A method and apparatus for remote control and/or monitoring of a multimedia system includes processing that begins when a hand held device transmits a remote control/monitoring request to a server. The processing continues once a communication path is established between the hand held device and the server by having the server determine remote control and monitoring privileges of the hand held device. If the hand held device has at least a minimum level of remote control and monitoring privileges, the processing continues as the server processes the remote control/monitoring request with respect to at least one client to produce operational monitoring data. The processing continues as the server provides the operational monitoring data to the hand held device via the communication path.