Can't access Tiger Mac from OS 8.6 Mac

In OS 10.3 I used to be able to access my G4 Mac from my old G3 Mac running OS 8.6 without a problem (via an Ethernet network). Since I've upgraded to Tiger, I can't anymore.

I've read the APF incompatible posts, and I can access the G4 through the G3's Chooser (AppleShare) by typing in the G4's IP address. I can get to the G4 drop box, but when I start copying a file into it, after just a few seconds, I get the message "[my G4 computer name & IP address] via TCP/IP - The file server's connection has unexpectedly closed down"

No matter what I try, I get the same result.

On the G4 I have Personal File Sharing turned on, but nothing else. Am I missing something?

Help! This is a terrible situation. I need to be able to send files between the two computers.

Posted on Jun 15, 2007 1:59 PM

19 replies

carolewalsh Author

Level 1

4 points

Jun 19, 2007 1:28 PM in response to Rick Van Vliet

The old G3 is primarily used as a scanning station. My high quality, very expensive, old SCSI scanner is attached to it. Scans that are done there are then sent over the network to any one of a few other Macs. (Only my main Mac has been updated to Tiger, but eventually they all will be. So I must solve this problem.)

So I really need to be able to move files from the G3 to the G4. I'm going to be out of town all next week (and no doubt swamped the following week), but as soon as I have a chance, I'll upgrade the G3 to System 9. But I have my doubts that doing so will fix the problem.

BDAqua

Level 10

251,435 points

Jun 19, 2007 1:47 PM in response to carolewalsh

Yes, unlikely OS9 will solve the Push problem, but it may help with Tiger connecting, then Pulling files off the G3.

Panther is far more productive/problem free for me than Tiger... and I hold little hope that Leopard's "Animated Interface" is going to solve anything for me.

J_H

Level 1

4 points

Sep 10, 2007 6:33 PM in response to BDAqua

This apparently is not an OS 8.6 problem, as much as it is a Tiger problem. I had the exact same networking problem this week. Larger file transfers (1.5MB+) cause my OS 8.6 G3 to disconnect from my OS 10.4.10 machine every time.

In case you or anyone else is still struggling with this problem, I tried a fix which Apple recommends for OS X Server, and it worked on my non-server Mac Pro.

Here's the link:

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=305420

A quick caveat: I know absolutely nothing about OSX server, and my skills in Terminal are limited at the very best. So, if anyone wants to jump in here and add some clarity, it would be much appreciated.

There are two approaches. The first approach only appears to work on OS X Server, as the "serveradmin" statement was not recognized when I typed it in terminal. The second approach worked fine for me.

Solution

On the server, change the TCPQuantum value used by the Apple File Service from 262144 to 327680. You can change this value using the serveradmin command, or by directly editing the preference file. You only need to use one of these methods:

*First approach:*

serveradmin method

1. Make sure all users are disconnected from the server.
2. Open Terminal (or ssh to the server from another computer) and execute these commands, each on a single line:

sudo serveradmin stop afp
sudo serveradmin settings afp:TCPQuantum = 327680
sudo serveradmin start afp

*Second Approach:*

defaults method

1. Make sure all users are disconnected from the server.
2. Stop Apple File Service.
3. Open Terminal (or ssh to the server from another computer) and execute this command on a single line:

sudo defaults write /Library/Preferences/com.apple.AppleFileServer TCPQuantum -int 327680

4. Start Apple File Service.

I stopped Apple File Service by opening Activity Monitor, listed "All Processes," selected AppleFileServer, and quit the process. (Activity Monitor and Terminal can be found in /Applications/Utilities). I wasn't as clear about how to restart AppleFileServer, so I did a fair amount of flailing in Terminal. After rebooting the computer I found that the TCPQuantum had either not changed, or had reverted to the original value. Repeating the process managed to get it to work.

I'm not sure how to verify the value of TCPQuantum in terminal, but I was able to view the /Library/Preferences/com.apple.AppleFileServer file using Text Wrangler.

Can someone with more Command Line experience spell out the steps for the second method? I know it should only amount to a few lines of typing in terminal.

BDAqua

Level 10

251,435 points

Sep 10, 2007 7:21 PM in response to J_H

Thanks J_H... I'll try it sometime! 🙂

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Can't access Tiger Mac from OS 8.6 Mac