Directly Connect Two Macs Via Ethernet

Question

Directly Connect Two Macs Via Ethernet

This has certainly been answered before, but a quick search didn't give any results. So here goes ...

I wanted to connect two macs via ethernet. I use the mount tool in finder "connect to server" all the time with machines on a network, but I've never done with with two macs directly connected.

So I connect them and my first instinct is to check the IP address of the machine I want to connect to. I then go to "connect to server" and type it in using the AFP protocol, but it doesn't work.

At this point I'm stumped and not sure what to do. I don't use the "network" item in the finder sidebar very often but I clicked it, and sure enough the machine I want to connect to was listed, and I was able to connect / mount.

So here's my question ... if I wanted to use "connect to server" tool, or even mount it manually with the mount command, how would I do it? Is it using AFP still to mount and the IP address is just bogus? Something else going on?

Mac OS X (10.4.9)

Posted on Jun 13, 2007 7:33 PM

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Answer 1

BDAqua

Level 10

250,259 points

Jun 13, 2007 7:42 PM in response to Robert J. Carr

You can still do it with "connect to server", and in fact it works when Networks Icon doesn't some times.

Connecting via the Icon should still use afp... just behind the scenes looks up the IP, and then connects.

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Answer 2

Jun 13, 2007 7:52 PM in response to BDAqua

But I'm telling you I tried using the IP address ... here, let me try again ...

I find this address on the machine I want to connect to: 169.254.177.122

I put this into "connect to server" on the machine I want to connect from: afp://169.254.177.122

It spins for a while, then says it can't connect. Strangely, if I do a cmd-i on the machine in the network sidebar, it says: nfs:// automount ... into /Network

So are you sure putting in the ip should work? If so what am I doing wrong?

Okay ... plot thickens. When I cmd-i after I connect, it indeed says it is an AFP connect, but it gives the "local" name, say powerbook.local. But then, if I "ping powerbook.local" if gives me back the same IP I tried in connect to server. Huh?

mbp:~ rjcarr$ ping powerbook.local
PING powerbook.local (169.254.177.122): 56 data bytes

Weird. It isn't that big of a deal ... I just like to know what is going on.

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Answer 3

BDAqua

Level 10

250,259 points

Jun 13, 2007 8:24 PM in response to Robert J. Carr

Well, yes, more details may help.

What all do you have enabled in the Sharing Pref Panes?

Any other Interfaces actine?

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Answer 4

Jun 13, 2007 8:34 PM in response to BDAqua

"Well, yes, more details may help."

Ha .. and I thought I was providing too many details! 🙂

"What all do you have enabled in the Sharing Pref Panes?"

Nothing is shared on the machine I'm connecting from, personal file sharing on the machine I want to connect to. Internet sharing is disabled for both.

"Any other Interfaces actine? "

Other than ethernet, nothing active on the machine I'm connecting to and airport active on the machine I'm connecting from.

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Answer 5

BDAqua

Level 10

250,259 points

Jun 13, 2007 10:04 PM in response to Robert J. Carr

LOL, yep, too many details can ruin it... but just trying to fill in the blanks that my Psychic Powers leave out! 🙂

Very strange, Personal File Sharing does use AFP... unless maybe the disk isn't in HFS+ format, not sure about that one.

Was this machine ever gonnect to/through some NAS?

Might try turning on Windows Sharing on the one you're trying to connect to, then use smb://+IP to connect... for a test.

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Answer 6

Jun 14, 2007 5:20 AM in response to BDAqua

If these two machines are the only machines connected, as you say "Directly", then I would think you might have to provide them with IP addresses, since there is no DHCP server providing addrees.
Thus the 169.xx.xx.xx address. You'll probably never connect using that

On one mac, neworkPrefs, manually assign IP address as follows:
IP_address=192.168.0.2
subnet=255.255.255.0
router=192.168.0.2 (if you want)
One the OTHER mac, amke all the settings the same, except the IP address, make it 192.168.0.3

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Answer 7

Jun 14, 2007 5:22 AM in response to Rick Van Vliet

Robert, you neglect to tell us if you have a router or AppleBaseStation involved.
You say "directly", but I just read in your note something about "airport"? How ARE you trying to connect?

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Answer 8

Jun 14, 2007 10:24 AM in response to BDAqua

"unless maybe the disk isn't in HFS+ format, not sure about that one."

Both are HFS+.

"Was this machine ever gonnect to/through some NAS?"

No.

"then use smb://+IP to connect... for a test. "

Good idea ... thanks for the advice.

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Answer 9

Jun 14, 2007 10:27 AM in response to Rick Van Vliet

"You say "directly", but I just read in your note something about "airport"? How ARE you trying to connect?"

They are connected directly via their ethernet ports with a standard ethernet cable.

Someone asked if there are any other interfaces involved, and I said yes, the "client" was also connected wirelessly (via the airport interface).

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Answer 10

Jun 14, 2007 5:40 PM in response to Robert J. Carr

That IP address means that your computer cannot find a useable DHCP server. You will not be able to connect using that IP address.
Find what's wrong with your network 😟

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=169ipaddresses

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Answer 11

Terrin

Level 1

120 points

Jun 14, 2007 7:01 PM in response to Robert J. Carr

Connect an Ethernet cable from the Ethernet port of one computer to the Ethernet port on the other.
Open Sharing preferences on both computers and turn on Personal File Sharing. Remember the Computer Name for both computers.
On one of the computers, choose Go > Connect To Server and then click Browse.
Double-click the other computer in the window and enter your password for that computer, if required.

These rules change around a bit if you manually configured the TCP/IP settings for the built-in Ethernet configuration on the computer you are connecting to.

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Answer 12

Ricktoronto

Level 6

11,560 points

Jun 14, 2007 7:04 PM in response to Terrin

If you are connecting two directly use firewire networking for amazing speed. If you just need to get a bunch of stuff from A to B use firewire target disk mode and grab what you need.

Otherwise spring the $40 for a wired router and make your life easier.

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Answer 13

Jun 14, 2007 7:10 PM in response to Terrin

Hi Terrin,
if the user doesn't manually configure the IP addresses... where do they get their IP's
I'm new to mac networking...
thanks

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Answer 14

Ricktoronto

Level 6

11,560 points

Jun 15, 2007 6:39 AM in response to Rick Van Vliet

Open the preferences change to manual from DHCP and type them in where it says IP. use the addresses shown in the prior post.

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Answer 15

Terrin

Level 1

120 points

Jun 15, 2007 5:12 PM in response to Rick Van Vliet

You sure do have a lot of posts for being new to Mac Networking! Truthfully, I do not use the Ethernet port that much to connect Macs (unless I am playing Diablo with a friend), as I prefer Firewire.

However, I believe both Macs already have an assigned IP address (or assign themselves one). When you connect the two computers as described above, you should see the Mac's User name that you are trying to connect to on the Network (provided you enabled file sharing on it). When you select the Mac you want to connect to, a Window pops up asking for that Mac's password.

Again, I am not an expert, but I have connected two Macs using Ethernet several time's before (most recently last week), and those instructions have allowed me to do it.

Hi Terrin,
if the user doesn't manually configure the IP
addresses... where do they get their IP's
I'm new to mac networking...
thanks

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