Difference between OS X Server & Apple Remote Desktop...

Hi

+"Would I need to purchase Apple Remote Desktop?"+

It depends on what you want to do? VNC Server and Client are built into every OS from 10.5 onwards. Prior to that VNC Client only. You don't need ARD to control OSX Server remotely. You can do this using what's available in a client OS if using 10.5 onwards.

+"Does OSX Server do all ARD does?"+

OSX Server and Apple Remote Desktop are two completely different products. Depending on what you want to achieve they can be utilized together to deliver a powerful mix of control and functionality. Most people using ARD in an OSX Server environment generally don't install it on the Server itself. There's no real need although this does depend, again, on what you want to achieve.

More about what these two products have to offer from here:

ARD
http://www.apple.com/remotedesktop/
http://images.apple.com/remotedesktop/pdf/ARD33_TO.pdf

OSX Server
http://www.apple.com/server/macosx/features/
http://images.apple.com/server/macosx/docs/MacOSXServerSnowLeopardPO.pdf

Tony

Hi Tom

You're welcome. If you're going for centralisation then perhaps a server is something you could look at? Bear in mind if all you want is simple file sharing for 10 users or less then the client OS is more than sufficient. Just don't make the hardware acting as the 'server' in that sense a normal workstation with someone working on it. Performance will be much better if you left it as standalone. If of course you want/need access to some of the advanced technologies available in OSX Server then "fill your boots mate!"

I have been known to dabble with OSX Server now and again. The dedicated Forum for all things OSX Server can be found over on the OSX Server Forum:

http://discussions.apple.com/category.jspa?categoryID=96

There are some very capable guys in your part of world who regularly contribute to a highly skilled level to that forum. You could put out some feelers there if you wanted to? In addition Apple do provide a means of finding a consultant here:

http://consultants.apple.com/

I also quickly googled these:

http://www.applecations.com.au/
http://www.atozpages.com.au/contentsatoz/COMPUTER-SYSTEMS-CONSULTANTS/WA.asp

If you were to Google for "Apple Consultants in Australia" you may find more?

Tony

Hi Tom

I can't see what you'd gain from having a server to be honest? It seems to me what you need is some way of remotely connecting to your office location when you have the need.

You can do that easily enough with whatever it is you have constituting your network at your office location. A decent router/firewall capable of a stable VPN connection as well as a fixed external IP address should be all you need. However you should be aware upstream speeds are generally 1/8th of typical downstream speeds. What this means is copying files to your home location should be fairly painless. The problem comes when you want to save. In the end copying files onto an external drive taking that home and working that way might be the most expedient/efficient option?

This is only my opinion Tom but nowhere in your post do I see any real need for OSX Server or ARD. Perhaps others may contribute and offer a different view?

Tony