Generate report data automatically

When creating a report, Remote Desktop can collect new, up-to-date information, or it can use information that’s cached. The set of preferences that determines when and what type of report data is collected is known as the reporting policy.

If you generate a report using new data: Remote Desktop queries a client directly, and the client computer gathers the data and sends it over the network to the administrator computer. A new data search gets the most recent information, but takes longer.
If you generate a report using cached information: Remote Desktop queries its internal database of collected system information (installed apps and versions). You can set a reporting policy to specify what type of report data to store and how often to rebuild this information.
If you perform a Spotlight search (on clients with OS X 10.4 or later): Spotlight searches a constantly updated index that views the metadata inside supported files—the “what, when, and who” of every piece of information saved on your Mac—including the kind of content, the author, edit history, format, size, and many more details. Spotlight search results are “live” and refreshed automatically.

All collected report data is stored in a SQLite database, which is located here:

/private/var/db/RemoteManagement/RMDB/

For information about the database schema, see SQLite.

Set the default reporting policy

The default reporting policy defines when and what type of data is collected for Remote Desktop reports. The administrator can also choose whether to apply the policy to each computer or computer list.

Choose Remote Desktop > Preferences, then click Reporting.
Choose when to collect data.
Select what types of data to collect.
System data: Provides data for the System Overview, Storage, Attached Devices, Memory, Expansion Cards, and Network Interfaces reports.
File Search data: Provides data for the File Search, Software Version, and Software Difference reports.
App Usage data: Provides data for the App Usage report.
User Accounting data: Provides data for the User History report.

Set when data is collected for client computers

You can set the reporting policy that defines when data is collected for individual computers or computer lists. This policy can be the same as the default policy, or a custom policy. You might set a custom policy for a computer, for example, if you want to collect data for computers at different times of day, or if you want to collect only certain types of data for some computers.

In the Remote Desktop window, select a computer list, then select one or more computers.
Choose File > Get Info.
Click Reporting, then click the Edit button.
Do one of the following:
- To use the default reporting policy, click “Use default schedule.”
- To customize the reporting policy for this computer or computers, select what type and when to collect data:
  System data: Provides data for the System Overview, Storage, Attached Devices, Memory, Expansion Cards, and Network Interfaces reports.
  File Search data: Provides data for the File Search, Software Version, and Software Difference reports.
  App Usage data: Provides data for the App Usage report.
  User Accounting data: Provides data for the User History report.
Click Done.

Cancel uploading client reports to administrator computers

Every client computer has a list of administrator computers that receives the reports. You can cancel uploading reports to an administrator computer. You can’t remove administrator computers that are currently authenticated with the client.

Select one or more computers.
Choose File > Get Info.
Click Administrators, then click the Edit button.
This list shows all computers that administer the client and Task Servers associated with the administrator computers. The status indicator indicates whether the administrator computer is currently authenticated with the client.
Select an administrator computer in the list, then click Remove .
Click Done.