Q: problem connecting macs over the network

How about Finder>Go Menu>Connect to Server>Browse… does it show there & connect?

Hello !

            Make sure firewall is turned off if sharing of files is done with computers on same network .

Suggested apple article : OS X El Capitan: Share your files with other Mac users

Thanks !

tygb, that is incorrect.

The OS X firewall knows what services are running, when you enable file sharing it will open the required ports so that the firewall is not blocking them. OS X is smart enough to know that sharing would not work with blocked ports.

If you want to test, enable file sharing & the firewall. View the Firewall options, it will list File sharing as 'allow incoming connections'.

cadplan45, if I understand correctly is it just the favourite in Finder that fails? Have you tried removing the favourite from the Finder sidebar then reconnect to the share & re-add the shared item to the sidebar? Reboot to see if that worked.

Another possibility…

Favourite network shares will use a saved password to make the process quick (if you saved it to the keychain), are you sure the correct one is saved within Keychain Access.

Hello !

            Drew yes you were correct firewall should be enabled . i opened in my system as i have blocked incoming connection , enabled stealth mode that was the reason when i checked the box enable file sharing it was showing red dot .

There is probably no reason for stealth mode or even enabling the Firewall on a secure network. Most routers protect you from attacks over the internet, only machines on the local network could attempt to access the ports.

The weakest link may just be your user account passwords if any form of sharing is enabled.

Most routers will not protect on network if the person has never enabled password for that router and enabled firewall in modem .

i once , had the issue and never enabled password and checked the box of firewall in service provider modem , when i opened air port utility , DNS server settings were changing frequently and they were pinging on modem .

Stealth mode hides the system on network it wears a tin foil hat,  and no one can access the system from network by test applications using ICMP, such as ping .

So , if the person ones good security on network can enable stealth mode + block all incoming connections .

Suggested article : OS X: About the application firewall - Apple Support

Its just informative and is not concerned with the original post .

Regards ,

                 Thanks !

I think you will find that most home routers have the firewall enabled by default & reject external access to sharing services like SMB, AFP & other file sharing services by virtue of the fact that they also run NAT. Routers also have default passwords, which are a weakness, however many do not open the admin interface to the internet & also instruct users to create a new one on setup.

You either have either terrible routers or are setting them up badly if the default is 'firewall off'.

Stealth mode is also useless when your Mac already uses Bonjour to announce the services it shares via broadcast on the local network - anyone with a clue can see what you services have enabled without using ping. The article you linked also says the services 'will still respond' for aotorised apps.

If you want to test your 'hypothesis'…

In Terminal on 'Mac B' (browse for ssh servers via dns-sd).

dns-sd -B _ssh

On 'Mac A' enable 'remote login' (a.k.a ssh) in sharing when your firewall is active & 'stealthed'.

Mac B will see the service announcement over the network.

You can also use Bonjour browser or other tools to see the advertised services.

Blocking ALL incoming connections will render the Mac unusable for most networking & is a common reason many novice Mac users end up asking for help here - it is bad advice to enable it & to expect users to know why networking fails.

Keep your tin foil hat ideas to yourself, they do little for actual security.

Please disable file vault , in system preferences - security and privacy turn off fire wall , in case stealth mode , block all incoming is enabled , please uncheck the boxes in computers that are to be shared .

As if these options are checked , it will not allow to do file sharing between computers .

A screen shot will explain :

So , did you get  some results please post .