Ad Hoc network issues

Jelster

Jelster

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Steve
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I want to connect my Windows (vista) laptop to my iMac via an ad-hoc network. I've set it up on the laptop, named the network and provided an 8 digit key. The iMac sees the new network, but when I try to connect I get a connection failed message. Both machines are using WPA-2 Personal encryption.

This should be a walk in the park, where am I going wrong ??

Steve
 
I just want to transfer a number of files from 1 machine to the other. I'm not that worried about security (although I thought that's what the WPA-2 encryption was for).

My wireless router does not work as switch allowing me to create a network between the machines.

Steve
 
all wireless routers should allow connection to other client machines..

the problem with ad-hoc is that youre constantly emmiting a "connect to me" beacon all of the time while your wireless it turned on, which people who want your info can use to connect to you (WPA can easily be hacked).
 
If you're only doing a few it would be simpler to copy them onto a usb stick. Sneakernet can be the fastest transfer method sometimes :)
 
neil_g said:
firstly why are you using ad-hoc? ad-hoc is probably the most unsecure form of network..
Click to expand...

Jelster said:
I just want to transfer a number of files from 1 machine to the other. I'm not that worried about security (although I thought that's what the WPA-2 encryption was for).

My wireless router does not work as switch allowing me to create a network between the machines.

Steve
Click to expand...

neil_g said:
all wireless routers should allow connection to other client machines..

the problem with ad-hoc is that youre constantly emmiting a "connect to me" beacon all of the time while your wireless it turned on, which people who want your info can use to connect to you (WPA can easily be hacked).
Click to expand...

Neil, you are assuming that I'm actually bothered about the security aspect. At this point I'm not, all I want to do is transfer a number of files from one machine to the other.

Both can connect to my router via Ethernet or wireless. All I want to do at the moment directly connect one to the other. If your morals won't let you help that's fine, but I know the risks and am comfortable with them.

Steve
 
Jelster said:
Neil, you are assuming that I'm actually bothered about the security aspect. At this point I'm not, all I want to do is transfer a number of files from one machine to the other.

Both can connect to my router via Ethernet or wireless. All I want to do at the moment directly connect one to the other. If your morals won't let you help that's fine, but I know the risks and am comfortable with them.

Steve
Click to expand...

im sorry if i appeared concerned..

going back to the original post then , do you get any clues from the error? are they both on the same IP range etc?
 
Yes, both are on the same IP range, both can "see" the router when I'm on the home network. But, trying to connect them to each other via wireless just doesn't seem to work for some odd reason.

I'm running Windows Vista on the laptop, and the latest version of OSX on the iMac. I'm not a network engineer, but have sold WAN & Internet services for the last 12 years, so I have a reasonable understanding of networks in general.

Thanks
Steve
 
Can your Vista machine see your Ad Hoc network. Windows can be a bit of a challenge connecting via networks at times. You may need to have an Admin ID and password activated for it to connect. Windows doesn't like guest privileges via a network

You might want to try this. Not sure if it works via an Ad Hoc system.

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1568
 
Was it something I said..........

....or perhaps my aftershave...........

...............silly me, it's my morals!
 
Mikesphotaes said:
Was it something I said..........

....or perhaps my aftershave...........

...............silly me, it's my morals!
Click to expand...

:shake: Maybe:

1) I don't have a cable
2) I haven't been able to get back to the PC.
3) Both of the above

Anyway, thanks all for your input, have it sorted now.

Steve
 
Mikesphotaes said:
Why not join the two directly with a cross-over cable?

http://www.home-network-help.com/crossover.html
Click to expand...

FWIW, every Mac that's shipped in the last decade or is equipped with an auto-sensing Ethernet port, so you can use a bog-standard ('straight') Cat V Ethernet cable between both computers and not worry about having a crossover one if you're going without a network hub or switch.

edit: It's a lot faster than any wireless or USB. If the files you're transferring are anything over a couple of hundred MB, then it's well worthwhile the extra few seconds setup using Ethernet if you have the ports already configured for TCP/IP.
 
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