How do I reconnect a login item without rebooting?

[gogreen1]

I've connected an iMac and a MacBook Air on my network. The MacBook Air is a login item on the iMac. I have to start the MacBook Air first before the iMac boots, or else the iMac doesn't see the MacBook Air. If I reboot the MacBook Air, or start it after I start the iMac, I have to reboot the iMac to make the connection again. Is there a way to reconnect the MacBook Air, or any other login item, without rebooting the iMac?

 

[Weaselboy]

http://osxdaily.com/2012/05/04/automatically-connect-to-network-drive-mac-os-x/

You could use Automator to make an application that logs in to the other Mac, then when you need to just manually run the app to reconnect.

 

[chabig]

The MacBook Air is a login item on the iMac.

What does this mean? Are you disk sharing? If that's it, you ought to be able to mount the network share from Finder at any time.

Also, you don't have to reboot for 'login' items to work. You only need to login (hence the name).

 

[gogreen1]

http://osxdaily.com/2012/05/04/automatically-connect-to-network-drive-mac-os-x/

You could use Automator to make an application that logs in to the other Mac, then when you need to just manually run the app to reconnect.

Thanks, chabig and Weaselboy. The Automator is beyond my knowhow, but I'm certainly willing to give it a try and learn. It would save me some time.

 

[chown33]

http://osxdaily.com/2012/05/04/automatically-connect-to-network-drive-mac-os-x/

You could use Automator to make an application that logs in to the other Mac, then when you need to just manually run the app to reconnect.

The way I used to do this was:
1. Connect to the server and volume you want mounted.
2. Make an alias of the mounted volume on the local machine.
3. Make sure the login password is in the Keychain.
4. Drag the alias into the "Login Items" list.

Because I had a half-dozen or so volumes, disk-images, etc. residing on the server, I had a similar number of aliases in a local folder, which I'd cleverly named "Remote". The aliases made it very easy to add or remove from "Login Items" without needing to manually connect.

I don't use that server any more, so my Remote folder is currently empty.

Thanks, chabig and Weaselboy. The Automator is beyond my knowhow, but I'm certainly willing to give it a try and learn. It would save me some time.

The linked article shows the exact Automator actions to use.

Try the aliases first, as I outlined above. If it works, it should be simpler.

 

[gogreen1]

I've created the automator app, and it seems to be working. However, if it's working correctly, would the drive icon appear again on the desktop, as it does when connecting occurs on log in? and shouldn't it appear in disk utility?

 

[chrfr]

I've created the automator app, and it seems to be working. However, if it's working correctly, would the drive icon appear again on the desktop, as it does when connecting occurs on log in? and shouldn't it appear in disk utility?

Server drives do not appear in Disk Utility. Depending on your Finder preferences, they may or may not appear on the desktop.

 

[gogreen1]

OK, thanks chrfr.

I've created the automator task, but the instructions call for adding the item to login items, which requires a reboot. I'd like to find a way to reconnect to the laptop without rebooting my iMac. Is there a command or set of commands that forces such a reconnect?

 

[Weaselboy]

OK, thanks chrfr.

I've created the automator task, but the instructions call for adding the item to login items, which requires a reboot. I'd like to find a way to reconnect to the laptop without rebooting my iMac. Is there a command or set of commands that forces such a reconnect?

If you saved the Automator routine as an app, you can just add that app to login items to run at startup. Then if you need to login again just run the app manually from Spotlight.

 

[gogreen1]

Works perfectly now! Thanks, all, for the help!