Configure the Apple Remote Desktop 3.2 settings
To use Apple Remote Desktop (ARD) 3.2, enable and configure the ARD PostgreSQL database to allow network connections. Web Help Desk provides a setup script to create the configurations for you.
When completed, scan all assets that must be included in Web Help Desk, and then run a System Overview report in ARD. The System Overview Report option exports the asset data to the ARD PostgreSQL database.
- Download
WHDRemoteDesktopBridge.dmg
from the SolarWinds Downloads site. - Run the bridge installer on the Web Help Desk server.
- Install Apple Remote Desktop on the discovery database server.
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Start Apple Remote Desktop and ensure it is scanning for computer systems.
(Screenshot property of © 2021 Apple Inc.)
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Configure ARD for TCP/IP access.
Ensure that:
- The Remote Desktop is started before you configure the database for TCP/IP access.
- You record the Apple script connection settings. The Apple script configures the ARD database to enable TCP/IP access, and then displays your database connection information. Record these connection settings, as you must add them to Web Help Desk.
- Open Remote Desktop and select the systems to import.
- Navigate to Report > System Overview and click Run to run a System Overview Report.
- Log in to the Web Help Desk Administrator Console.
- Click Setup > Assets > Discovery Connections.
- Click New.
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In the Connection Name field, enter a name for this connection.
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Click the Discovery Tool drop-down menu and select Apple Remote Desktop.
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In the Remote Desktop Version row, select 3.2 or earlier.
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Enter the database host name/IP address and port number.
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Enter the name, username, and password of the database containing the asset data table or view.
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Select a synchronization schedule that determines how often Web Help Desk collects properties from the discovered endpoints. To disable automatic synchronization, select Every but do not select a day of the week.
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Select the checkbox to ignore blank values encountered mapping fields of the discovery tool. Otherwise, deselect this checkbox.
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Select the checkbox to synchronize assets found in the discovery connection with the existing assets in Web Help Desk. Otherwise, leave this checkbox unchecked.
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Select an action to take if an asset currently in the Web Help Desk database is not found by the discovery tool.
- Complete the remaining fields as required. See the tooltips for more information.
- Click the Attribute Mapping tab.
- Click Edit.
- Map the desired custom asset fields. The Asset attributes are different for each discovery tool, mapping directly to the values in the discovery tool’s database.
- Click Save.
- Click Assets > Search Assets to view your imported assets.
ARD does not remove systems from the database when they are no longer included in a System Overview report. Remove any retired assets from ARD before synchronizing with Web Help Desk.