Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with osx and networking

OSX can't see my XP drive

middleclasstool — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 11:50:15 -0800

Suddenly my Mac can't see my Windows PC, and I'm stumped. So I have a Windows PC (XP, latest service pack) and a new Macbook Pro (latest up-to-date version of Leopard). When I first got the Mac I was able to connect to my XP drive over wifi just fine by going to Finder and choosing "Connect to server" and typing in smb://bill (Bill's the XP PC's name, natch).

But suddenly it's not working anymore and I'm stumped. When I try to connect, using either that PC's name or IP address, it says it can't connect. When I ping that IP address, it sees it just fine.

The only thing I can think was awhile back I attempted directly connecting a Linux box to the Win PC to try to share its wifi connection. I did some tweaking of local network settings, but it never worked quite right, so I reverted changes. It could well be that something is still configured incorrectly on the Windows box, but damned if I can see what.

Any ideas?

Does file sharing on OSX 10.5 work???

arniec — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 06:56:36 -0800

Is file sharing with Mac OS X 10.5 completely unreliable, or am I doing something wrong? Let me explain my setup:

I have a Mac Mini running OSX 10.5. Into the Mac Mini I have a Drobo with 4 1TB hard drives, which shows up on the Mini as 2 separate volumes due to Drobo's 2TB limitation.

(I had the Drobo connected directly to my Airport Extreme before this but after hearing another MeFi question about someone who lost all Drobo data due to failing to properly eject the disks using the Drobo software, I moved the Drobo to a real computer).

The Mac Mini is connected to my Airport Extreme using an ethernet cable.

I then have 2 Windows PCs and 3 other Macs that are trying to reach files on this Drobo. On the Drobo I in fact keep my entire iTuens library and thus all my iTunes installs are set to use that as the music directory.

Here are the problems I am having:

1) At times the Drobo shares will just disappear for no apparent reason. I look at the Mac Mini and they are there, I see the Mac Mini on my Mac Finder window, but the only share I see available is my "Public Folder". Rebooting the Mini usually brings back up the Drobo shares.

1a) This is exceptionally a PITA because when this happens, iTunes can't find the Drobo share and then reverts the music directory back to the default downloading my podcasts where I don't want them and basically creating a manual mess for me to reintegrate these files.

2) There seem to be strange permissions errors that happen and I can find no logical reason for them. Examples:

a) I go to my Drobo share from my laptop and find half the files missing. In going to the Mac Mini it shows that my account should have full read and write access, but Everyone has no access. I try "Connect As..." and have no further luck.
b) One time I was copying a folder from my laptop to the drobo over the network. Halfway through the copy it aborted and told me I had no permissions. I went to the Mac Mini and it had locked out EVERYONE from that folder. I had to change permissions on the parent folder and have them cascade to unlock the folder's permissions. Of course, this happened seemingly spontaneously as I had copied half the files before the permissions error happened.

In the end, I am REALLY getting frustrated with this networking experience, and I'm about to just get a cheap Windows machine to start holding my file shares if this is what it comes to. But I can't imagine Mac networking is so...BROKEN. So is it something I'm doing wrong?

Slow Net Acces on One Macbook in the House

scarabic — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 12:27:34 -0800

One particular Mac on my home network is experiencing really slow internet connectivity. I have tried a lot of different stuff so far... 1) Wireless network with an Apple Airport Extreme wireless router plugged into DSL. It's set up to share the connection with DHCP clients, of which we have several:
a. The Macbook in question
b. Another Macbook which seems okay
c. 2 PCs
d. a TiVo
e. A mini set up as our HTPC

2) This laptop was fine for a long time in this location. I don't think it's a physical problem with the wireless access.

One day I set up BitTorrent port forwarding for the mini and now everything is fucked.

3) I have backed out all the changes I made in port forwarding

4) I have turned off the mini - which itself seems to work great

5) There is nothing running on the other computers - no iTunes, no bittorrent, nothing.

6) I have restarted absolutely everything in the house singly and together

7) The problem is somewhat intermittent - some days it's fine, others its incredibly slow. Restarts of the Macbook in question don't help.

8) The slowness in browsing doesn't particularly seem to be isolated to the DNS lookup stage. That happens slowly, but so does everything else.

9) I have tried various TCP/IP configs on the MacBook - DHCP, DHCP with manual address, full manual setup, DNS specified, DNS set by the router... no difference whatsoever.

10) And now for the REALLY confounding part: The PCs on the network are absolutely fine. I can browse the net with them just dandy. It's Firefox on the Macbook which is painful, and that seems to be about all.

What am I missing? I would have called the ISP by now but since some computers seem okay, I have not tried that yet.

OS X in a WHS Envirnoment?

kbanas — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 07:16:52 -0800

I have finally completed a overhaul of my home network. There's only one question left - how can I leverage the resources I have to backup my Mac? After years of doing a half-ass job, but I finally got my act together with my home computing infrastructure.

I now have a machine with Windows Home Server and a couple terabytes of disk space tucked into the corner of the closet in the bedroom (my girlfriend was surprisingly cool with that addition). I have a PC running Vista Ultimate acting as a media center of sorts, playing stuff from the 'ol Home Server. There are also a myriad of other Dell desktop PCs spread out over the house - one in the office, one in another bedroom.

All the Windows boxes backup every night to the Home Server, I'm able to stream media pretty effortlessly from one machine to another, I am, generally speaking, at peace.

Except there's my MacBook Pro.

I'd really like to be backing up this machine, as it has several (several, several) gigabytes of important work.

Time Capsule would work, except it's expensive and I already have several terabytes of empty disk space sitting on the network, so nuts to that.

A USB-disk drive with Time Machine would work, except that my laptop doesn't really have a "home" - it's always on me, so if I have to set it down, hook it up, and back it up on a schedule, well, that's not going to work for me.

I want to be able to back it up over the network to the Home Server. There have been rumors for some time that Microsoft is going to add a little Time Machine plugin for WHS, but as far as I can tell, that's never going to happen - or, if it is going to happen, it's not going to happen any time soon.

The one thing I can do is map a shared drive to the server on my MacBook Pro using Samba.

So, I guess what I need is a robust, reliable piece of OS X software that can backup over the network to a shared drive. Bonus points if it's free, but if it's not, well, my data's probably worth more to me than free dollars, so I'll pay.

I've found a couple pieces of software by browsing through Lifehacker and a couple other sites, but they mostly seem to focus on synchronizing over the network. I don't want that. I want incremental backups.

The end.

Xbox 360 + Connect 360 (OS X) + 720p + 802.11n = jerky video?

bryanjbusch — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 13:26:43 -0800

Xbox 360 + Connect 360 (OS X) + 720p + 802.11n = jerky video? While recently streaming some 1280x720 video from the MacBook (10.5.2, RAM maxed out) through the AirPort 802.11n thing to the Xbox 360, which is connected via a physical ethernet cable, the show would periodically stop.

Then the audio would continue by itself, and then after a minute or so, the video would sort of "fast-forward" and catch up with the audio.

I wasn't running any other applications or downloading big files at the same time. Is this normal behavior, or should I be able to stream HD quality video with this sort of setup?

Can I make my Airport Express into a repeater?

Duluth?! I Hardly Know Her! — Sun, 19 Aug 2007 07:47:00 -0800

How do I (can I?) make my Airport Express expand my wireless network? I am clueless about wifi, but I think I have the equipment to make a good home network for my TiVo and my Wii. I have a cable modem in the bedroom (back of the house) that plugs into a Buffalo WHR-G54S wireless router, which plugs directly into my iMac G5, which has an airport card. I have an Airport Express that is plugged into the wall in the middle of the house (not connected to anything other than my stereo).

Up until now, I have used the Airport Express as a way to play my iTunes music through my stereo, so I have just had it talking to my iMac's airport card and grabbing the music. I have not had it doing any kind of network function. Now, I want it to talk to my Router. I think I should be able to have my router whip the signal to the Airport Express, which will then whip it to my TiVo and my Wii. I want to do this because my router's signal is very weak for TiVo/Wii, which are on the complete other side of the house through some brick and concrete.

Can anyone help me with a straightforward way to do this? I have tried every which way of monkeying with my wireless network settings on the Mac, but I think all I am doing is changing the airport card-to-airport express settings. In the alternative, can someone tell me my Airport Express is not an appropriate tool for the job I am asking of it, so I know to quit wasting my time trying to fit a square airport express into a round wireless expander-thingee job?

I thank you.

Triggering stuff after connecting to a network

uncle harold — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 05:51:47 -0800

OS X: Automatically trigger actions after connecting to a network. I often change networks during the day, and always connect to my office network through a VPN. I want to automate the process to do something like this:

1) After connecting to an arbitrary network, connect to my VPN
2) Mount a share on the VPN
3) When going to sleep mode, unmount share and disconnect from VPN

I have so far only found pearPort. It's a step in the right direction, but it does only work for WLAN, not for Bluetooth (cellphone modem) nor Ethernet. It also only connects to a VPN, and can't trigger other actions.

The ideal solution would be something that simply listens to new connections, and can be configured to then call arbitrary apps/applescripts, as that would be the most flexible solution.

Does something like this exist?

Help me sell XServe to my boss and our client.

odinsdream — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 13:33:57 -0800

Help me recommend XServe to my boss and our client. Please share your personal experience with the XServe hardware and software, particularly the GUI tools for service management. I work for a small business that provides technical support for a local school. They have a very small IT budget, and no IT staff (except for select volunteer students).

Currently, they have two 7-10 year old NT 4.0 servers. One is running Exchange, and the other is just used as file storage.

I have no personal experience with the XServe, but reading their specifications, it seems to fit what this school is looking to do. For the most part, I'd like to know about any caveats with recommending this system and software to my boss, and to the school, that otherwise aren't obvious from reading the specs and reviews.

I'm a bit concerned that it doesn't yet have iCal Server built in, but could I install some web-based software while we wait for the release?

What won't this server be able to do for them? The biggest hurdle I need to overcome is the momentum generated from my boss' sole experience working with Exchange and Windows servers. He's open to the idea, but seems to only vaguely understand that Macs aren't locked-off in some proprietary realm apart from Windows machines anymore.

Personal opinions, experiences, and thoughts on such a recommendation?

Thanks!

Interference robustness???

pompomtom — Thu, 31 May 2007 18:52:11 -0800

OSX wifi: Why would I not use 'Interference Robustness'? From what little info I can find online, this feature should stop my wifi connection being stung by microwave ovens and welders and things. So if I were to turn this on during a heavy session of welding microwave ovens, what advantage would there be to turning it off again afterwards? Does this cost me battery life, or throughput, or karma, or, well, anything? I'm presuming there must be some advantage to turning it off, or why have the option at all?

Do you talk AppleTalk?

al_fresco — Sun, 10 Dec 2006 15:53:21 -0800

MacNetworkingFilter: Setting up a print server in a small office–Ethernet, AppleTalk, wireless, oh my… Lots I'll be setting up a small office for a client. She has three printers that she'd like to print to wirelessly. Luckily, she has an old G4 tower that she's not using that can act as a print server. It all makes sense except for this one piece.

One of the printers is a GCC Elite 12/600 that she connects to via the Ethernet port, of which there is one on the tower. I've set it up before, and the printer is chosen in the Printer Setup Utility as an AppleTalk printer, not IP. Works fine when connected straight into the computer's Ethernet port.

My question is this: Will the printer still talk to the server computer properly if they are both connected to two different ports on a NetGear WGR614 wireless router? The AppleTalk data doesn't have to be transmitted across the wireless connection, because the client computers will connect to the printer through Printer Sharing, but I'm not sure if the printer will work the same as if it was connected directly to the computer. Make sense?

If the above won't work, do I need a different type of Ethernet hub to be able to connect the printer to the computer, and the computer to the router? Please advise. Let me know if you need more information, and I may try to post a link to a schematic. Thanks!

osx networking problems (in triplicate)

cmyr — Wed, 06 Sep 2006 18:49:17 -0800

osx networking problems (in triplicate) Several parts: I have a grey g4 in the 400mhz range that I'm trying to set up as a music server, and I'm having some network problems. Inside you will find a dead ethernet port, a banal remote desktop query, and a question about network printer sharing. So: I just installed tiger onto the g4 (which doesn't have a DVD drive) by using firewire from my laptop with the g4 in target disc mode. When I run the g4 now, it doesn't recognize it's own ethernet port; It doesn't show up in network settings when plugged into the router, and the router doesn't light up indicating that it recognizes the connection is in any way live. The ethernet is built into the motherboard, so I know that it's not simply a card that isn't plugged in.

As far as I know the ethernet port has never been used (it's previous owner had dial-up).Since I installed on the g4's HD from another computer, I'm not sure if the installation was configured for the laptop hardware or the hardware on the desktop. None of the built in diagnostics software does anything useful.

And: I was wondering what would be involved in remotely controlling the desktop over the (eventually/hopefully functional) network from the laptop. I know that osx has a remote login functionality, but i'm not sure if this is just access to the file system; do I need 3rd party software to login/run programs over the network connection?

But Also: I have an old LaserWriter 16/600 PS with an ethernet adaptor (from an RJ[something] port?) that I would like to be shareable over my (relatively small) network, via the g4 desktop mentioned above. I am currently considering two options: putting a PCI wireless card in the desktop/connecting the printer to it's ethernet port/setting up printer sharing, or else putting a switch in my office and connecting the g4 server, my PC desktop and the printer to that. I've played around in the past with connecting the printer straight to the router, but I was never able to get that to work; although I neither put forth particular effort nor am possessing of any particular apptitude for this sort of work.

Which may or may not be evident.

Please save me.

Can I access my mp3s remotely?

synecdoche — Sat, 10 Sep 2005 10:28:12 -0800

Can I access my files on a Window 2000 machine (at home) from my iBook when travelling? I have a Windows 2000 desktop at home. I store my MP3 collection on it. Usually when doing day-to-day computing, I use my iBook laptop. At home, I can easily access the files on the Win2K box over my local network. However, I do travel from time to time, and I'd like it if I could mount the remote computer as a hard drive when I am away from home (whether across the country or at my university).

Is there any simple way to do this? If it works okay, I'll just tell iTunes that the library is in a new location and then keep it all the time. It'd be nice to be able to move files back to the Win2K machine, too.

I've seen somebody do something similar but they were running Linux, which I am not too proficient with.

I have Win2K Pro, updated to whatever they're at now, on the desktop where the fiels are, and OSX Tiger on the iBook.

remote Jukebox Control?

cathodeheart — Thu, 18 Aug 2005 20:36:32 -0800

Looking for a way to control an instance of winamp (or similar media player) running on a PC from an iBook, via existing Wireless network... so here's the deal: i have a PC laptop (win xp sp2)hooked up to a mixer/speakers, which is where i play most of my music. i'd like to be able to control that laptop, or at least the jukebox program on that laptop, from my iBook (os x 10.4). the computers are wirelessly networked already, i'm just wondering if there's a program that will allow that kind of access. i'd like to be able to cue up tracks, browse files, and use the transport control, at the most basic level. sort of like having a virtual remote control for my PC media player program on my iBook. Any suggestions?

How to get XP desktop & OSX laptop to play nice in a LAN?

keswick — Wed, 01 Jun 2005 14:48:43 -0800

I'm getting an OSX laptop Monday after the keynote, and I'm trying to figure out how to get to place nice with my XP desktop.

What router would you recommend? I want something I can plug into my desktop that provides wireless for the laptop.

Will I be able to transfer documents back and forth between the the desktop and laptop?

Should I reformat my XP's HDs to an alternate format so the Mac can read/write? (FAT32, NTFS, whatever)

I'd like to be able to just run the desktop as a headless box, so I can use my current keyboard, mouse, and monitor on the xBook when I'm at my desk. Suggestions?

Would I be better off switching my XP box to a Linux box to accomplish all of the above? Any links to tutorials?

and why is this in Times New Roman?

How can I print from my Mac to a Windows network printer?

skylar — Wed, 01 Dec 2004 05:10:01 -0800

Can you advise on printing to a Windows PC printer from a Mac OSX machine, over a network? [more inside...] I have a Lexmark P707 printer, attached to a Windows XP computer by USB. It works fine. I have set it as shared on my local area network. I have also set up Print Services for Unix on the XP box just for good measure.

I have a pretty good feeling that another Windows machine would be able to see the shared printer. However, I am interested in printing to the Windows printer from my Apple Mac OS 10.3.5 machine.

When I try and add a printer, the Mac doesn't "see" the printer within the Windows Printing dialogue... nor can I seem to figure out the correct printer address to use in the UP Printing (LPD/LPR) area.

Lexmark won't help me on a networking issue, unfortunately. Google has some stuff on PC/Mac print networking but a lot of it is old and out of date. Has anyone figured this out? Is there some hack or workaround I could try? Many thanks for your help.

My wireless Mac and wired PC transfer to each other at 2.5 MB/s. Can I speed this up any?

ascullion — Thu, 21 Oct 2004 07:48:36 -0800

I've got a network in my home - one PC, connected by wire to the router, and one Apple, connected by an Airport card (which I believe is 802.11G). The fastest speed I can get transferring files from one to the other is 2.5MB/s, which seems slow. Am I right, or is this standard?

Help me fix my iMac!

JDC8 — Fri, 10 Sep 2004 14:39:08 -0800

iMacFilter. I'm attempting to connect my slot-loading iMac to a SBC DSL router. I can't get the iMac to recognize the DSL connection or locate the modem.

In my attempts to rectify this, I reorganized the hard drive using Discwarrior. Now the computer somehow boots up with MacOS 9.2, even after an OSX re-install. Help!

Networking Windows and Mac OSX 10.3

benjh — Mon, 16 Feb 2004 18:01:25 -0800

What is the best way to network my Windows and Mac OSX 10.3 machines? [more inside]

I have a home network set up, but I can't seem to share my whole hard drive with my Windows machine, only public directories. On the flip side, if I set a folder for sharing on Windows, the Mac doesn't automatically detect it, I have to set it to connect to that folder.

Ideally I'd like to be able to access either machine's hard drive no matter which machine I have connected. I'm thinking Firewire networking might be a good solution for this (and faster than my 10/100 switch) but can't seem to find any decent instructions. If I try networking via Firewire, can I restrict so I am only sharing with machines on my network, since Windows file sharing frightens and disturbs me. Well I meant to put it inside. Ah well. Sorry about that.

Hiding a Folder

MiguelCardoso — Wed, 04 Feb 2004 20:01:18 -0800

If several friendly, nosy and very tech-savvy, code-breaking sort of people have access to your computer and you wouldn't wish to hinder their access, but still need to hide, beyond all chance of detection, a folder where you keep your works in progress; innermost thoughts and tentative, early drafts (the kind that could easily be misinterpreted, specially if you write fiction); is there any John Le Carré-approved way of guaranteeing a private patch? I.e. So that they would think it's all open to anyone, but not really? [Mac OSX, if it's relevant.]