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Asked: 2009-05-20 07:54:32 +0800 CST

How can I VNC to a Mac which has booted from the Install DVD?

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What steps do I follow to VNC into a Mac which has booted from the Install DVD?

Have heard you can't do this with the Leopard Install DVD anymore - if so, instructions for the Tiger Install DVD would be handy to know also.

mac-osx installation vnc screen-sharing

2 Answers

  1. Best Answer
    1. boot your Mac from the Install DVD
    2. open Screen Sharing and connect to the IP of your Mac (it's IP will supplied by DHCP, you might have to look it up on your router/DHCP server — or use "arp -a" to locate it)
    3. for VNC login and password, leave the username blank, but type in the first 8 digits of your Mac's hardware serial number

    I have tested this with the Leopard Server Install DVD, and it works fine.

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  2. It's impossible with the Leopard Client DVD without modification: ARDAgent is not available on the DVD installation. You can however make a NetBoot image or a custom image with ARDAgent installed (Put it in /System/Library/CoreServices) and it should launch the VNC server (have not tried it personally as I've used a NetInstall image and now only deploy images) automatically by running echo -n enabled > /Library/Preferences/com.apple.ScreenSharing.launchd, if not you'll have to run kickstart (eg. sudo /System/Library/CoreServices/RemoteManagement/ARDAgent.app/Contents/Resources/kickstart -configure -activate -privs all -setvnclegacy yes -setvncpw PASSWORD)

    Note: Tested on a 10.5.0 and a 10.5.6 retail disk. I assume it would be the same for a 10.5.4 disk as well.

    The Leopard Server DVD however does allow remote installations that are controlled by VNC.

    What about running a NetInstall image, doing a Remote Install (using Remote Install.app) or sending an image instead?

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