Connecting 2 computers thru Time Capsule without Internet?

I had started a question in another area (Mountain Lion) because I am trying desperately to migrate a Windows PC running Windows 7 to a new iMac. The Migration assistant on both computers does not find any computers. The Apple Care people say I am doing everything right, but now some people online are saying that I can't do this wirelessly thru Time Capsule (which we have and is the router for our office which the PC is connected to wirelessly).
The new Mac is in set up beginning mode (meaning it has not been set up wirelessly or anything yet), because on launch it offers to move the data from the PC to set up the new Mac. It is stuck "looking for a computer"
Here is the whole discussion:
https://discussions.apple.com/message/23377824#23377824
Today I went by an Apple store to ask their opinion and the guy told me that I can't connect the 2 computers via ethernet (even though that is what the Migration insturctions say to do), but he said that I shoud be able to connect each computer via ethernet to the Time Capsule and have them recognize each other.
Does this sound right to any of you???
The PC is clear across the room and no where near the internet line, so I would either have to buy a REALLY long ethernet cable to drag over to it, or take the whole computer apart to try and get it near the TC. The mac of course is no problem to move.
I just don't want to do all this if this will not really act as a network (I guess as a server of sorts).
I am confused as the TC manual says that it can be used without internet, but I don't seehow (I've tried rebooting it without a connection). I do not know why the internet is involved at all since what we need is the TC to act as a wireless router (which it is) and do not need to involve the internet at all to link the 2 computers.
I am just totally frustrated that these computers should just communicate wirelessly and/or with each other somehow and do not seem to, as Apple says they should. I know this will turn out to be something really simple and dumb and I'm just not seeing it.
Is it not possible to take the TC and reboot it with the 2 computers connected to it and create a network using the TC as a server or router without needing any internet just so I can get this stuff from the PC migrated (and then never have to deal with it again!!!!)
Any help is greatly appreciated.
Thanks!

I think where the confusion lies is that this is a brand new Mac and NEVER been set up. We are trying to Migrate from the Windows on initial setup - which is what the Mac asks you when you first start it: Language, Keyboard (english) and then if you are setting a New Mac or wanting to tranfer your info to set up from another Mac or from a PC. You choose PC and the MA automatically looks for the other PC. The Windows MA does the same thing. You launch it on the PC and it looks for the Mac to connect to.
They are not "finding" each other - even when connected directly via the ethernet cable to each other as dictated by the MA instructions (see the link you provided and click:
Transferring with the Setup Assistant that appears when your Mac starts up for the first time
This is what I am doing. This is what 2 different guys from Apple Care also said was correct.
They do not communicate. This is why some in the ML discussion area are telling me I can't do this with an ethernet cable even though these are the instructions. They are telling me to use the TC as a router between them.
The PC is already wirelessly connected to the TC but when I connect the Mac to the TC it still does nothing (because I assume it hasn't been "set up" yet to the wireless network).
I did not want to set up the Mac initially on its own because then you create a User and Password and when you migrate it creates a second User and will not migrate into the initial one you set up, ergo you forever are stuck with 2 users on login and 2 sets of stuff taking up space in your Mac.
It should do this on start up. I have NO doubt this is a PC issue, even though I disabled everything I could possibly see to do on it (this is why I need the PC geek in the UK to make sure). The Apple techs have told me some people have to disable and reboot this stuff several times (ARGH!) LOL!
Anyway I did wonder when I tried yesterday to simply take TC off the internet connection and set it up on its own, I could never get it to stop looking for internet (I rebooted it and reinstalled it with a new name and password), but when you look at it in Airport Utility (I'm using a Macbook for the set up), you see it still blinking looking for internet.
I could not find any instructions for someone to use the TC as a router only or as a server, even though you can see there are more choices in the AU setup tabs. The one guy at the Apple store (not Apple Care) said that if I connected the 2 computers to the TC it would act as a router and they could "see" each other for me to setup - but this did not work, hence I came here.
Hope I'm making sense! Thanks so much for your help.

Similar Messages

Accessing Time Capsule Without Internet Connection

Simple question: How do I access my Time Capsule without an internet connection?
Thanks,
Mike

Restoring to defaults might be the best way to go. This will not affect your backups.
To do this, simply hold in the reset button on the back of the Time Capsule until you see the amber light begin to blink more quickly. Keep holding another 4-5 seconds when you see this and then release.
If you have a spare ethernet cable handy, I would recommend that you connect it from the Mac to one of the LAN <-> ports on the Time Capsule.
Open Macintosh HD > Applications > Utilities > AirPort Utility
Click Continue to follow the guided setup. When you are asked how you want to configure the Time Capsule, choose the "Create a wireless network option"
Keep following the guide until you Update. You'll see a message that you do not have an ethernet connection at the WAN Port and also that you do not have an Internet connection. Click "ignore" to both of these messages and you get a greeen light when the Time Capsule restarts.
Then, set up Time Machine again.
Click System Preferences (gear icon on the dock) and open Time Machine
Click Select Disk
Click your Time Capsule to highlight it
Click Use for Backups
That should get backups going again and also allow you to access your backups by clicking the Time Machine icon on the dock.
You can keep the computer connected using the ethernet cable, or use the wireless on your computer to connect to the wireless network that the Time Capsule is providing.

Wireless Time Capsule without Internet Connection?

Hi, I just bought a new 1TB time capsule the other day. So far I've been trying to figure out if it is possible to /just/ use it as a wireless backup, not a router.
To explain my setup:
I've got a Netgear Modem slash Wireless Router upstairs which provides the entire house with an internet connection - it supports WEP 64 and 128 bit, WPA-PSK (Wi-Fi Protected Access Pre-Shared Key) and WPA-802.1x encryption. My MacBook connects to this network to connect to the internet.
When I bought the Time Capsule I thought I could just use it as a wireless drive that I could find on my network that would do regular backups without having to be plugged in... but after reading through the manual I'm pretty sure I have to get it to join my network for this to be possible (can someone please correct me if I'm wrong).
So, Time Capsule apparently only supports 40 and 128 bit WEP, and some other encryptions, I know the 128bit WEP overlaps (but I'm not sure whether the Time Capsule supports the other two encryption methods on my router). And I'd rather not switch to 128bit encryption (I am using 64) as it requires a 26-character passkey which will probably be too much for the others using the network to remember, and far too much of a hassle to enter on an iPhone or iPod touch.
Hopefully I've provided enough information - if you need any more please ask.
So basically my question is: Is it possible to setup my Time Capsule so that it will wirelessly backup my computer with my current setup (or with little modifications).

Sure you can do that. You need to configure the Time Capsule to join your existing wireless network. That's it.
The Time Capsule supports WEP, WPA, and WPA2 wireless encryption. Those are all the standard wireless encryption options.
You are using 64 bit WEP? That is extremely weak and easily compromised.
And I'd rather not switch to 128bit encryption (I am using 64) as it requires a 26-character passkey which will probably be too much for the others using the network to remember, and far too much of a hassle to enter on an iPhone or iPod touch.
Most devices (including all Macs, iPhones, and iPod touches) will remember the password after you enter it the first time. Then the device will automatically connect next time that it connects to that network.
So basically my question is: Is it possible to setup my Time Capsule so that it will wirelessly backup my computer with my current setup (or with little modifications).
Yes. Configure the Time Capsule to join your existing wireless network. Then configure Time Machine on each Mac to use the Time Capsule as the destination for the Time Machine backup.

Can i use time capsule without internet connection?

I bought Time Capsule 4th Gen. 2Tb without knowig that it is a router. I already have Netgear N900, and I don't know if I can use them both together. Currently, it looks like I cannot connect to Apple Time Capsule (ATC) without the internet connection. I neither have to figure out how to use ATC without the internet, or figure out way to use both of the router at the same time. Please help me with this problem. This is my first MacbookPro, and everything is new to me. I would appreciate any kind of help! Thank you!

Ok .. this is pretty easy.
You plug the WAN port on TC into the N900 LAN port by ethernet.
Open the airport utility on the Mac.
Simply allow it to automatically setup and it should select bridge mode.. if not just jump in at the end .. click on the edit under the summary and go to the network tab and select bridge.
Then go to the wireless tab and make sure you are creating a wireless name.. you can give it the same name as the N900 same security same password.. this is called roaming network.
Or use a different name.. use short, no spaces and pure alphanumeric.
I have given a different name to 5ghz.
It will not matter which wireless you connect to but the TC is faster on the 5ghz for backups.

Can't connect ethernet cable on Time capsule without messing Time Machine

Hi All,
I just bought a Time Capsule couple of weeks ago.
I have a mac with time machine enabled on Wi-fi. I also have a vista that I can't get the wireless card to work properly... It keeps disconnecting and connecting from the internet.
So I decided to plug an Ethernet cable between the vista and time capsule. Everything was working great, except that Time machine cannot connect to time capsule as long as that cable is there...
Can't find anything to fix this...
So either solution is fine by me: either some tips on why Vista keeps dropping the internet connection or why my time machine can't back up with an ethernet cable plugged on Time Capsule.
thanks,
marcelo.
Message was edited by: caldas.family

The warranty entitles you to complimentary phone support for the first 90 days of ownership.

Extremely slow wireless internet thru Time Capsule

My iMac is connected by wire to Time Capsule and internet speed is great 30+MB/s.
My Mac Mini (approx 60'from TC) connects wirelessly through router to internet. Speed was fine at first and then started slipping. Now near zero to 3MB/s. Tried reboot - seems to help but only momentarily.
Any clue what is going on? If it's just too far away - is there any solution short of moving mini (which isn't workable)? If it's too far away - why did it work fine for several months?
Completely frustrated - Please help!

dencamp wrote:
My iMac is connected by wire to Time Capsule and internet speed is great 30+MB/s.
My Mac Mini (approx 60'from TC) connects wirelessly through router to internet. Speed was fine at first and then started slipping. Now near zero to 3MB/s.
I'd check the strength of the signal and noise you're seeing. On your mini launch AirIPort Utility, then double-click on your base station on the left to enter "manual setup" mode. Pull down the "Base Station" menu and select the "Logs and Statistics" item. In the resulting window select the "Wireless Clients" tab. What values do you see for "Signal" and "Noise" for the mini? This discussion post
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=10329543&start=1
describes how to evaluate the relationship between the signal and noise numbers.

1st generation Time Capsule - unstable internet connection

Hello,
I just bought new mac (iMac 27') and Time Capsule (1st generation firmware 7.6.3) When i connected Time Capsule instead my old router, internet connection is very tricky. When my iMac is connected by Lan cable and Wifi on mac is off , everything is fine. But when any device (iPhone, iPad) connect on wifi, internet connection becomes very unstable (including iMac on lan cable!!!). But wifi connection inside my network seems ok (i can use time capsule with no problem).
In the AirPort utility is the "pilot lamp" near the Time Capsule still green. But between Time Capsule and internet change green and amber color every 30 sec (estimate).
I tried both (2.4 and 5 GHz) WiFi but with no solution. When i use my old router, everythink is ok. Or when I unplug all WiFi devices (WiFi router on time capsule can still runs) and my iMac is connected by cable, everything is ok too.
I don't know if is it known problem, but i guess it can be hardware trouble.
Thank you for any answer
Jan

Ok, that is Gen4.
And the fault is unusual.
I recommend a full factory reset.
But downgrade the firmware first. 7.6.3 is known to be problematic. Simply hold down the option key whilst you select version in the airport utility.You can only go back to 7.6.1 though.
The quick method of factory reset.
Power down the TC.
Hold in reset. and keep holding it in. Gently it is a tiny surface mount switch with a plastic lever.. Attempting to push it out the other side of the TC will not make the switch turn on.
(I fix TC and have several reset levers bent over and jammed).
Power on the TC.. this needs three arms.. a friend or power switch you can get to with your feet..
Keep holding in reset for about 10sec until the front LED flashes rapidly.
Release reset and wait .. the boot will be slow as it deletes previous setting.. only from router side and pulls out the factory defaults.
Setup wireless and TC with short names .. no spaces and pure alphanumeric. Use different name for 5ghz.
I also recommend you install the old utility so you can access the TC log.. the new v6 utility has no log access.. so you are completely without clues as to what is happening. Not that the log is exactly helpful but it is worth a look.
How to load 5.6 into ML.
1. Download 5.6 for Lion.
http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1482
Click to open the dmg but do not attempt to install the pkg.. it won't work anyway.
Leave the package open on the desktop so you can see the file. AirportUtility56.pkg
2. Download and install unpkg.
http://www.timdoug.com/unpkg/
Run unpkg on the desktop.. If your Mac refuses to run the software, because it wasn’t downloaded from the Apple store, go to security in preferences and allow other software to work.. this is limitation of trade methinks. You can set back later if you like.
Now drag the AirPortUtility56.pkg file over to unpkg.. and it will create a new directory of the same name on the desktop.. in finder, open the new directory, drill down.. applications, utilities .. there lo and behold is Airport utility 5.6 .. drag it to your main utilities directory or just run it from current location.
You cannot uninstall version 6 (now 6.3 if you updated) so don't try.. and you cannot or should not run them both at the same time.. although I have had no problems when doing so.
For screen shots see this post.
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4668746?tstart=0

I can Connect my iPhone to Time Capsule network, but I Cant get internett on it??

I can Connect my iPhone to Time Capsule network, but I Cant get internett on it??

Download 5.6 utility for Lion.. inbuilt version is hopeless.
http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1482
Set TC and wireless names to short, no spaces, no special characters.. ie pure alphanumeric.
Lock the wireless to fixed channels.. only 2.4ghz matters.. as iphone cannot connect to 5ghz.
Try 6, 11 first then 1. I think bluetooth may be set to use lower channels.
That seems to have fixed it for most people.

Can i get the time capsule to automatically back up my file from my Mac Book Air but have certain files which are only stored on the time capsule and not the computer? Then can i access these files only on the time capsule without connecting it?

Can i get the time capsule to automatically back up my file from my Mac Book Air but have certain files which are only stored on the time capsule and not the computer? Then can i access these files only on the time capsule without connecting it?

igonneau wrote:
Can i get the time capsule to automatically back up my file from my Mac Book Air but have certain files which are only stored on the time capsule and not the computer?
You can, but how are you going to back up those other files? When (not if) your Time Capsule fails, you risk losing them. See #Q3 in Using Time Machine with a Time Capsule for details.
Then can i access these files only on the time capsule without connecting it?
Not sure what you mean. You have to connect a computer, either via Ethernet cable or wirelessly, to read or write to the disk.

How to set up 6th Generation AirPort Extreme to cable modem as a wireless router and then connect my 3rd Generation Time Capsule to AirPort Extreme as a wireless extender?

What is the best way to set up my 6th Generation AirPort Extreme (A1521) to my cable modem as a wireless router and then connect my 3rd Generation Time Capsule (A1355) to my AirPort Extreme as a wireless extender? I live in a small 1 story house and I currently have the Airport Extreme connected to my cable modem in the living room and the Time Capsule plugged into the wall in my bedroom. I am able to wirelessly connect to the internet using the AirPort Extreme as my router and I can also do wireless back ups to my Time Capsule. My problem is that my connection seems to be really slow! My 1TB Time Capsule back up is only half way complete and it has been 3 days! My computer has been backing up all day and night for almost 72 hours and its still not even 75% complete. I have backed up to this Time Capsule in the past and it never took this long. I am thinking that when I set up my AirPort Extreme and Time Capsule using AirPort Utility I must have set it up incorrectly or something.
How do I set up my Airport Extreme and Time Capsule for the fastest possible internet speed and back up speed?
Thank you,

AirPort Utility 5.6 works with AirPort Extreme 802.11g base stations.
It works with N version airports.
It will also show details of the AC model but cannot be used for the setup.. mostly.
I purposely got the new 6th Gen Airport Extreme so my internet connection would be a lot faster!
Your network will be much faster when you have AC client directly connected to the AE. Older client will go no faster.. but what is worse.. extend wireless is mixing new and old wireless standards.. guess what one wins.. OLD.. So when you extend wireless.. you have no improvement whatsoever. This whole post is about extending wireless.. so you cannot extend to older equipment and do any better.. maybe slightly better signal although from your comments that isn't happening either.
I would rather not have to use an ethernet at all with the TC and I don't know EOP adapters are!
If you do not use ethernet then you are going to be forced to accept slow speed.
EOP (ethernet over power). Also called homeplug in the US.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HomePlug
Provides a method of networking over power cabling that already exists in your house.
So what your saying is for the fastest internet speed and back up speed possible I should keep my Airport Extreme plugged into my Modem and keep my TC set up as a wireless extender? Then when I want to do back ups I should plug an ethernet cable from my TC to my MacBook Pro?
To spell this out.
A wireless link to an extended device will go very slowly.. if it is not direct.
So lets say you have a laptop sitting in the lounge.. Your connection goes.. Laptop- - - - - AE- - - - -TC.
That means two wireless links.. wireless has this nasty half duplex and single channel nature.. it can send or receive (Tx or Rx) but not at the same time.
Ethernet by contrast does both at once. It is full duplex.
Wireless can talk to one client at a time.. so if there are multiple items using wireless lets say 4 devices.. then your computer gets a 25% time slice. Since wireless cannot handle multiple simultaneous connections.
Ethernet by contrast can connect multiple computers to multiple destinations at the same time.. all transmitting and receiving at full speed.
When you put all this together.. there are a couple of rules for fast connection.
1. Use ethernet at all times. Where you cannot use ethernet use anything but wireless.. eg EOP (homeplug) at least to try and get rid of wireless.
2. Where you must use wireless use it sparingly and make sure it is never more than one hop.. ie never have an extend wireless (repeater is more usual term). Repeater will cause instant slowdown of 50% and maybe up to 75% just because it is so inefficient.
3. Fastest wireless is 5ghz but it has very short range.. you need to be up close and personal to get it working.
Apple routers however unless you do manual setup I suggest are set to connect to best signal strength not best speed. It will therefore use 2.4ghz at 25% less speed than 5ghz because it is 1db better signal.. this madness means you need to setup manually for the best setup.

My MacBook Po can not connet with Time Capsule for Internet. Back-up are ok

Hi to all,
If I connect the ADSL line to Time Capsule no Internett available.
If connect the live with eternet cable to MacBook pro all is fine.
Mack book pro do all the backup with Time Capsule in WiFi
Hot to have the MacBook connectid to Time Capsule in WiFe for internet too??
Easy explanation please, I'm really beginner

Your original question was How to use Time Capsule for wireless back-up but not Internet?
There is no reason for you to connect the tower....or anything else...using Ethernet if your goal remains that same as you stated.
If you are asking if you can backup the Tower using Ethernet, and not wireless, then you can connect the tower to one of the LAN <-> ports on the Time Capsule....not the WAN port.
Yes, it appears to work without plugging into my tower.
Correct, it will work.
I just have to select the network that it created. Of course, I have no access to the Internet while this is happening and it can not auto backup, unless I am on that wireless signal.
As I stated, that is the downside to trying to back up without an Internet connection. You have to establish another network...and backup over that network.
If you are asking if you can stay connected to the work network while also backing up to your non-Internet "private" network, that is not possible.

Acces Time Capsule fro internet

I want to acces my time capsule through internet, I have read that this si possible by enabaling the Wan sharing option, but i cant do this while in bridge mode, and i cant set it up in any other way becasue of my older router.
Any sugestions??

I have the Zyxel VMG8924-B10A, which is functioning as our Router. Which goes through a switch and then up to my TC.
The TC is in router mode.
Looking at your pictures.. thanks for posting them.. I can figure out what I need from most of the shots.. you are not routing on the TC.. you have it correctly set to bridge mode.
So your issue of the TC actually failing at the point of access is harder to follow.
I do want you to do a clean up of the names.
At the moment you have names with spaces.. this is not going to help windows and nowadays it won't help the Mac to work reliably either.
You can even changed the disk name to Time Capsule which won't work in windows.
So please factory reset the TC and start over.
Rename the base station to TCgen5, wireless to TCwifi and hard disk name to say TCdata (your USB drive you can ignore for now).
It should still be in bridge mode and otherwise the same.
Once you get it going again.. if you still have issues try plugging the ethernet from the switch.. into a LAN port instead of WAN.. it doesn't matter which you use actually once bridged. Do the connectivity lights on the switch show everything is working ok?
Once you do the above in windows.. it is well worth while loading the airport utility for windows if you have not already done so.. it may not work well with the later Airport routers but it does provide bonjour for windows and some other utilities.
Tell me then how it goes. There is also a domain issue which can cause problems so I might get you to post a netstat scan from the airport utility in one of the main computers.

I install LION on my mac pro 2008 and it's alway's pop with " there was a problem connecting to the server " Time Capsule" .How can i remove this popup. My Time machine is working fine and also rename it. But the popup keeps on coming with the old name.

I installed LION on my mac pro 2008 and it's alway's pop with " there was a problem connecting to the server " Time Capsule" .How can i remove this popup. My Time machine is working fine and also rename it with less than 7 karakters. But the popup keeps on coming with the old name.

I have a BT Infinity router plugged into the Time Capsule, not sure where the radio settings are?
They are able to use the network settings of the TC i.e. they can connect to the internet via the wifi through the TC but when they try and connect to the AirPort Disk this is where it is not allowing a connection.
I don;t have the drive shared out at all at the moment, is this necessary? How do I do this if so?
I have attached the screen shots of all the settings.
Thanks again for your help.

Problem scanning from HP 1312 MFP connected via USB to Time Capsule

Hi,
I have a HP Color Laserjet 1312 MFP connected via USB to a Time Capsule. I can print through the Time Capsule without any problems but the HP Director software can't see the device hence I can't use the scanner on the device.
Please help!

If the scanning option is vital, just keep the MFP directly plugged into your Mac (via USB). Enable printer sharing via System Preferences. Note that the Mac does need to be on for the other machines on your network to print. If that's not an option, look into purchasing a USB print server to connect via ethernet onto your network.
Here is one:
http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Satellite?c=LProductC1&childpagename=US%2FLayout&cid=1115416942657&pagename=Linksys%2FCommon%2FVisit orWrapper&lid=4265722279L07

How to connect Brother HL2270DW to Time Capsule wi-fi

How to connect Brother HL2270DW to Time Capsule wi-fi?

Well,
1. tried (vide setup manual for the printer) letting the printer find the wi-fi:
http://welcome.solutions.brother.com/BSC/public/us/us_ot/en/faq/faq/000000/00200 0/000037/faq002037_011.html?reg=us&c=us_ot&lang=en&prod=hl2270dw_all#ForMac
Didn't work.
2. Then discovered, by clicking around, under Airport utility > Base station > Add WPS Printer that
"There are two ways you can allow a WPS printer to join your password-protected network without entering a password. You can either enter a PIN for the printer, or allow access to the first printer that attempts to join you network.
Before trying either, brought the printer physically close with the Time Capsule (within 2 meters)
Tried the "First attempt" option first. Failed.
Then, miraculously, out of the printer came a sheet with a 8 digit PIN code on it. Which enabled trying the 2nd option "Allow WPS printer by: PIN".
Entered PIN and Continue, but to no awail.
Final attempt was made by connecting the printer to the USB port of the T.C. That generated a fresh printout with another 8-digit PIN. Which was duly entered, again with no result.
Am at my wits end. Anything else that could make the twain meet and restore normalcy in this all too Apple-dependent house?

Connecting 2 computers thru Time Capsule without Internet?

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