mac networking

desktop G4 to laptop G3

[brdwlsh]

i use a dektop and a laptop--both macosX.2

i would like to be able to network them in order to share files without burning a cd every time so i can be on the go with the laptop. i'm not in the market for a DVD burner, external HD, or any other kind of major device right now.

do i need airport for this?
can i do this with firewire?--if so i'll buy a firewire port for my old G3.
will i need to use an ssh client with remote login or can i just wire the two macs together?

the help section in my mac wasn't much help because i'm not familiar with this terminology.

basically--can i plug one into the other and share files--be it ethernet, firewire, phone cord, etc. without buying another device?(aside from a firewire port/cable)

thanks,
the network challenged

[utica]

All you'll need is an ethernet cable.

1. Open system preferences ( the icon with the apple and light switch, or about the third item down under the apple icon at the top of the screen.)

2. Click on the Network icon.

3. The drop-down show menu should say "Built-in Ethernet".

4. Go back to Show All Preferences.

5. Click on the Sharing icon.

6. Under the services tab, check the box next to personal file sharing.

7. Go through steps 1 - 6 on the second computer.

8. Connect the two with an ethernet cable.

9. Under Go in the Finder, choose Connect to Server.

10. You should see the name of your connected computer come up in the window that opens. Choose it and click Connect

11. Enter the name and password for that computer.

12. The drive for that computer will now show up next to the drive of your connecting computer.

13. You can go through steps 8 - 12 on the second computer if you want. This will add the first computer's drive to the second computer's finder.

[brdwlsh]

thank you
thank youthank you

[utica]

You're welcome.

I'm guessing it worked.

[whoisgregg]

You can also connect the two with a firewire cable and use the laptop like an external hard drive.

1) Shut down the laptop.

2) Connect the two computers with a firewire cable.

3) Boot the laptop while holding down the T key on the keyboard.

4) The laptop should appear on the desktop of your other computer as an external hard drive. Swap files as necessary.

5) Hold down the power button to turn off the laptop.

6) Boot laptop without holding down any keys for regular use.

BTW, I prefer the ethernet method already described, this is just an alternative. :)

[sonjay]

Target disk mode (as described above by whoisgregg) is great for quick-and-dirty file transfers, and it's better, IMO, for transferring really large files. Firewire transfer speeds leave ethernet in the dust.

But regular ethernet networking/file sharing is better when you don't want to shut down the one computer just to transfer a file.

[brdwlsh]

i'll try the firewire thing this weekend--my brother just got an imac. he's not exactly computer literate so i have to set everything up for him. i'll see how fast my itunes collection transfers to his HD.

another mac convert.
:)

thanks again