Re: Networking 2 macs via firewire device?
Originally posted by rlhubley
I just bought an iBook G4 and have owned B&W G3 for a few years now. I don't often need to network the two, but would like to enjoy the benefits of iSync, for obvious reasons. Can I do this with a firewire "daisy-chain"? I have an external LaCie CD Burner that has two firewire ports on the back. Can I plug each mac into it and be able to use iSync to update the two? Will I be able to transfer files from one machine to the other this way?
I know I can accomplish this with an inexpensive crossover ethernet cable, but I don't have one. I know that I can change a regular ethernet cable into a crossover, but I haven't done this. So, is the "chain" feasable?
You can use either FireWire or your standard Ethernet cable.
If you use FireWire:
a) You MUST have 10.3 or later on both machines (unless you downloaded the [no longer available] beta of IP Over FireWire, which is unlikely)
b) You'll need to create a new port in the Network preference pane under Network Port Configurations (off the top of my head, mind you) for the FireWire port. You'll need to do this on each Mac.
c) I don't know how your CD burner will react to having two computers plugged into it. You may want to try this with just the two Macs plugged together.
If you use Ethernet:
a) It will be somewhat more straightforward to configure in the Network preference pane.
b) Your regular Ethernet cable
will work because your iBook has something called Auto-MDIX, which basically means that it can decide whether it "needs" to have a crossover or normal ("straight-through") cable connected; if the wrong one is connected, the Ethernet port will automatically reconfigure itself (it will cross over internally). You can search the Apple support knowledge base for Auto-MDIX to learn which models have this feature (generally those made in 2002 or later, I think).
If you use either:
a) iSync will not help you. It does not work across LANs. You can send feedback to Apple about this at
www.apple.com/isync.

If you have .Mac, you can sync to it on one Mac and then sync on the other. (N.B.: I don't use either product so I can't give you specifics.)
b) You'll need to turn on file sharing in the Sharing preference pane and learn how to use Connect to Server and/or the Network icon in Panther. Which is a bit beyond the scope of my post here.

But that will allow you to share files between the two Macs.
HTH!!
WM