[jorgeuchoa]

Hello friends, at the bonjour page on apple's website they say the following: "Having Bonjour lets you think of networking in a whole new way. Say you and your colleague are out on the road with your MacBooks, you need to share a large file, and you?re miles from the nearest wireless network. Bonjour to the rescue. Your AirPort-enabled MacBooks will discover each other and make file sharing simple." Does anyone know how can I do this? I have a MBP that I would like to connect to a MacBook, both running leopard.
Thanks!!!

[Tom_Diola]

use Bluetooth - but it's slower

[dougoftheabaci]

As stated you can transfer over Bluetooth, but the laptops have to be relatively close and the speeds are horrible. Of course a memory stick will solve the problem, or a FireWire cable, or ethernet cable...

Alternatively is there a reason you don't want to create a network? Macs don't need a network present in order to connect via wireless. You can create your own. Either in the menu bar select the Airport icon and choose "Create Network", or this can be done by going into System Preferences and under Network where you normally choose a wireless network choose "Create Network".

It allows you, a Mac to send out a signal that other Macs can connect to and act as your own wireless network. Works just like any other wireless network. I can't comment on the speed as compared to a real network, but it'll definitely be better than Bluetooth without a doubt. You can password it and everything if security is the issue.

[smax013]

dougoftheabaci said:

As stated you can transfer over Bluetooth, but the laptops have to be relatively close and the speeds are horrible. Of course a memory stick will solve the problem, or a FireWire cable, or ethernet cable...

Alternatively is there a reason you don't want to create a network? Macs don't need a network present in order to connect via wireless. You can create your own. Either in the menu bar select the Airport icon and choose "Create Network", or this can be done by going into System Preferences and under Network where you normally choose a wireless network choose "Create Network".

It allows you, a Mac to send out a signal that other Macs can connect to and act as your own wireless network. Works just like any other wireless network. I can't comment on the speed as compared to a real network, but it'll definitely be better than Bluetooth without a doubt. You can password it and everything if security is the issue.

I believe the Apple page is talking specifically what is referred to in the red portion. That is creating an ad-hoc wireless network with your Airport equipped Mac, which is very do able with both MacBooks and MacBook Pros. As pointed out, you are creating your own wireless network, so there need no be one present. Your ad-hoc network will not "go anywhere" other than between the two (or more) connected computers unless one is also connected to the Internet by say the ethernet cable and Internet Sharing is activated.

[Martian]

This discussion is hardly complete without discussing the security of file sharing over an ad-hoc wifi network. I don't know enough to explain it myself, but I wouldn't try it without first understanding the security implications.

[dougoftheabaci]

Martian said:

This discussion is hardly complete without discussing the security of file sharing over an ad-hoc wifi network. I don't know enough to explain it myself, but I wouldn't try it without first understanding the security implications.

I would imagine it's not too dissimilar to a normal network, certainly no less secure than Bluetooth. Either way I'm sure you can create protected ad-hoc networks. Security wise I'm sure it's secure enough for temporary solutions. I wouldn't of course recommend it for long term use if only because there would likely be a drop in speed and range, especially as more machines are added, since it's likely that each computer must work as it's own router.

[smax013]

dougoftheabaci said:

I would imagine it's not too dissimilar to a normal network, certainly no less secure than Bluetooth. Either way I'm sure you can create protected ad-hoc networks. Security wise I'm sure it's secure enough for temporary solutions. I wouldn't of course recommend it for long term use if only because there would likely be a drop in speed and range, especially as more machines are added, since it's likely that each computer must work as it's own router.

Yes, you can set up encryption for an ad-hoc network. It has been a while since I did it, but I know you can at least do WEP. I don't recall if you can do WPA or not.

[Martian]

Just a few points:
# Anyone not knowing how to set up an ad-hoc wifi network probably needs to be told that it is unsecure. A little bit of knowledge is a dangerous thing.
# If the connection is for one time use, it is easier, faster, and safer to physically connect the two computers.
# At least Bluetooth’s ultra-short range adds an element of security over wifi — most likely you can physically see an eavesdropper in range.
# I think (am I correct??) an unprotected ad-hoc network not only exposes data you actually transmit, but also poses risk of an unauthorized connection to sniff around in your shared files and folders.

[Tom_Diola]

With the onset of large thumb drives it makes more sense to use them instead of setting up an ad-hoc connection.

or use bluetooth. . .

[smax013]

Martian said:

Just a few points:Anyone not knowing how to set up an ad-hoc wifi network probably needs to be told that it is unsecure. A little bit of knowledge is a dangerous thing.

I think it should be clarified that the person should be told that it will be an unsecure network by default, unless you CHOOSE to setup the encryption. And even then, there are still risks. But, yes, the person should be warned that such networks by default are unsecure, unless security is setup.

Martian said:

If the connection is for one time use, it is easier, faster, and safer to physically connect the two computers.

If you want to talk easy, then the easiest thing is to use a "sneaker net" with a thumb drive. Less stuff to know/remember (such as powering up with the T key pressed for Firewire Target Disk mode or knowing how to turn on file sharing if connecting with an ethernet cable or how to use/turn on file transfer with Bluetooth).

Martian said:

I think (am I correct??) an unprotected ad-hoc network not only exposes data you actually transmit, but also poses risk of an unauthorized connection to sniff around in your shared files and folders.

Yes...assuming you are sharing file/folders, which is likely a safe assumption in this case (I suppose the someone could setup an ad-hoc network and NOT turn on file sharing and transfer files by say FTP or such).

[moose_n_squirrel]

Martian said:

# Anyone not knowing how to set up an ad-hoc wifi network probably needs to be told that it is unsecure.

I am not so sure that's true. I just went to the Airport menu in Leopard and I selected "Create Network."
I get a dialog with only three options:
Name
Channel
Require Password

So 33% of the available options is a Require Password check box that is unchecked by default. I think it's pretty obvious that if you don't check that box, it isn't gonna be secure.

[dcpics]

Another thing to consider is that while it is stronger than Bluetooth, a network created by a PowerBook's Airport card is not exactly powerful.

Sure you don't want to run an unsecured ad hoc network for a long time in a crowded space, but if you're talking about in your office for someone sitting a few desks away then maybe. It's doubtful someone parked out on the curb 200 feet from your house will be able to pick up the signal of a PB in your basement.

[MylesTaylor]

If you just want to share a few files real quick, setting up a quick wifi network works great, which I have done a few times. I wouldn't recommend it longterm though.