Remotely Send Alert/Beep over LAN

I have an OS X 10.8 Mac connected to an OS X 10.6 Mac over Ethernet (LAN). I want the ability to page (beep at) the user sitting at the 10.6 Mac, by performing some action on my 10.8 Mac. I would prefer if I did not have to use the Terminal or write a script to do it. In other words, I would prefer a double-click solution: I double-click an app on the Desktop and it then performs an action on the 10.6 machine (such as playing a brief alert sound).


The 10.6 Mac is NOT connected to the internet for security reasons. It is only connected to the 10.8 Mac over Ethernet. So any solution you recommend needs to be a LAN only solution that does not require internet access.


Thanks.

Posted on Feb 17, 2013 11:37 PM

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8 replies

Feb 18, 2013 6:42 PM in response to William Lloyd

I don't know much about Apple Remote Desktop, but as far as screen sharing goes, I don't think it would be a solution. I have doubts because screen sharing asks for confirmation before you can share the screen. The solution I see should not ask for any interaction on the part of the user.


To be more specific, I've got a 10.8 Mac in one room and the 10.6 Mac 5 rooms away. They are linked together by Ethernet LAN; however, the 10.6 Mac is not accessing the internet, nor do we want it to. The room in which the 10.6 Mac resides has 5 people working. They are working near the Mac but not sitting beside it. And although they do jobs on that Mac from time to time, those jobs are short and infrequent. So most of the time, people are in the same room as the 10.6 Mac, but they are not sitting at it.


What I seek to achieve is a means for the 10.6 Mac to be remotely triggered by the 10.8 Mac, such that workers in the room of the 10.6 Mac can be alerted (e.g., by sound). Once they hear that alert, they know what to do. But I cannot expect people in that room to "approve" an Screen Sharing session before I can beep them! The whole point is to alert them in the first place, preferrably with a full volume sound that lasts a couple seconds.


So that is what I seek to achive. It is merely a way of remotely beeping/alerting someone over LAN. Any further assistance you can offer would be greatly appreciated.


Thank you.

Feb 18, 2013 7:06 PM in response to William Lloyd

Running Messages on the 10.8 Mac and iChat on the 10.6 Mac would not achieve the desire effect insofar as the "alert" that one can send through Messages/iChat is too weak to be noticed.


Again, the objective is to use a computer for the "tool" that it is. It is supposed to work for me. Why should I be forced to wire an intercom system when I have a computer already in both rooms, which are linked by Ethernet? It's a matter of my wanting to use something that already exists, rather than spend time and money setting up other hardware, even if one contends that a dedicated audio alert system may be better.


Surely there must be a way for me to trigger an audio file (beep sound) to play at full volume via LAN between two Macs. I've enabled Remote Login on the 10.6 Mac and that allows me to send a Terminal command via SSH to "say" something via "Cellos" or other voices. But the problem is, I need an easy 2-click solution for dummies. I need the means to enable anyone to approach the 10.8 Mac, double-click an app on the Desktop (or single click something in the Dock) that will in turn connect to the 10.6 Mac over LAN and then play an Alert sound. That's all.


How can it be done?


Thanks.

Feb 19, 2013 5:43 AM in response to JDW1

Running Messages on the 10.8 Mac and iChat on the 10.6 Mac would not achieve the desire effect insofar as the "alert" that one can send through Messages/iChat is too weak to be noticed.

I disagree.


iChat -> Preferences -> Alerts -> Play a Sound, can have any sound you like. You can even add sounds.


Plus you can have the iChat icon bounce in the Dock to give a visual indication that a new message has arrived. Useful if the other person has the sound muted, as eventually they will notice the iChat icon bouncing and bouncing in the Dock (it can get visually annoying).


Or instead of iChat, use Adium

<http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/6366/adium>

which will allow you to associate any "Text" string you like to the New Message so Adium on the other system can talk the other user's head off.


There are out-of-the box solutions. No scripting necessary. iChat and Messages comes with the Macs. They work over the LAN via Bonjour auto-discovery protocols (be sure to enable Bonjour in Messages and iChat (or Adium)).


You could even Applescript (or maybe even Automator) sending via Messages, so you could have you double-click solution for a canned message.

Feb 19, 2013 4:32 PM in response to BobHarris

Thank you, Bob. Using Messages on the 10.8 Mac and iChat on the 10.6 Mac via Bonjour works perfectly to achive what I want. I assigned the standard "ring" tone to all incoming text/chat/video requests, which is sufficient to alert people nearby. I especially like the fact it's drop dead easy to implement on both computers, with no scripting required.


Best wishes,


James

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Remotely Send Alert/Beep over LAN

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