Getting Started
Using the Device Filter Preference Pane
The Device Filter Preference Pane is used to control how devices and interfaces connect to the computer.
Within the preference pane, there are seven tabs to give an administrator control over digital and
video cameras, CD/DVD drives, USB, FireWire, Ethernet (LAN and wireless), modems, Bluetooth
modems and the infra-red port. Administrators can also control whether or not the Device Filter
menu icon appears and whether device/interface activity is to be logged for future reference. Finally,
an administrator can also view the ongoing activity log file, add/edit/delete Device Filter users, check
for program updates and uninstall Device Filter.
To access the Device Filter Preference Pane, open the System Preferences panel from the Apple menu.
Device Filter is listed under Other. Click the Device Filter icon
to load the preference pane.
Creating the First Device Filter User
Unless you specified a first user prior to installation from within the Device Filter Assistant, the first
Device Filter user will have to be set up the first time the preference pane is accessed.
When the lock in the lower left corner is clicked for the first time, a dialog appears. Enter a
User Name
and
Password
, verify the password, and click
OK
.
Start Tab
The Start tab is where Device Filter can be enabled, and a number of other options including “stealth
mode” (whether or not the Device Filter menu bar icon appears), digital/video camera and CD/DVD
control can be configured.
Check the Enable Device Filter option to activate its controls.
To hide the visual presence of Device Filter from the user, check the
Hide Enabled Icon in menu bar
and/or
Hide Disabled Icon in menu bar
options.
To allow cameras or video cameras, check the preferred option.
To allow users to access CDs and DVDs in either Read Only or Read/Write modes, check the preferred
option. These options refer to both internal and external CD/DVD drives.
FireWire Tab
The FireWire tab configures how a FireWire (IEEE 1394) device can be mounted on a computer.
To disallow FireWire devices from mounting or to choose whether devices can be mounted as either
Read Only or Read/Write, select the preferred option.
If a certain maximum size of FireWire device is required, input the preferred size (in GB) in the field
provided.
To log FireWire device activity, check the Log Activity option. This log is displayed in the Logging tab
of the preference pane and within the activity log file at the location specified in the Logging tab.
USB Tab
The USB tab configures how a USB device can be mounted on a computer.
To disallow USB devices from mounting or to choose whether devices can be mounted as either Read
Only or Read/Write, select the preferred option.
If a certain maximum size of USB device is required, input the preferred size (in MB) in the field
provided.
To log USB device activity, check the Log Activity option. This log is displayed in the Logging tab of
the preference pane and within the activity log file at the location specified in the Logging tab.