Just a question:
Sometimes I connect my monitor to the MBPro laptop, but want a file from my desktop Mac. I can turn it on & access everything OK wirelessly, but how would I turn off the desktop since it's not the original boot drive?

I know the "hold the start button" method, but don't like to use it except as a last resort.

The desktop mac can be unmounted from the laptop window OK, but it's obviously still turned on. I'm reluctant to re-attach the monitor to the desktop machine while it's still on (after turning off the laptop.)

Hope this makes sense.

There are several different ways you could do it...

You can log into the remote machine through SSH and issue a shutdown command through the Terminal App. You could also run an AppleScript. If it's running 10.5, I believe you log in through Remote Desktop. A KVM switch may be a solution as well.

Mary Jo,

Here are two approaches using what Apple has supplied.

1. OS X 10.4, 10.5 --
Enable Remote Login in System Preferences > Sharing on both machines.

At SHUTDOWN TIME, do the following on the MBP
Substitute the appropriate user name and the system name:

Open Terminal
[mbp] maryjo% ssh desktop.local # or ssh -l desktopadminname desktop.local
(password)
sudo shutdown -h now
(password)

Close up the windows.

2. OS X 10.5 only with MobileMe subscription --
On both machines:
Start Back to My Mac in System Preferences > MobileMe > Back to My Mac
Enable Screen Sharing in System Preferences > Sharing

At SHUTDOWN TIME, do the following on the MBP
In a Finder Window sidebar select the desktop (under sharing)
Click on Share Screen
Log in
Click on Shutdown

Close up the windows.

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There are lots of other ways using system events and script files. These are two that work without much special preparation beyond enabling remote access. Version 1 has the advantage that it will work with almost any Unix-based system, probably including 10.2 and 10.3, but I have not tested it there.

JimC

quote:

Originally posted by Paul:
There are several different ways you could do it...

You can log into the remote machine through SSH and issue a shutdown command through the Terminal App. You could also run an AppleScript. If it's running 10.5, I believe you log in through Remote Desktop. A KVM switch may be a solution as well.

Paul - What is SSH?
Re KVM, I thought of it, but they seem to be very expensive. (Just checked OWC & it came up with a Belkin for $375)

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Jim - Thank you - will give it a try, even though I'm Terminal-challenged. I assume that the Terminal formula is literal. (Where you use the word "or," does it mean either the preceding "or" the formula following?)

I looked up ssh in system Help, and this is the definition. Rather technical for me.

About Secure Shell (SSH)
Mac OS X uses OpenSSH to provide secure command-line access between computers. SSH encrypts remote command-line messages and passwords to eliminate eavesdropping, connection hijacking, and other network-level attacks. Mac OS X includes the full suite of OpenSSH client and server functionality, including ssh (command execution), sftp (file transfer), and scp (file copies).

quote:

Originally posted by Mary Jo Disler:
I assume that the Terminal formula is literal. (Where you use the word "or," does it mean either the preceding "or" the formula following?)

I'm not good at formatting for this BBS.
Yes, the command is literal, allowing for name substitutions.
The hash mark (#) is not part of the command and what follows "or" is an alternative form of the command that includes specifying the logon name on the remote machine.

SSH is a Secure Shell - basically an encrypted terminal session on another machine.

YOu can get KVMs for less, but that's overkill for what you want here - just remote in via the Share Screen in Leopard.

If the files are less than 1-2GB in total size, and both machines have USB 2.0 ports, it doesn't make too much sense to go through a lot of "monkey motion" by using various file sharing techniques. Just use a flash drive and "snicker net."

A quick and proper way to use file sharing for large file transfer operations is:
1. enable personal file sharing in Preferences on the desktop Mac.
2. in the MBP's Finder, go to Network, select the desktop Mac, and select Connect (enter the proper password and select the folders you want to mount on the MBP's desktop)
3. the desktop Mac machine will appear on the MBP's desktop as mounted volume from/to which you can drag & drop files
4. to gently unmount the Mac desktop from the Mac laptop, just eject the mounted volume (the Mac desktop machine)
5. turn off personal file sharing on all machines in Preferences

This method is kinda universal, and works with Mac-Windows transfers too. Hopefully you're doing all these file transfers behind a hardware firewall if any of the computers is connected to the public Internet.

Hopefully you've got your WiFi properly secured so that other people in the vicinity can't "share" your files when personal file sharing is turned on. Don't forget to turn it off after all these operations.

You should be able to "hot plug" a monitor into your desktop Mac without damage. It's really no different than turning off/on the monitor while the computer is still running, or using a KVM switch. Some other electronics don't tolerate "hot plugging" very well.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Chuck M,

The KVM switch does not have to be that expensive. My daughter and son-in-law do that with their Mac mini PPC and their Windows machine. Their KVM switch cost them about $50 at BestBuy. It lets them use the PC keyboard with both but their bluetooth mac kb has no scroll lock, so they cannot use the Mac KB with both (also the Windows machine has no bluetooth. They can use the KB, monitor and apeakers with both machines via their $50 KVM swithch.

Mary Jo,

What model is your display?
Does it have multiple inputs?

Many of the modern displays have both VGA and DVI inputs. In such a case, the display itself can select which machine to display. You only need the correct cable/adapter for the additional input.

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An extreme example is a Dell 2408WFP using:
HDMI for Mini(Using Mini Display Port to HDMI Adapter from monoprice.com)
DVI for MPB
Composite for DTV Converter
Component for DVD player
VGA for connection to machines being serviced

Here's a KVM switch for $20 at new egg.
http://dealmac.com/IOGEAR-2-Po...ef=rss_dealmac_today

We still do not know if Mary Jo is using VGA or DVI. The $20 KVM is VGA only.

The display is LCD, and has both DVI & VGA ports & cables. Am using DVI direct to the MBPro when I connect, and DVI via an adapter to the 2002 desktop Mac, which has the old Apple proprietary ADC port.

Chuck, Sometimes I've used a Compact Flash card to transfer files. I have a thumb drive (Verbatim), but it can be cranky & erase itself when inserting or taking it out, even tho I'm careful to unmount it in the system first. Worth a try, as it only handles copies when transferring.

Working between the 2 computers is frankly rare for now. - Just the occasional "I wish I had xyz file from the desktop mac." However I thought the question worth asking.

By the way, I turned Remote Login On in sys prefs on the desktop (older) Mac, 10.4.11 PPC, and it states "To log in to this computer remotely, type "ssh [xxx]@[numbers - ip address I guess] at a shell command prompt."

What is a "shell command prompt?" Does Terminal show up? From the MBPro, the network automatically spots the desktop Mac wirelessly when both are on, [via the 2Wire] and I just use the password to get into it.
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Donna - Thank you for the link. $20 is reasonable, but the dealmac link item is for VGA monitors. However I'll consider looking further if my needs eventually point that direction.

Thanks everyone. What a treasure trove of help!

A shell command prompt is the terminal. You don't need that to remote in unless you want to use the terminal - just turn on screen sharing and connect that way if you need to control the system. Otherwise just transfer files via the Finder and sharing.

Jack, I not very well versed on 10.5. I don't even have a copy. Do you need a .mac account in order to use screen sharing? I seem to remember the Apple rep doing it that why when he demo'd 10.5.

Only if you want to do it through a firewall with no configuration.

Screen Sharing is in 10.3 (maybe earlier) as a built-in VNC server.

Just to recap: I can access the desktop Mac when it's on, but with no monitor connected. Moving files between it & the laptop is no problem. All I want to do is shut down the one with no monitor (the desktop), which is PPC running 10.4.11

I can open any window in the networked Mac. (Is that "screen sharing?)"

I looked up Screen Sharing in system Help with no results. Also not in Sys prefs-Sharing. Apple Remote Desktop apparently is a server related function that requires purchasing special network software from Apple.

Maybe this question and relevant answers could be demoed at a meeting. (Hopefully May or later, as we will be out of town for the April meeting.)

When you log into a Mac with Screen Sharing (a.k.a Remote Desktop), you are basically seeing exactly what the person on that machine would see. You're just viewing their desktop in a window on your Mac. It's great for helping people out that need assistance (like my Mom!) Or for shutting down a remote machine, like you are trying to do. The one drawback is bandwidth, the screen refresh rate is horrible if you're trying to do it over the internet. If you're on a 10/100/1000 LAN, it's not too bad.

If you have (or can get a hold of) one of the earlier keyboards with the power button on the keyboard (even if this is a later computer with a power button ON the computer), just hit that KB power button briefly and it will bring up the menu giving you a choice of Restart, Sleep, Cancel or ShutDown. Shutdown is the blue default, so hitting the return key at that point shuts it down properly. On powerbooks (I have a G4 running 10.4.11) briefly hitting the power button brings up the same dialog box.

quote:

I can open any window in the networked Mac. (Is that "screen sharing?)"

Yes. Just go to the Apple menu and shut down the computer from there. No need to spend any money.