Connecting two computers via Airport Extreme

Question

Level 1

15 points

Connecting two computers via Airport Extreme

Is it possible to network two computers using an airport extreme so that you can exchange files and access eachother's hard disks without using the internet? I have an old G4 Powermac with 10.3 (using ethernet) and Macbook with 10.5 (using airport). I have found info on sharing a printer or a hard disk attached to the Airport base station but nothing about connecting two computers. Very grateful any hints.

Powermac G4 1.25 Ghz 512 RAM, Mac OS X (10.3.x), with Macbook Intel 10.5

Posted on Sep 23, 2009 5:24 AM

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Answer 1

igloo46

Level 1

0 points

Sep 23, 2009 6:18 AM in response to Harry Curtis

Hi, Welcome to the group.

Provided your base station does not rely on an internet connection to provide addressing etc (i.e. the AE is operating as a DHCP server providing addresses, or you are using manually set addresses, or it is still connected to a modem/router acting as a DHCP server) computers should be able to talk to one another over the wireless network or, in your case, with one connected through one of the ethernet LAN connectors.

In your System Preferences > Sharing if you set File Sharing ON you should see (or you can set) your Computer Name by which that computer is accessed over the network. In the options button, select whether you want to use AFP or FTP to share files - you may have to turn AFP (the Apple File Protocol) on in the Network Preferences. Once sharing is set up, your computer should be visible in the other computers Finder under Network devices. If not, go to Finder > Go > Connect To Server... and ask to connect to afp://computername.local or ftp://computername.local depending on the protocol selected.

I'm doing this referencing the 10.6 System Preferences, but from memory the same general approach applied in 10.3

Good Luck!

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Answer 2

Duane

Level 10

124,293 points

Sep 23, 2009 11:14 AM in response to Harry Curtis

Is it possible to network two computers using an airport extreme so that you can exchange files and access eachother's hard disks without using the internet?

Yes. All devices connected via wireless or to the LAN ports will be on the same network and therefore can share files. No internet connection is required.

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Answer 3

Harry Curtis Author

Level 1

15 points

Oct 20, 2009 2:41 PM in response to igloo46

Thank you for your responses to my query. Apologies for not getting back sooner - new baby meant putting matters computer on hold. The arrival however of the long awaited new imacs has brought the matter back to the top of the priorities list! I tried what you suggested and it sort of worked, though as I suspected I can only access the drop box of the other computer, and even then I couldn't really get the password thing sorted out so haven't been able actually to access any files on the other computer. Even if I can get this to work properly it is not enough for to me use the shared folder, unless it is possible to put my whole users folder in the shared folder.

We have two computers, one a desktop, the other a macbook. All my serious work, itunes and downloaded mail is on the desktop but for domestic reasons I am often unable to use that computer. I am looking for a way of accessing all my data on the desktop from the laptop in another room through my airport extreme base station. The laptop incidentally is used mainly for internet and has little in the way of data on the hard disk, which in any case is not large enough to use as the main data carrier. Could anyone tell me whether it is possible to do this without using Mac OS X Server, which is to me is like taking a sledgehammer to crack a nut?

the options that I have considered are:

1) mobileme acount. I don't think already downloaded emails from 3 years ago can be accessed this way can they? Also the idisk space would be too small.
2) connecting a USB harddisk to my airport extreme. This would only hold a saved copy of my data so any changes I would make to it would produce uneven duplicates, would it not?
3) give up my dream of owning an imac and buy a more expensive and lowerspecced powerbook which I can cart around the flat as necessary.

your help and expertise would be most appreciated!

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Answer 4

Ferraz

Level 1

4 points

Nov 7, 2009 12:44 AM in response to Harry Curtis

Why don't you try LogMeIn (Google it)?
You can access you computer from anywhere you want over the internet.

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Answer 5

Ferraz

Level 1

4 points

Nov 10, 2009 4:34 AM in response to Ferraz

When you go to >System Preferences>Sharing you will have by default the shared folder listed. On my OS (10.6.1) it gives me the option to add more folders to the list. You can probably add your home folder to it and share everything.

I am using it to share a "Pictures" folder from my other Mac Book and it works fine.

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