Cannot connect to mac mini before login

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Level 1

9 points

Cannot connect to mac mini before login

I just got a mac mini (the latest model) and turned on screen sharing and ssh. After I login (using a wired keyboard), I can connect to it from my MBP using VNC or SSH. But if I simply turn it on and do not login, I cannot connect to it (and I cannot even ping its IP address). Plus, it will turn off after 5 minutes (it is not asleep because tapping on keyboard does not wake it). I think this is not expected. I should be able to remotely connect to it even if I do not login locally. Does anyone have a solution?

Mac mini (Late 2012), OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.3)

Posted on Apr 12, 2013 10:56 PM

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Answer 1

shawnduxy Author

Level 1

9 points

Apr 13, 2013 7:37 AM in response to shawnduxy

It seems that it does not connect to the network (I tried both wired and wireless network) before logon. The reason is that I cannot ping it before logon locally, and once I logon, I can ping its address.

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Answer 2

phubai

Level 1

0 points

Apr 13, 2013 7:53 AM in response to shawnduxy

Can you check your router to see if an IP address is assigned to the mini from your MBP? If so, you should be able to access it. You're right; you shouldn't need to login to get an IP address assigned. That should be requested at boot. The other thing, if you haven't already done so, make sure in:

System Preferences > Energy Saver > Select "Wake for Ethernet network access", as well as:

System Preferences > Sharing > Select "Remote Login" and "Remote Management"

While I don't have a mini (considering one now), that's what I have done to access my Mac and it does receive an IP address prior to my logging in.

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Answer 3

Apr 13, 2013 8:01 AM in response to shawnduxy

Perhaps this will help:

http://hints.macworld.com/article.php?story=20011207004643312

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Answer 4

shawnduxy Author

Level 1

9 points

Apr 13, 2013 1:12 PM in response to phubai

I turned on all these options, and after I logon locally, everything works fine (local connection or remote connection). The problem seems to be that the mac mini cannot get network address before a user is logged in. But this does not happen on my MBP, to which I can connect from other computers right after it is booted.

I think mac mini is designed to be a server. And it should be a normal requirement to connect to it from somewhere remote. I cannot find any other configuration which prevent it from getting a network address (I assign a static IP address for it. Same for my MBP). If anyone has the experience for setting up a mac mini, please help.

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