Apple Remote Desktop Help
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# Setting Up the Task Server

After performing some preliminary planning, you're ready to install Remote Desktop on a computer that will act as the Task Server. This computer stores a database of client system and file information. First, determine where the data will be located: on the administrator computer, or a remote computer. By default, the database is stored on the administrator computer, but you can change the data collection location.

WARNING: If you change the location of the report database from the one selected in the initial setup, you will need to reset the collection policies for the client computers. The database will not be moved, but will be regenerated at the next collection interval.

If you choose to use another Apple Remote Desktop administrator computer's database, you must configure it to allow data access to other Apple Remote Desktop administrators. The default Task Server is the computer on which you installed Remote Desktop.

1. Make sure you have two Unlimited Managed Systems licenses, one for the server and one for the mobile administrator computer.
2. Install Remote Desktop on the server, using the server's attached display and keyboard.

   If the server is headless, use the Remote Desktop kickstart tool through SSH to enable the Remote Desktop Sharing and other command-line file copy tools to install the Remote Desktop application. For more information, see Using kickstart.

3. After the installer finishes, launch Remote Desktop and configure it using Setup Assistant.

   When Setup Assistant asks if you're going to use another computer as a Task Server, make sure to leave the default, which indicates you are not using a different Task Server.

4. When Setup Assistant finishes, launch Remote Desktop to configure this server's Task Server.

   Choose Remote Desktop > Preferences > Task Server, and select "Use Task Server on this computer" and "Allow remote connections to this server."

5. Use Remote Desktop to verify that it finds the client computers.

   Select a scanner and scan the network range of your client computers. You should see all the client computers you expect. You don't need to add the clients to the All Computers list or keep Remote Desktop open on the server. This step simply verifies network availability.

6. Open System Preferences and give Generate Reports access privileges to Task Server administrators.

   For more information, see Apple Remote Desktop Administrator Access.

See also:

- Preliminary Planning for Using the Task Server
- Setting Up an Admin Console to Query the Task Server