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iChat won't transfer files suddenly!

We have three iMacs networked together, all running Lion, and have previously had no issues with transferring files. Now we can only chat. File transfers show up as "failed".

iMac, Mac OS X (10.7.4)

Posted on Aug 21, 2012 11:18 AM

Reply
6 replies

Aug 22, 2012 1:34 PM in response to JKent Deisgn

Hi,


Can you confirm this is Bonjour File Transfers in Messages ?



User uploaded file
9:34 PM Wednesday; August 22, 2012

Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"


 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Lion 10.7.2)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

Aug 23, 2012 12:25 PM in response to JKent Deisgn

Hi,


I missed the "Lion" in the Original Post and had this strange idea that OS 101.7.x was Mountain Lion for some reason.


Bonjour uses port 5353 on the UDP Protocol to connect (Bonjour "Shares" in the Finder are "Seen" this way)


The Original iChat Documentation states port 5297 and 5298 on UDP and 5298 on TCP are needed

(A/V chats across Bonjour, Jabber and AIM accounts use the same (A/V) ports)


Logins to the AIM Servers use a differen port/Protocol combo to the text chat and login port

Historically Logins were on Port 5190 on TCP whilst File Sharing was on the same port but UDP.

In some router this causes conflicts and for that reason we have been suggesting using port 443 for text chat and logins


DO you have a DNS Server listed in System Preferences > Network > Advanced Button > DNS tab ?

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3473

See Also http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3789 (this one is the more likely)





User uploaded file
8:24 PM Thursday; August 23, 2012

Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"


 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Lion 10.7.2)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

Jun 17, 2013 9:59 AM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

Hi Ralph,


I'm sorry to re-open an old discussion, but I'm having a problem that is very similar to the one described by the original poster. I read your last reply and wasn't sure what the actual instruction was.


I have tested and found that my mac CAN RECEIVE files via Bonjour in Messages—but CANNOT SEND files to other macs on the network. All of the other computers on the network seem to have no problem with either.


Any help you could offer would be much appreciated.


thanks,


Ben

Jun 17, 2013 1:15 PM in response to Ben D:::

Ok,


The first bits of information were to point out Bonjour on the computer is general uses port 5353 and these Macs appear in the Finder if you are displaying Shares.


The "original documentation" repeats this fact as well as listing port 5297 and 5298 both on the UDP protocol and 5298 needing the TCP protocol to be enabled as well.


Broadly speaking this is about opening ports in a router.


The other two links were supposed to be checks on whether Bonjour was in fact Active (see the last link marked "more likely".

This is because mDNS (Multicast DNS) used by Bonjour was more closely tried to the DNS operations of the Mac and turning Off DNS turns off mDNS as well - in earlier versions of the OS Bonjour had a separate spot to turn it Off.



So...

Do other computers show in Shares in a Finder Window ?

This would indicate that data on port 5353 is allowed.

It would also tend to indicate that DNS and possibly mDNS are functioning.


If you do a Get Info on Shared items in the Finder's Side bar some may appear and the "PC" as the kind indicating that in fact these are SMB Shares (See System Prferences > Sharing > File Sharing > Options Button > SMB Shares.


These will be shown via DNS and less to do with port 5353 as they are not Bonjour Shares.


I cannot see that a partial response is anything to do with the Mac itself as DNS and mDNS are either Off or they are not.


A firewall or rather the Mac Firewall can block incoming stuff but not outgoing stuff.

As other computers can receive it would not seem to be a block at their end.


Generally speaking for Bonjour Shares each computer has to have a different name in System Preferences > Shairng.

It normally picks the name of the Admin Account user (my iMac became "Ralph's iMac")

There can be issues with the computer name being the same.

I have never had an issue with iChat or Messages having the Same My Card in the Address Book (this gives your computer it's Buddy name that appears in other iChat/Messages Bonjour Buddy Lists) I have two of my computer's with My Card that read "Ralph Johns" (it is better if you use different Buddy pics on different machines though)


I would double check that in System Preferences > Network > Advanced Button > TCP/IP tab that all computers are in the same Subnet.

That DNS servers are listed.


I would check the router to see if they is any hint of a strange one computer block regarding Local traffic

User uploaded file
9:14 PM Monday; June 17, 2013


 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Mountain Lion 10.8.4)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
 Couple of iPhones and an iPad
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

iChat won't transfer files suddenly!

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