Can't Observe/Control

I have the same issue here at work. What makes it more frustrating is that this problem is occurring on only one of two (seemingly) identical machines. Both are set up to "share" RD connections, but only one will allow me to observe/control. The problem machine will allow me to do everything else (including share my screen).

Thanks!

eMac Mac OS X (10.4.2)

I was able to solve the issue on the problem machine. Further investigation revealed that it was running OSXVNC in the background (as a start-up item). Once I turned that off and restarted the ARD client, everything worked just fine.

Hope this ifno helps somebody!

Lance

Halalula!! I've been pulling my hair out (what I have left) until I read the last comment. Now It works like a charm. Get rid of OSXvnc in the Startup items folder!!! Thank you!

Where do I find osxvnc in os x?

To find osxvnc, type command-f (for find) and enter vnc. Any instance of vnc including osxvnc will be located and presented and can be deleted from that listing. Look primarily for those in 'startup items' or anywhere else for that matter. The only thing that I left intact on my machines was Chicken of the VNC (COTVNC) which can be used in leu of Remote desktop in most cases. ARD has the VNC server software built in, which is the reason for the conflict.

G5 iMac Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Hi,

I have exactly the same problem. Can search remote desktop, initiate update, chat etc but cannot see or control the desktop at all.

I do not have any VNC product installed (checked).

My set-up is iBook at home running ARD connecting to eMac at work. Work ARD installation is perfect and all works fine.

My iBook is wireless (do i remember reading in the manual that there is a wireless issue??)

If i couldnt connect at all then I wouldnt mind but to be 90% there!!!

One final piece of info is that both machines are running ARD though i quit the works one before going home so this should then use the built in version??

I hope someone can help me and thanks in advance for any info.

joe

Typically a work environment will be controlled by a router to feed many computers to the internet. It's possible in that case that the required ports (5900 & 3238) are still blocked to outside access. While you can get out (work to home) you would be blocked from getting in.

I'm having a similar problem. I can "connect" to get reports, etc., but I can't observe or control a remote Mac. I had an opportunity to have my admin laptop in the same room as the Mac I want to control and hooked them up to a router (just the two of us on the router). I config'd the firewall on the router to allow ALL traffic, both TCP and UDP for all ports (0-65535). I still cannot observe or control. The interesting part is that I was able to observe and control my admin Mac from the other computer (installed ARC on it temporarily)! Is there some setting I'm missing? Any help would be appreciated...

How about the "software firewall" included as part of OS X? You'll find them under the center tab in 'Sharing'. I determined that the addition of the any version of VNC installed and active I was unable to connect. (VNC is built into ARD so presumably there was a conflict going on there. I removed it from the startup folder and re-added it to double check the effect. Port settings and VNC were my stumbling blocks.

I had a similar problem, where i could connect, control, observe, pretty much get full functionality from ARD on both client and admin computers....
...then i started to use the Mac OS X firewall to be more secure when online ec and suddenly i could not connect to, control, observe my admin computer from any clients! the only way i could gain access from the client would be to turn off the firewall in the admin's system preferences!

After reading this forum i decided to have a closer look at the port configuration on my admin computer.

In 'sharing' in sytem preferences in the firewall tab i double clicked the 'Apple Remote Desktop' box to see which ports it actually allowed... the result being TCP and UDP ports 3238...

When i checked the same on my client iBook the ports that the setting allowed were TCP/UDP 3238 AND TCP/UDP 5900!

So i created a new firewall rule on the admin computer entitled "ARD" and allowed ports TCP/UDP 5900 and voila i can now connect to the admin computer with the client without any problems!

Hope this helps, i know it has probably been said somewhere here but i felt this explanation may help those unfamiliar with the process!

G5 iMac 1.8 GHz, G4 iBook 1 GHz, MacBook Pro 15" Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Just want to clarify your port settings. I think you meant Port 3283 instead of 3238.

I just checked double-clicked the Apple Remote Desktop item under the Firewall Tab of the Sharing system pref. This is what is says:

When you turn on Apple Remote Desktop in the Services pane, you also allow the service access through the firewall on TCP port(s) 3283, 5900 and UDP ports(s) 3283, 5900.

Which port is correct?

3283 or 3238

I have the same problem.

ARD 3.1 is running across HamachiX. I have two home machines (G4 powerbook and G4 Mini) and one office machine (G4 iMac). I'm fully functional from office to home but can't observe or control from home to office even though I can run reports, etc. It even shows current status and current appl. correctly.

HamachiX is fully functional in both directions through finder.

I have fully removed and reinstalled ARD on the office machine, software firewall is down and the ports have all been forwarded on each of the Linksys routers (though I'm not sure this is necessary through Hamachi).

Anyone have a solution yet?

Just want to clarify your port settings. I think you
meant Port 3283 instead of 3238.

I just checked double-clicked the Apple Remote
Desktop item under the Firewall Tab of the Sharing
system pref. This is what is says:

When you turn on Apple Remote Desktop in the Services
pane, you also allow the service access through the
firewall on TCP port(s) 3283, 5900 and UDP ports(s)
3283, 5900.

Which port is correct?

3283 or 3238

Good Point!
Actually both SEEM to work for me. My Admin box is 'hardwired' to 3238, but the Admin Manual states that it should be 3283. I have an old laptop (wireless) that I wander with which is set to 3283 (unlike my desktop) and both machines seem to work fine to each other and to any client. Trick is to try each setting to see which one works for you. Throw the other away. It would also depend on any external firewall settings (routers, etc). They would have to match whatever is under them. Basically, everything should be the same, whichever you use. The port list I've got shows 3283 assigned to Net Assistant while 3238 is assigned to appareNet Analysis Server as of March 2006. (Internet Assigned Numbers Authoriity database). 5900, btw is not even listed. But I believe it's necessary for VNC which is actually written into Remote Desktop now. If all else fails try Chicken of the VNC or VNC Viewer, both on VersionTracker.com.


G5 iMac isight Mac OS X (10.4.8)

I too have same problem. Installed ARD Admin (with 3.1 update) on Intel iMac (MacOS 10.4) and configured ARD client (MacOs 10.3.9 and ARD version 3.1) preferences to enable access. I can execute a task from Admin to client, but am unable to observe or control client.

In trouble-shooting, I installed ARD Admin on intended client machine (older G3 iMac). I am able to observe, control..... the Intel Mac. Any ideas on how to get reverse contol working much appreciated. Just spent 2 hours on Apple support line without success.

NEW INFO:
I just remotely connected to a Intel MacMini that I previously couldn't. I was checking the settings and the Firewall had been turned off by the User internally (not me). So i checked the "edit" button under the "Firewall" setting tab and it quoted the port number to allow access through the firewall as being UDP and TCP port 3238.

As on my earlier post, on my PPC G5 the port number was supposed to allow the service access through the firewall on TCP port(s) 3283, 5900 and UDP ports(s) 3283, 5900.

Well, adding 3238 on my G5 didn't work. I turned the Firewall back on for the Intel MacMini before I logged out and now I can't get back in. I even made a new firewall exception in the edit option of my Firewall tab for port 3238. I had already opened the port on my router.

So as long as the firewall is turned on for the MacMini, I still can't get in.

Do you think someone in Apple's Firewall dept made a typo?

I'm gonna add port 3238 to my router and see what happens.

G5 Dual 2 Ghz Tower Mac OS X (10.4.8)