How to scan Apple Mac computers

By regularly scanning your Mac computers running macOS, you can collect essential data about their hardware and software, allowing you to perform preventive maintenance and promptly resolve potential issues. In addition, network scanning plays an important role in inventorying your organization’s IT assets.

How do network scanners work?

Network scanners like Total Network Inventory can collect detailed information about hardware components, installed software, operating system versions, and other important parameters. This data can be used to identify potential security vulnerabilities, ensure compliance with license agreements, and optimize resource usage in your IT infrastructure.

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How to scan Apple macOS computers on a local network?

Total Network Inventory simplifies the process of scanning Apple Mac computers on your local network. To initiate a scan, launch TNI, specify the range of IP addresses to scan, and then provide the Administrator password. The scanning process is facilitated by an agent that is temporarily installed on the remote macOS device, using secure protocols like SSH, SCP, and SFTP. This agent collects comprehensive information about the hardware and software components of each Apple computer or MacBook, ensuring accurate and up to date inventory data.

It’s noteworthy that TNI supports scanning 64-bit macOS versions, ensuring compatibility with the latest Apple hardware and software releases. In addition, the software can inventory Apple computers that are part of an Active Directory domain.

What information can you get after scanning devices running macOS?

Total Network Inventory’s scanning capabilities for macOS devices are extensive, providing detailed insights into various aspects of your Apple computers. The collected information includes:

• System details: computer and system unit settings, memory slots, and power settings.
• CPU: clock speed, number of cores, and other processor-specific information.
• RAM: physical memory size, installed memory modules (size, manufacturer, type, and frequency).
• Graphics: graphics card name and video memory specifications.
• Monitors: name, manufacturer, dimensions, and diagonal measurements.
• Storage: hard drives and removable storage details (model, manufacturer, and capacity).
• Partitions: logical partition information (label, file system, volume, and free space).
• Network: network adapter details (name, manufacturer, MAC address, IP address, subnet, gateway, BSD device name, and type).
• USB devices: manufacturer, version, and speed information.
• Printers: manufacturer, driver, status, fax capabilities, and more.
• Software: operating system details, firewall information, and a comprehensive list of installed software (including date, version, and manufacturer).

Scheduled scans for Apple Mac computers

Total Network Inventory’s robust scheduling capabilities allow you to automate the scanning of Mac computers, thereby ensuring that your inventory data always remains up to date and accurate. You can configure the scheduler to perform one-time or recurring scans on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis, tailoring the frequency to your organization’s specific needs.

The user manual provides detailed instructions on configuring the scheduler settings, enabling you to optimize the scanning process and minimize the potential disruptions to your network operations.

Types of scanning Apple Mac devices on the network

Total Network Inventory supports two primary types of Mac network scanning devices: remote scanning and manual scanning.

The remote scanning process works as follows:

• TNI establishes a connection to the remote machine via SSH.
• A temporary folder is created in the user’s home directory, where the scanning agent is transferred using the specified protocols (SFTP or SCP).
• The scanning agent automatically starts and collects the required information, creating a report upon completion.
• The generated report file is then transferred back to TNI and stored in the designated storage location.

Before initiating a remote scan of macOS devices using the SSH protocol, ensure that an SSH-2 server with SFTP or SCP support is running on the remote equipment and that the firewall allows access to these services. Furthermore, the user account used for scanning must have all the necessary permissions to access the SSH server (AllowUsers option). For the scanning agent to function correctly, ensure that the standard C++ library libstdc++.so.6 is installed on the target system.

Manual scanning: In this scenario, the user manually copies the agent executable file to the macOS scan computer and initiates the process locally. After the scan, the program generates a file containing the collected data that can then be manually transferred to TNI’s storage for further analysis and reporting.

Advantages of our software

Total Network Inventory offers several advantages when it comes to the Mac scan network and inventorying Apple Mac computers on your network:

• Time-saving: TNI significantly reduces the time required for scanning macOS devices, enabling fast and efficient data collection.
• Comprehensive information: The software provides detailed insights into the hardware and software configurations.
• Security: TNI employs secure protocols like SSH, SCP, and SFTP, ensuring the privacy and integrity of your data throughout the scanning process.
• Flexibility: The software supports both remote and manual scanning methods, allowing you to choose the approach that best suits your organization’s needs and IT infrastructure.
• Reporting: TNI enables the generation of comprehensive summary reports, providing a centralized view of your IT assets and facilitating effective asset management.

Total Network Inventory for scanning Mac computers

With Total Network Inventory, organizations can greatly simplify the process of scanning and inventorying their Apple computers, ensuring seamless integration and the efficient management of those devices within their IT infrastructure.

With TNI, you can maintain an up-to-date inventory of your macOS devices, allowing you to perform maintenance, efficiently allocate resources, and comply with the licensing agreements. By automating the scanning process and using secure protocols, TNI minimizes the risk of security breaches and ensures the privacy and integrity of your data.