IP address has changed, since we do not have dymanic DNS enabled on our networks ARD looses track of the computer when it changes IP Addresses and we have to re-add them. This causes us to not be able to use the Task Server for Scheduled items as well.

I think remote desktop only cares about the MAC addresses that the computers have. I just reinstalled over 80 computers and all their names changed, all were off the network for extended amounts of time and all have completely new OS installs.
They showed up straight away in ARD in the correct lists that they were previously in but with the dreaded 'Access Denied' next to them.

I've tried re-installing, deleting lists, re-adding comps, re-installing clients and every other option including unix commands - what else is there?

I wish apple actually read these posts...

Assuming that none of the ARD settings have been changed in system preferences (Sharing),
try adding the computers through the Scanner and selecting network range. If the computers that are offline are within the IP range that you've selected, they will reappear and you then can re-add them. This has worked for me without fail.

I am starting to think that the issue is something related to the way the client computers System Services is hanging onto the ARD information.

In the past I have had issues with Remote Desktop not communicating effectively with client machines and adding a Firewall exception for '5900' made them behave properly. This time I can add them (the exceptions) but cannot remove them after they have been deactivated, it keeps telling me that I have to turn off the System Services for ARD before I can disable them. This is after running the kickstart utility to turn everything off and also uninstalling everything related to ARD.

It seems that the Sharing preference pane (or the service that runs it) is holding onto some ARD related information even after being completely diasabled or uninstalled.

I have now hit a point on my test machine where after trying to fix the issue I can now no longer change the Access Settings in the Remote Desktop sharing tab to allow or 'unallow' users.
It highlights the button but nothing happens, is there a fix for this issue?

It is extremely frustrating that there is no simple fix for these problems, it seems that the issue is wide spread enough for Apple to look into it but so far nothing.

Come on Apple help out your admins, we are at the frontline of all your deployments. We are the ones that everyday Mac users turn to for support and guidance, at the moment you are leading us blindly and blind faith only goes so far...

I just finally had some luck with the machines I look after.

I ended up successfully downgrading the admin application to version 2.2 after 3 failed install attempts and the computers have shown back up but only in version 2.2.

I have two installs of ARD 3 one on my laptop and one on my work machine, to avoid stuffing my work machine I tried the uninstall on my laptop.

It seems the problem is with ARD v3.2 as ARD v2.2 can see and communicate with the computers fine, what is the difference in the later version that makes it so buggy?

I really need to use Automator with my admin tasks and cannot use ARD v2.2 for this - when will this be fixed by Apple - seriously!

This is criminal that we have paid for this application and cannot use it for what it's meant for - i think another poster in another topic made a great point in that Apple are focusing way too much time and energy on their iGizmos!

Apple - you are slipping!

First it was your machines (capacitors etc), then it was your gadgets (batteries etc) now it's your software - wake up!

Remember who your customer base was before your ideas of market saturation took over - we are the users that have stood by you for so many years, and have put up with crap from the Windows and Linux camps knowing that we were right in saying Apple is a top notch company - now I'm not so sure, we can continue to believe in such a position as you (apple) sure know how to ignore peoples issues until there are enough to make it 'worthwhile to address'....

I'm sick and tired of this utter crap...

I have the same issues however I have a intel mac that has power pc clients "offline"