Remote Shutdown Macs on LAN with iPhone

[ramenaddict]

Hello,
Here's my goal:
To be able to view a list of the computers on a LAN via my iPhone, and remotely shut them down individually.
Other control would be great, like screen sharing via iPhone etc. But the main goal is to shut down remotely with my iPhone.

A bit of background:
I am a video editing teacher utilizing a classroom with iMacs that are networked. This is a great setup, but sometimes students are browsing the web instead of paying attention. That's where the remote shutdown would come in handy.

Thanks so much!

I've seen Apps that do this on a personal computer level, but I'm looking for a networked computer solution with as many as 20+ machines.

 

[alexrmc92]

Hello,
Here's my goal:
To be able to view a list of the computers on a LAN via my iPhone, and remotely shut them down individually.
Other control would be great, like screen sharing via iPhone etc. But the main goal is to shut down remotely with my iPhone.

A bit of background:
I am a video editing teacher utilizing a classroom with iMacs that are networked. This is a great setup, but sometimes students are browsing the web instead of paying attention. That's where the remote shutdown would come in handy.

Thanks so much!

I've seen Apps that do this on a personal computer level, but I'm looking for a networked computer solution with as many as 20+ machines.

Its called Apple Remote Desktop, although it is for mac not iphone.

You install it on every mac in the classroom and you can take complete control and observe any of them. You can shut them down, but it also has a feature called curtain that locks the users screen.

 

[Consultant]

Its called Apple Remote Desktop, although it is for mac not iphone.

You install it on every mac in the classroom and you can take complete control and observe any of them. You can shut them down, but it also has a feature called curtain that locks the users screen.

You actually only install one copy on the admin (teacher) machine.

All Mac OS X comes with the client, you just have to click a checkbox under Sharing to enable it.

I think there's a black screen option too.

 

[rlkarren]

Apple Remote Desktop is your friend. Especially if you are a teacher.

"With ARD, you can do anything but actually turn the machine on" is what I tell my instructors. Once they start using it, they love it. You can control, Observe, Curtain the machines. Also lock/unlock screen, send files, install files/apps, share your screen, send private messages, real time chat, Open Applications, Empty their trash, Sleep, wake, Shut down, restart, and Log out current User, and the all powerful "send Unix Command".

I could tell you more about it, but it would be easier to say, "trust me, you need ARD if you are an instructor". Make the purchase and install, and then look at the wonderful commands you have available under "Manage" and "Interact" in the Application menu. And when you start using script commands you'll discover it's full power using "Send Unix Command".

It can be fun too... send "say hello" as a unix command and watch the fun.

Anyway, you can tell I like this app. Like I said before, between the GUI commands and Unix commands, the only thing you cannot do is turn the machine on.

rlk

 

[ramenaddict]

Thanks!

Thanks everyone for your advice! Luckily we have a copy of Remote Desktop so I'll be installing that on all teacher machines ASAP!
If I find a solution that uses the iPhone to do this (or something like it) I'll be sure to let you all know.

 

[AtomicGrog]

Shutdown seems a little extreme - I'm visualising lost work and lost time when you force the shutdown (you may have to...).

A more effective option would imo to target the browsers... kill them instead or do something with the web proxy access or change some network settings.

An alternative would be a forced screen lock (i.e. back to logon screen etc.).

 

[irnchriz]

Quite a simple request this one:

Step One: Go onto all macs you wish to shutdown from your iPhone, go to System Preferences > Sharing, enable remote login, choose the users who are allowed remote login (use an admin account)

Step 2: Download an SSH client from the iOS App Store then connect to the IP address of the mac you wish to shutdown and you will get a terminal prompt. type in
sudo shutdown -h now

you will be prompted for the password and then the system will shutdown immediately.

sudo shutdown -r now

if you want to reboot the Mac.

 

[unplugme71]

LogMeIn Free/Pro is the answer. The app will list all computers tied to the account.

LogMeIn Central is another tool, albiet more for sharing. You can assign other users to control specific computers or groups of computers. You don't need this if you don't plan on having multiple users log in though.