Personal File Sharing fails on network of (2) cascading Linksys routers.

Topography:
Comcast cable modem attached to (WAN-port) Linksys BEFSR41 (4-port).
Linksys WRT54G (WAN-port) attached to Linksys BEFSR41 (4-port).
Linksys BEFSR41 starting @ is 192.168.1.1.
Linksys WRT54G starting @ is 192.168.2.1.
All systems attached to either the ethernet ports of the BEFSR41,
the ethernet ports of the WRT54G, or Wi-Fi of the WRT54G connect
to the Internet flawlessly.
Problem:
Using Personal File Sharing (Connect to Server…) all Apple systems
(all MacOS X v10.4.7) only see other systems attached to the router
that they are attached to & vice versa, i.e. systems attached to BEFSR41
can not see systems attached to WRT54G & vice versa.
Any ideas?

I think you could get around this by changing the subnet mask to 255.255.254.0, (maybe 255.255.0.0), but not sure if it would open Security problems for you.
With the subnet mask set to 255.255.255.0, you can only see other computers in the range where only the last number is different... if it was set to 0.0.0.0.0, then theoretically you could connect to any Computer in the world, havent tried it though!:-)
Other ways exist of one router handing out all the IPs, but that's for later.

Similar Messages

Personal File Sharing between Remote Networks

Trying to connect my Mac (OS 10.4.9) in one state to a Mac in another state (OS 10.3.9). I am connected to the internet via Airport. Second Mac is connected to the internet via DSL modem. With file sharing turned on, on both computers, and firewalls turned off (System Preferences: Sharing: Firewall Off), neither computer can connect to either computer via Personal File Sharing (I went to Go: Connect to server... Then entered the correct IP address).
Also, have not been able to use my computer as an FTP server (System Preferences: Sharing: FTP Access On) such that the second computer can connect via Cyberduck (FTP client software).
I know little about all this, but in my research over the last two days I am unsure why my efforts have not worked (for either Personal File Sharing or FTP connections). the following two Support pages on Personal File Shariing have not worked for me:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=107369
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106661
iMac G5 2GHz Mac OS X (10.4.9)

What is a NAT router? Your suggestion to use a file
storage service as an alternative sounds like it
might be a good idea for me. It's just that the Apple
Support articles made file sharing sound so simple
(i.e. "This allows Macintosh computers in remote
locations to share files with any type of Internet
connection").
This is like saying the Interstate highway system makes it easy to drive from one city to another. It's true, but you need to know something about driving first. Similarly, you need to know something about Internet traffic.
To continue with the highway analogy, let's say your data is like a car. Actually, it's a packet with addressing information inside. The key addresses are source and destination IP addresses. When inside your town, or LAN, it's got local addresses. Maybe your computer is 10.1.1.2 and your printer is 10.1.1.3 and a car destined from your computer to your printer has a source of 10.1.1.2 and a destination of 10.1.1.3. This is like saying take a left at Main Street.
But there are maybe millions of Main Streets. Where this all changes is where we go out to the Interstate, or global Internet. Your router is your gateway to this traffic. It has two interfaces, one side talks to your locality and it has a number like 10.1.1.1, and another side which talks to the global Internet and might have a number like 71.126.45.113. As your car goes through this router, it's source number changes to become that of the router (71.126.45.113). This is so it can find its way back, and others can follow. The local address has no meaning out here. When it (or rather another car) returns, the router swaps the addresses back and sends it to the local network. This process is called NAT (Network Address Translation).
Now, the problem you find is that you can reach the destination router, and what you want is to get to another machine in that locality, but there is no local destination. You get to the toll booth at the end of the Interstate, but the toll taker doesn't know where you want to go. This is where ports come in. Your car has a number which corresponds to a service. In this case, the port is 548 and the services is Apple Filing Protocol over TCP. The toll taker know this. "Oh yes, Mrs. Johnson on First Street handles afpovertcp. Take a left on Main Street." This is called port-forwarding. You set the router to send requests for port 548 to the machine you want shared.
Another possibility would be to disable NAT. This has some drawbacks. If you have more than one machine, you may violate your contract with your ISP. You also open yourself up to certain attacks and need to be much more careful. There's another possibility called DMZ, but that's like disabling NAT for one machine.
I hope this clarifies things. You need to use the addresses of the routers, and forward the ports you wish to use. There's one more consideration: unless you have static IP addresses, those are likely to change. You can use a service like www.dyndns.com to use a host/domain name to connect your machines. It's free and easy.
Powerbook G4, iMac (Intel), and tons of hardware sitting in the closet Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Personal File Sharing

I have a small office network setup with 8 macs. I'm currently using personal file sharing within the network. Sometimes I can not tell who is connected to which machine at any given time.
When I go to shut my machine down, I'll get the message "There are X users connected using apple file sharing. Are you sure you want to shut down?"
#1 How can I tell who is connected?
#2 Is there a way that I can force them to disconnect from my machine?
Thanks

No need to "install" Sharepoints, you just run it once to set the type of logging you want in it's AFS Properties, then you use AFS Monitor to easily check the Logs to see who is or has been doing what.
No need to change Sharing with Sharepoints unless you want to finely tune your sharing.

Is my airport network secure with Personal File Sharing on?

I have my Airport Extreme connected to a cable modem. I have a G4 tower w/external hard drive connected by ethernet cable to the airport base station. I use a MacBook laptop wirelessly around the house to access the internet.
Each computer is set up for multiple users but we don't use passwords with any of our user accounts. I have Personal File Sharing turned on in both computers and am able to access accounts and drives from the other computer in the house.
I do have password protection (WPA/WPA2 personal) set up on the Airport network itself.
Does the fact that I don't have passwords on the user accounts mean someone outside of my home could get into my home network and access my files?
Does the afp address I use to access the other computer in the house afp://10.0.XXX mean it is restricted to people outside of my home?
Any guidance someone could provide is appreciated.

Does the fact that I don't have passwords on the user accounts mean someone outside of my home could get into my home network and access my files?
No.
WPA (with a strong non-dictionary password) is going to keep everyone off you network.
If they could get on your network, then they would be able to access your files.

Wjen i trying to activate my personal file sharing in system 10.4.11 it's not able to start this service so my network computers can't access my computer plz help or advice ??

wjen i trying to activate my personal file sharing in system 10.4.11 it's not able to start this service so my network computers can't access my computer plz help or advice ??

When was the last time you did any of the following?
Restart your computer?
Repaired Permission & restarted your computer?
Run "Repair Disk" from your install DVD?
Please detail all you have done to resolve your issue. Need this information so that the users can avoid the "been there, done that" scenario type responses. This is to avoid repeating the troubleshooting you may have already tried. Thank you.

Personal File Sharing problem

We networked an iMac, iBook and PowerBook G4 through airport. Worked swimmingly until recently. Now the PowerBook is making difficulties. It recognises both other computers but fails to actually connect to them (just continues 'thinking' eternally while trying to connect). The other two computers don't see the PowerBook but still network well together.
Problem (I think): iMac and iBook in System Preferences> Sharing> Services Personal File Sharing is still selected, but on the PowerBook it was somehow automatically deselected. The PowerBook now refuses to start Personal File Sharing no matter how often I click on it. All other services (Windows Sharing, Personal Web Sharing etc) can still be selected, but that is not much use.
A known problem?
iMac PowerBookG4 iBook Mac OS X (10.4.8)

It's system wide then. A reinstall of the OS will probably cure it. You can try an Archive and Install (choosing the "Preserve Users and Network Settings" option) but if the problem presists after that, a full reinstall (after backing up user accounts to another drive) may be necessary.
If you have an external drive, backup your user account Home folders. If you don't have one, backup important documents to CDs/DVDs prior to reinstalling the OS.
John

Personal File Sharing failure between Leopard MBP and Tiger iMac

Hi,
I am attempting to give the iMac access to files on the Leopard using Personal File Sharing. Personal File Sharing is turned on on the MBP. The firewall on the MBP has been variously set for Essential Services Only and turned off. The firewall on the iMac is off (it has no internet connection). I have tried both encrypted and unencrypted ad-hoc wireless networking on various channels. I have tried ethernet. The results are always the same:
1) the MBP will appear in the Network folder of the iMac, but any attempt to connect fails. I am unable even to reach a Drop Box.
2) the iMac appears in the Shared section of the Sidebar on the MBP, and connections of all kind work without problems
I have no internet connection in the house and am unable to try connecting both Macs to the same WiFi network for testing purposes. I have tried pinging each machine from the other using Network Utility, with failure reported in every case ---however, I'm led to believe this is not unusual in small network circumstances.
One other piece of info that may be relevant: I am also struggling to have my iPod touch found by my MBP when attempting to use the WebDAV protocol to share files with Files Lite. My iMac connects to Files Lite without issue. Stanza Desktop also refuses to find Stanza. Cyberduck will find Files Lite on the network from the MBP (the only app to recognise it in any way from my MBP), but will consistently fail to connect. Perhaps this is related?
Any help would be welcome. I can provide more information as needed. I have only offered the information I thought would be useful, and that fits within my layman's understanding of networking.
Thanks.
S.

Hi,
Well, it's all working fine now. Seems I /hadn't/ tried turning off the firewall on the MBP. The PFS now works with the firewall off or with "Set access for specific services and applications", but not "Essential services only".
*shrugs* I was so sure I'd tried it with the firewall off…
So, thanks! All is now kushti. I may have to grumble to myself a little (and ultimately to Apple) about the lack of co-operation between the firewall and the Sharing prefs, and what I perceive as a poverty (or at least poor layout) of information in the firewall settings pane, though. I mean, why can't the firewall automatically choose the correct setting depending on the Sharing preferences? Or, at least, provide a pop-up that such a change is necessary? Hmm…
Ta!
S.
PS: FYI, "guest" sharing was already enabled, presumably by default.

Personal File Sharing: Lost Connection

I'm trying to use my new miniStack external HD attached via Firewire to my Mac mini as a pseudo network drive. In other words, I want that drive available to my mini and my two iBooks. If I can get that working, I'd like it available to my XP box as well.
I have wireless internet via an Airport Express and cable modem throughout the house. All four computers are attached via wireless cards.
I've turned on personal file sharing on the mini using my administrator log in. I've also activated AppleTalk via the Airport settings in the Network preference settings.
I've also activated AppleTalk on my iBook and turned on personal file sharing.
All my Macs are running the latest version of OS X (10.4.7).
I restarted both machines after making the above setting selections. I then used the Finder on my iBook to search for the mini. I clicked on the Network icon, found 'servers', 'library', and the following folders: "home" which has my XP box readily accessible, "My Network" and "Workgroup". Each of these last has an icon for my mini.
When I double click on my Mini, it shows me all volumes on it, including my miniStack. I select one to connect to and get a beach ball followed by an error message saying "Server Connection Interupted: miniStack" and a single button marked 'disconnect'.
After I press the disconnect button (my only choice) I notice that personal file sharing on my mini is now turned off.
This exact same thing happens when I try to access the native internal HD on my mini so it isn't just the external stack that's the problem.
I've searched high and low through the fora here and can't find anything addressing this.
Does anyone have any idea what I'm doing wrong?
Thanks and take care,
Jeff

After much trial and error, I finally resorted to doing a Archive and Install on my mini. After doing so, everything works great. I still have no clue what the problem was but I now have no interest in finding out since it's working great.
Of note, the lost connection problem was unidirectional. I had no difficulties logging onto and accessing anything on either of my iBooks from my mini. Just the other way around.
Take care,
Jeff

Personal File Sharing Connection Timing Out

I'm having trouble personal file sharing connecting to one computer in my office. All the others work just fine and I can retrieve files and all. Oddly the computer that I can't read can connect to me.
When I try and connect, I go to the Network, I can see her computer, I double click it and get the following message:
Contacting xx.xx.xx.xx
Timeout in 120 seconds
And then it counts down the seconds and eventually nothing happens. I went into her System settings and checked and everything (that I know to check) is on and the IP address is the same one that is showing in my dialog box.
Any ideas?

Several restarts later and it is still doing it. I can connect to others, but this one machine doesn't want to go. Anybody?

Personal File Sharing -- How secure it is?

Hi,
I have a hopefully easy question for you network expert:
1) I turned on Personal File sharing.
2) In one folder, I changed ownership & Permissions in "Others" to "Read & Write"
3) My network is wireless with encrption turned on.
I have done some testing but since I don't have a Windoze machine to test, I am wondering: Can someone OUTSIDE my wireless network gain access into my shared folders? Is this possible?
Thanks for any advice.

Only if you open up port 548 on your wireless router
and use NAT to direct that traffic to port 548 on
your machine. The same will be true of Windows
sharing, just with different ports.
The moral of the story is that a hardware router will
go a long way to keeping viruses and hackers out of
any network.
Thanks.

Personal File Sharing + FileVault = Problems?

Hello, sorry my poor english.
I have enabled 'Personal File Sharing' and I have a small index.html file on my 'Sites' folder.
When I try to check my webpage using the supplied link...
http://localhost/~MyUserName/
I get this error (403 Forbidden):
You don't have permission to access /~MyUserName/ on this server.
so I checked Apache's Error Log and this is the info I have got:
(13)Permission denied: access to /~MyUserName/ failed because search permissions are missing on a component of the path
I have already run 'Disk Utility' and repaired all permissions but still no go.
Could it be because I have FileVault enabled on this account? If I create a user and leave the filevault off, the whole thing works just fine! I would like to keep my setup as it is now but to be able to view my pages locally. Is there a work around this problem between the Apache server and the FileVault?
Thank you.

Problem solved.
What I did was to change the permissions to ~MyUserName by control-clicking it in the Finder, choosing Get Info from the menu which appears, looking at the Ownership & Permissions section and setting the Others item to Read Only.
But I've learned something interesting, I can only change the 'Others' field on ~MyUserName by control-clicking on ~MyUserName from Finder's left menu! If I do it from Macintosh HD, then Users, then control-clicking ~MyUserName icon, all options are grayed out (doesn't make much sense, I first thought it was because I have FileVault enabled).
Now everything is working.

Personal File sharing doesn't work

I'm trying to transfer files from my G4 to my G5.
I've been successful until now.
All of a sudden my G4 will not allow me to enable Personal File Sharing.
I click the "Start now" button, and nothing.
I have also been having start-up and sleep problems as well as mouse cursor disappearing after sleep mode. Could they all be related?

I'm using a Network cable on the G4.
Airport card on the G5.
Aftermarket wireless G router.
As I said it worked fine just hours before. Now won't network at all.
I'm using an Apple USB mouse.
G4 will sometimes just freeze after chime and screen will not come up, or comes up very slowly. Mouse will often disappear after waking from sleep mode. Or sometimes it will not wake from sleep. I've removed all peripherals except Apple monitor and mouse.

Personal File Sharing and Printer Sharing difficulty

I hope someone can help me, this is really irritating.
I have an Intel iMac running OS X 10.4.11 and a motley band of other computers, Mac and Windows. For the past few months, I haven't been able to use Personal File Sharing or Printer Sharing to connect to the iMac. Some details:
1) Everything used to work about 6 months ago, but stopped... I don't know exactly when it stopped and I don't remember any installations/updates/etc that happened around that time.
2) I can't connect from a OS X 10.3 Powerbook to the iMac, but I can connect from the iMac to the Powerbook.
3) None of my Windows computers are able to do anything.
4. All of the computers have no trouble connecting to the Internet.
5. I don't know if this means anything, but the iMac beeps as soon as the desktop appears on startup and right before the desktop disappears on shutdown.
Does anyone have any ideas? Everything seems to be set up properly... the Sharing control panel shows that all Personal File Sharing, Windows Sharing, and Printer Sharing are all running.
Thanks,
Joe

Hi Joe, and a warm welcome to the discussions!
1. Safe Boot from the HD, (holding Shift key down at bootup), run Disk Utility in Applications>Utilities, then highlight your drive, click on Repair Permissions, reboot when it completes.
2. Find the IP of the iMac in it's Network Pref Pane>TCP/IP tab. In finder, select Go menu>Connect to Servers..., then on the PB, type in afp://ip.of the iMac, like...
afp://10.0.1.5
afp://192.168.1.3
3. From Windows®, try...
smb://10.0.1.5
smb://192.168.1.3
5. Open Console as soon as it boots up, check for meaningful messages.

Personal File Sharing Keeps Turning Off.

I have a second notebook, a Powerbook G4 Titanium 667 which is still amazingly useful for all but the most demanding apps and I regularly leave an external hard disk connected to this which I access by attaching to the G4 from my Macbook, via Finder, in the Server section. I authenticate and then choose the external disk volume and it mounts no problem.
My issue is that since a recent batch of software updates (perhaps a week ago), I no longer see the G4 in the Servers list. I returned to the G4 and found that Personal File Sharing was not longer enabled. I re-enabled it and locked the preferences again. I then see the G4 from my Macbook, connect as before and the volume mounts for a few seconds before being disconnected. I am then unable to reconnect. When I visit the G4 again, I find that the preferences are still locked but now Personal File Sharing is DISABLED.
I've not found any way around this, but console indicates that AppleFileServer failed. The crash report log does show the error. Here's the head of the file's last entry:
Host Name: powerbook-g4
Date/Time: 2008-04-13 08:52:48.696 +0200
OS Version: 10.4.11 (Build 8S165)
Report Version: 4
Command: AppleFileServer
Path: /usr/sbin/AppleFileServer
Parent: launchd [1]
Version: ??? (???)
PID: 6379
Thread: 4
Exception: EXCBADACCESS (0x0001)
Codes: KERNINVALIDADDRESS (0x0001) at 0x00705000
I've found references to other apps causing this but no mention of this with a G4 / 10.4.11. Any advice appreciated.

Welcome to the forums!
Reading the title I was certain I knew the answer, but I've never thought to have anyone check or report the Log on this, soooo, maybe I don't know and this might be something different.
But usually this is fixed by dragging one or more of these files to the Desktop, Rebooting, setting up again... it may just be one, or many at a time needed...
/Library/Preferences/com.apple.sharing.firewall.plist
/Users/nnnnLibrary/Preferences/com.apple.internetconnect.plist
/Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/preferences.plist
/Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/com.apple.airport.preferences.plist
Then, if it's certain other kinds of connections, there may also be files like this...
/Users/nnnn/Library/Preferences/ByHost/com.apple.networkConnect.<ethernet MAC address>.plist

Personal File Sharing on my eMac turns off by itself

I have three computers in my home office environment-- a eMac using Tiger fully updated--in fact it just came back from Apple Care doctors due to hard drive and memory issues-- (we think a power surge into my house caused it)--I also have a iBook-- four years old--running Tiger fully updated, but slow--- then I just got a MacBook running Leopard---- anyway I can get my laptops to network and share files, and I can get my eMac to connect to the laptops for file sharing, etc--- however, when I try to link the laptops to the eMac it hooks up for less than a minute, then I lose the connection--- it indicates issues with the connection, and on the MacBook yo use the link is gone. I go into the preferences in the eMac and see that the Personal File Sharing check box is no longer checked. I have tried resetting it, locking the preferences, etc. but I cannot get it to stay connected-- it is a minor issue, but one I would like to resolve--- thanks

Well, I have tried everything that you have indicated, including re-starting the eMac from the Tiger installer DVD and going to the Disc Utility and repairing the disc (nothing wrong) and repairing permissions-- lots needed corrections-- anyway, I still get the issue--- when I try to locate the eMac on the home netwrok, it looks like it hooks up for a second or so then I get a yellow triangle with an explanation mark in it saying the network is interrupted--and when I go into the system preferences the Personal File Sharing button is unchecked--- weird !!!
Ok, here are a couple of other interesting items-- when I go to the Go menu item and scroll down to the Network command, it will open a box for more than a split second the first time-- then not at all after that.
Secondly, when I do try to access the eMac, I do not ever get the little Connect to Server box asking for the short name and password to enter (??)-- also weird.
Any other suggestions--- this eMac was recently totally re-built-- new hard drive, new memory and new logic board-- (Seems I had a serious power surge in my office and it fried everything) -- I even had to re-install my printer and scanner software-- !!! Thanks for any suggestions.

Personal File Sharing fails on network of (2) cascading Linksys routers.

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