ARD "Screen Sharing Available" problem

Many reports have come where ARD connections to remote computers display "Screen Sharing Available" next to the computer name and that although remote control and observation is possible, package install and file copies fail.

The first thing to check is to see if the firewall on the ARD console and host computers are turned off.  By default the firewall blocks all ARD connections.

Secondly, check to see if the folder /var/db/RemoteManagement exists on the client machine.  For some reason, this folder doesn't get created and it prevents proper ARD connections.

Also check A and PRT records to make sure there are no duplicate names or IPs for the client.

You can also try uninstalling and reinstalling ARD.

Uninstall instructions:

1. Open Terminal (located in /Applications/Utilities).
2. Delete the client pieces from /System/Library/ using the following commands in the Terminal application:
   

   $ sudo rm -rf /System/Library/CoreServices/Menu\ Extras/RemoteDesktop.menu

   $ sudo rm -rf /System/Library/CoreServices/RemoteManagement/

   $ sudo rm -rf /System/Library/PreferencePanes/ARDPref.prefPane

   $ sudo rm -rf /System/Library/StartupItems/RemoteDesktopAgent/





3. Delete the client preferences from /Library/Preferences/ using the following command in the Terminal application:
   

   $ sudo rm /Library/Preferences/com.apple.ARDAgent.plist

   $ sudo rm /Library/Preferences/com.apple.RemoteManagement.plist





4. Delete the client installation receipts from /Library/Receipts/ using the following command in the Terminal application:
   

   $ sudo rm -r /Library/Receipts/RemoteDesktopClient*

   $ sudo rm -rf /var/db/RemoteManagement/ 

   
   

   To reinstall download the latest ARD client from Apple.