Transfer files between Mac and PC over firewire?

[dmbfan]

I have Mac Mini sitting about 3 feet above a PC (Mac above my desk, PC below). I Switched around last March, and love my Mac. Howver, at the time I bought the mini, I didn't opt for the DVD burner option. My plan was to transfer files to my PC, and use it's internal burner to back up data.

I am looking to back up my iTunes library, which is just over 30 gigs. Right now, I have the two computers connected via ethernet cable to my Dlink router. I am able to transfer files back and forth, but it is excruciatingly slow.

I understand you can use firewire to transfer data between PC and Mac. Obviously my Mac has firewire, and I added a firewire card to my PC several years ago to support my first iPod.

I am very much network-challenged. While I consider myself somewhat computer savvy, my knowledge of networking is lacking. I have read the following tip for connecting the two, and maybe someone can elaborate for me?

http://ask.metafilter.com/mefi/16951


"IP over firewire is, to me, the best. Firewire 400 gives you 400Mbps and Firewire 800 gives you 800Mbps. Both Windows XP and Mac OS X.3+ support IP over firewire natively. You just have to add the connection yourself in windows and in OS X, it'll be under the area where you select 'built-in ethernet', 'airport', 'modem', etc...

Give one an IP of 192.168.x.y and give the other an IP of 192.168.x.z and you'll be set. Use whatever filesharing method you like the most.

I use it for transferring files between my windows desktop (xp sp2) and my powerbook (os X.3) all the time."



Can someone explain this to me? Where do I just "give one an IP of..." on my Mac and my PC? How does this impact my current connection to the internet from both computers (currently through my router? What filesharing method am I looking for? I was hoping to just drag and drop...

Sorry for the longwinded message, but this is really stumping me. I know, I should pick up an external burner, but this isn't in the budget.

Any help from someone out there would be really, really appreciated. THanks.

 

[ChrisA]

You explaine how to setup IP/Firewire then ask how to set it up???

If transferring the files isto slow then don't. I have a setup like yours. A Mini
with 40GB disk and no DVD burner. I have a PC (running Linux) and keep all
of my data on that.. The Mac an access al the photos, music and video over the Ethernet. Doing that avoids the problem When I make a DVD image file it's
already on the PC's drive

Next option is to salvage the DVD off the PC and put it inside a USB/Firewire
enclosure. Same for the PC's hard drive. Then you can give the old PC
parts away to someone

I have Mac Mini sitting about 3 feet above a PC.....

"IP over firewire is, to me, the best. Firewire 400 gives you 400Mbps and Firewire 800 gives you 800Mbps. Both Windows XP and Mac OS X.3+ support IP over firewire natively. You just have to add the connection yourself in windows and in OS X, it'll be under the area where you select 'built-in ethernet', 'airport', 'modem', etc...

Give one an IP of 192.168.x.y and give the other an IP of 192.168.x.z and you'll be set. Use whatever filesharing method you like the most.

I use it for transferring files between my windows desktop (xp sp2) and my powerbook (os X.3) all the time."


THanks.

 

[dmbfan]

" You explaine how to setup IP/Firewire then ask how to set it up???"


I had quoted the linked website. What I am saying is that I don't understand the directions, and an looking for some guidance. Eventually, I think I will try to just pick up an external burner, or switch my PC burner into an external enclosure. For now, transferring the files is the only (free) option.