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

18 replies

Jun 15, 2007 6:01 PM in response to Terrin

Yes...well...new is a relative term.

My point was:
1) If the IP addresses are self-assigned (169.xxx.xxx.xx), you will not connect.
2) If the macs don't have a DHCP provider (router, AEBS), they will self-assign. See #1
3) we STILL don't know enough from the original poster to assume anything is going to work.

We've been trying to get enough details from him for about two days, in order to help him solve his problem... 😟

Jun 15, 2007 6:07 PM in response to Rick Van Vliet

I'm here, but it wasn't a problem, more of a question. I don't have the problem anymore, that's why I haven't responded much, nor do I have a way to test it.

However, when you say this:

"1) If the IP addresses are self-assigned (169.xxx.xxx.xx), you will not connect."

I'm not sure what you mean by "you will not connect". Using what method? As my original post says, I was able to connect, but only via the network sidebar, not directly using afp://169...

Anyway ... thanks for all the responses, but I think this will go unresolved, at least by me.

Jun 15, 2007 6:17 PM in response to Robert J. Carr

Sorry I read your first post and it went back and forth. can't connect, then can...and your question was interesting.

I think BDAqua answered it, and I misunderstood.
1) You were using AFP (over appletalk, i guess) to connect.
2) Self assigned addresses "shouldn't" be able to connect
2a) in the rest of the network world, the world that doesn't use AppleTalk...this wouldn't have worked, using 169.245.xx.xx addresses.
3) You should mark this thread answered, since you can do what you need to do.

I'm sorry for totally missing your AppleTalk point.
🙂

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?

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Directly Connect Two Macs Via Ethernet