Apple Remote Desktop display funkiness with Pismo laptop
July 1, 2010 8:10 AM Subscribe
I'm running Apple Remote Desktop version 3.3.2 on a PB G4 12" running 10.4. Of the two Macs I'm managing remotely, my PPC Mac Mini (running 10.5) is working perfectly, but my iTunes box, an ancient (2000) Pismo laptop (on 10.4) is giving me video distortion (see photo). Other than the video problems, ARD functions on this machine as it should. I've updated the client software on the Pismo and the problem persists. All machines on the network are fully patched and updated. Anyone seen this sort of thing, and how did you solve it?
I saw this on an Xserve. The video card had bad caps; replacing the card brought everything back to normal. I'm afraid that's not an option for you, though.
posted by infinitewindow at 8:18 AM on July 1, 2010
posted by infinitewindow at 8:18 AM on July 1, 2010
Best answer: Is the laptop set to use Thousands or Millions of Colors? If it's set to Thousands, try moving that color depth slider in the upper right over to the left one notch.
posted by zsazsa at 8:50 AM on July 1, 2010
posted by zsazsa at 8:50 AM on July 1, 2010
How much bandwidth do you have between your controlling machine and the remote iTunes box? I ask because your photo has exactly the kind of color distortion I see when I'm using VNC over the Internet and deliberately restricting the palette to improve response speed.
If I recall correctly, ARD is VNC-based, and may well be doing the same thing adaptively.
On Linux I use the vnc4viewer client, which has options for manual control of the color accuracy vs bandwidth tradeoff. If your ARD client doesn't allow you that kind of control, you might be able to find another VNC-based package that does.
posted by flabdablet at 9:31 AM on July 1, 2010
If I recall correctly, ARD is VNC-based, and may well be doing the same thing adaptively.
On Linux I use the vnc4viewer client, which has options for manual control of the color accuracy vs bandwidth tradeoff. If your ARD client doesn't allow you that kind of control, you might be able to find another VNC-based package that does.
posted by flabdablet at 9:31 AM on July 1, 2010
Best answer: Yeah, that looks like the distortion I used to get on my Mac mini running 10.4 when the display was set to Thousands of colors rather than Millions. They seem to have fixed it in 10.5.
posted by kindall at 10:15 AM on July 1, 2010
posted by kindall at 10:15 AM on July 1, 2010
Response by poster: Looks like the external display, which was limited to Thousands of Colors by the limited amount of VRAM in the Pismo, was the culprit.
Solution: I plugged in an external keyboard, put the Pismo in clamshell mode, then woke it up with only the external display running (now able to be bumped up to Millions of Colors) and my ARD sessions are crystal clear.
posted by porn in the woods at 11:14 AM on July 1, 2010
Solution: I plugged in an external keyboard, put the Pismo in clamshell mode, then woke it up with only the external display running (now able to be bumped up to Millions of Colors) and my ARD sessions are crystal clear.
posted by porn in the woods at 11:14 AM on July 1, 2010
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posted by porn in the woods at 8:12 AM on July 1, 2010