Apple Network Assistant

By: Richard Glaser - Revised: 2006-10-03 devin

Introduction

Apple Network Assistant 3.5.1 is a network management software package. You can provide assistance to end users, get system profiles, reconfigure system settings, & distribute applications across hundreds of computers-all from a central location, over both TCP/IP & AppleTalk networks.

What are the requirements?

Ethernet or other network of similar performance, a Mac OS-based with at least 8 MB of RAM, a monitor with a minimum resolution of 640 x 480, Mac OS version 7.6.1 or later, at least 2 MB of free space on the computer's hard disk

Client workstations require a Mac OS-based computer with at least 4 MB of RAM, Mac OS version 7.1 or later, and at least 1 MB of free space on the workstation's hard disk

You cannot use Network Assistant on a Macintosh Plus, Macintosh SE, Macintosh Classic, or Macintosh Portable computer.

What is the price?

For more information on pricing — call 1-800-747-7483

What are the components?

Network Assistant consists of 5 components:

The Network Assistant application, used by the administrator to perform the maintenance and collaborative tasks described below. A password is required to launch Network Assistant.

The Network Assistant Security module, installed at each workstation, is used to set the level of access an administrator will have to that machine, from no access to full access, and various degrees in between. A password is required to launch the NA Security module.

The Network Assistant Startup Extension. This extension file must be loaded on the workstations and the administrator's station in order for them to communicate. The extension also provides authentication services (requiring password to workstations).

The Network Assistant Preferences. This preference file is loaded on the workstation and the administrator’s station.

The Lock Screen Picture, is used to display the graphic when the workstation is locked.

Once the Network Assistant software is installed and configured on both administrator stations and workstations, the administrator creates groups of workstations she wants to manage remotely communicating with the workstations over the network, and adding the workstations to a list password required to access the workstations). Commands can be then sent to the workstations by selecting one or more of them from the list, and selecting the command from the Network Assistant menu or toolbar.

What is new in 3.5?

The following features and enhancements are new to version 3.5:

Now being sold as a stand-alone product
Allows multiple levels of administrator access on both client and administrator workstations (up to five different passwords can provide different levels of access). (more...)
Keeps a log of both valid and invalid login attempts (more...)
Allows multi-observe of any screen size (not just 640X480)
System information reporting has been enhanced
Screen sharing speed over modems has been improved
Supports the Internet Config. (version 1.4)
Supports HFS+ (AKA Mac OS Extended format)

What are the features and what are their benefits?

Support for TCP/IP and AppleTalk networks

Change configurations, copy applications, and help users on remote systems just as easily as on local systems.
Quickly collect multiple systems on TCP/IP networks for administration.

Five levels of administrator access

Define different access privileges each type of administrator.
Restrict access to sensitive commands

Asset management

Store and track client system purchase dates, serial numbers, and so on

Support for 28.8-kilobit-per-second modems

Access systems via dial-up connections by using PPP or Apple Remote Access software

System monitoring

Spot problems by viewing what users seeing on their screens. (Users can be notified when their screens are being observed.)
Observe up to 250 screens in a rotating cycle of four screens at a time

Screen sharing

Help users by sharing your screen or another user's screen with them

Screen control

Show users how to perform a task by controlling their screen from your computer Share control of a user's screen, or take complete remote control of the user's keyboard and mouse

Text and voice communications

Carry on interactive text-based chats with users to help them with problems Send a text message to one or more users
Broadcast audio messages to multiple users
Carry on a two-way voice conversation with an individual user

Request Attention command

Allow users to ask for help by sending a text message to the network administrator

Screen locking

Get the attention of users in a lab or classroom by locking their screens
Display a text message and/or picture on the locked screen

Application open/quit

Remotely launch applications that users need for a particular task, or close applications to reset shared systems for their next
Drag and drop user and group data from one service to another users

System shutdown/restart

Make sure that all systems in a lab are turned off at the end of the day, or restart individual systems to help users overcome problems Schedule systems to start up in the morning and shut down in the evening

What are the ANA's specifications?

User system management

Maximum number of workstation lists: 20
Maximum number of workstations per list: 250
Maximum number of workstations: 5,000

Networking support

Protocols: TCP/IP and AppleTalk
Software: Open Transport and Internet Config 1.4

Remote assistance

Observe command supports up to 250 workstations
Share Screen command supports up to 100 workstations
Lock Screen command supports up to 250 workstations
Announce command supports up to 50 workstations

System profiling

Memory

Built-in memory
Cache size
RAM disk size
System software memory
Virtual memory

Hardware

Bus clock speed
Free disk space
Hardware vendor
Keyboard connected
Monitor setting
Monitor size
Mouse connected
Printer name
Printer type Printer version
Processor type
Processor clock speed
Second monitor setting
Second monitor size
Total disk space
TV tuner
Video digitizer

Network

AppleTalk network number
AppleTalk node number
AppleTalk version
AppleTalk zone
Ethernet address
Network type
Open Transport version
TCP/IP address
TCP/IP version

Software distribution and configuration

Copy entire hard disks to as many as 250 workstations at once
Copy software to as many as 250 workstations at once
Configure system settings on as many as 250 workstations at once

Asset management

Store and track asset information about client systems (four fields; up to 31 characters per field)

How does ANA differ from ANAT?

ANA (or Apple Network Assistant) is only the network management software. ANAT (or Apple Network Administration Toolkit) is a collection of application programs that help educators manage a network of Mac OS-based It includes At Ease for Workgroups 5.0, and Apple Network Assistant. At Ease basically is hard disk security software.

Where can I get a demo?

Demo’s of Apple Network Assistant 3.5 can be downloaded at:

(links dead)

What are the issues with RevRdist?

If you want to distribute or use Apple Network Assistant with RevRdist, you will need to remove the following items from you image, unless you want file sharing enabled:

File Sharing - located in the folder "System Folder:Control Panels"

Users & Groups - located in the folder "System Folder:Control Panels"

File Sharing Extension - located in the folder "System Folder:Extensions"

File Sharing Library - located in the folder "System Folder:Extensions"

If you do not remove the above its from the RevRdist image, you will consistently get a error message that file sharing could not be enabled.

Hints/Tips using ANA...

Use Workstation Info

Use the Workstation Info from the Network Assistant Security in ANA to add items not stored in the computer, such as person responsible for system, serial numbers, external devices (cameras, digital pad, etc.), and phone numbers.

Workstation Sets

Set up multiple workstation sets in ANA. This way, several different areas can be managed separately.