Best way to xfer files Mac to Mac?

acme · 08-02-2012, 03:18 PM

what is the best way to move files from one Mac to another so that there are no permissions problems of the kind where you can't do anything to the files on the destination Mac without being prompted for credentials?

If I do it with a thumb drive, it works ok, but that's slow and not practical for anything above a GB or two.

If I do it Ethernet/file sharing, it's fast, but I find the permissions are hosed on the destination Mac! I can't even save a file, or move a folder without that dad gum window asking for my admin password coming up!

Is SneakerNet my best option for this and just get used to the slowness?

a

trevor · 08-02-2012, 03:31 PM

Do it any way you'd prefer (ethernet is fine), then change the ownership and permissions to whatever you want them to be on the destination computer. These things are malleable, not written in stone.

Trevor

benwiggy · 08-02-2012, 04:03 PM

If you copy files from another Mac to your user account, they should be fine for permissions.
If you are copying them outside your user account, then you might get problems.

acme · 08-02-2012, 04:24 PM

OK..I copied files from Mac A, various locations, to Mac B's Documents>Xferred Files folder (my naming) and got heinous permissions issues.

Maybe I need to go to the Shared folder or Dropbox instead?

trevor · 08-02-2012, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by acme


	OK..I copied files from Mac A, various locations, to Mac B's Documents>Xferred Files folder (my naming) and got heinous permissions issues. Maybe I need to go to the Shared folder or Dropbox instead?

Let's look at your Xferred Files folder and see what the ownership and permissions actually are. Then we can explain how to either fix them, or else at least understand the cause of the problem.

Do this: open up your Terminal. Type

ls -alOe

into the Terminal. Don't hit Return, but leave the cursor on the line. (Those are all letters, not numbers. Respect the case of the letters as shown.) Make sure that there is one space after the 'e'. Not two and not zero, but one space. Now, drag the Xferred Files folder onto your Terminal window. This will automagically complete the path to that folder on the command line. NOW, hit the Return key to complete the command.

Copy/paste everything in your Terminal to this forum for us to see.

Trevor

acme · 08-02-2012, 06:10 PM

Thank you, Trevor..here is the contents of the terminal:

Code:

Last login: Thu Aug  2 14:34:16 on ttys000
Roadcats-MacBook-Pro:~ lionr$ ls -alOe /Users/lionr/Documents/Xferred\ Files 
total 0
drwxr-xr-x   2 lion   staff  -  68 Aug  2 16:08 .
drwx------+ 19 lionr  staff  - 646 Aug  2 16:08 ..
 0: group:everyone deny delete
 1: user:lion allow list,add_file,search,add_subdirectory,delete_child,readattr,writeattr,readextattr,writeextattr,readsecurity
 2: C191D3CE-3F4A-45E2-9437-6C8C4CC8C9E3 allow list,search,readattr,readextattr,readsecurity
Roadcats-MacBook-Pro:~ lionr$

onceagain · 08-02-2012, 06:31 PM

1). Connect Mac #1 to Mac #2, where Mac #2 has the files you want to copy, and has been booted into target disk mode.

2). Go into the terminal

3). cd to the source directory

4). su to root

5). cp -Rp source <destination>

Enjoy.

benwiggy · 08-03-2012, 02:32 AM

There seems to be some confusion between user "lion" and "lionr". The folder is owned by "lion", but is in "lionr's" user domain.

There are also lots of ACLs allowing "lion" various accesses.

You could change the ownership and remove all the ACLS, but it might be easier to create a new folder in the Finder, and then transfer the files there.

acme · 08-03-2012, 07:34 AM

ah, it does look confusing... those are users from 2 different computers.

I did create a new folder in the finder, ON lionr FROM lion.

a

benwiggy · 08-03-2012, 08:17 AM

Normally, files (and folders) newly created or copied to a location should inherent the attributes of the enclosing folder by default. (Someone correct me if I'm wrong.)

ganbustein · 08-03-2012, 08:11 PM

Normally, when it's user root doing the copy, the copy retains the attributes of the source.

When any other user does the copy, the copy is owned by that user, and inherits its group from the enclosing destination folder. (Unless the copy is overwriting an existing file, in which case it will attempt to preserve owner/group of the existing file.)

If Finder asks you for an admin name and password, it's really asking for permission to have root do the copy.

anthlover · 08-03-2012, 08:17 PM

I usually use Sharing On both machines, Got Network. I put in the credentials of the Source machine into onto the Target to get the files computer and pull the files across.

Air Drop works too.

Never have permissions issues.

I would say that your problem may have to do with where your copying them too. Copy them to your Documents folder (preferably a subfolder).

Same with the source system store the files in the documents folder generally.

There are plenty of programs that move files around. You did not tell us why your moving them around.

There is a good program called folder watch that can keep to machines in sync. There is CCC and Super for backups and Partial backups. Crash plan for off site back ups.

acme · 08-03-2012, 08:30 PM

I moved the files because I believed that one of more of my hard drives on another Mac were failing.

I used file sharing. I added the source mac to the destination mac's list of who can share. I created the folder on the destination Mac from the source Mac.

...Can't think of any other details about what I did...

thank you!

a

anthlover · 08-03-2012, 09:15 PM

ahh backing up is something you should do all the time. Might be part of the issue also. Failing drive might have something to do with the issues.

You did not mention want model computers you have.

You do not need to do the credential shake and bake. If you use the connect as function you just use the credentials of the machine your pulling the files from.

And air drop does not require credentials at all.

**** You should have multiple physical separate back up drives. I highly recommend crash plan also. 50 a year for unlimited storage including external drives and mapped drives. Or like $115 for family plan for up to 10 computers.

If you have a failing drive you might want to do many things. Boot of another volume and run disk repair. Depending on model computer you can use FW target mode.

Besides back up drives. You can buy a replacement drive put a clean system on it and then put the failing drive in a case.

To help you best we need more info on the two computers, model, os, etc.
You can go to about the mac more info and tell us Macbook x 5,1 or what ever. Or simply tell us year and model.

acme · 08-03-2012, 09:21 PM

I do back up regularly. Weekly. 2009 Mac Pro, mac BOOK pro 2010.

I've run Disk Utility and Disk Warrior; neither report any hardware problems on any of my drives.

anthlover · 08-03-2012, 09:29 PM

You can check Disk Utility's Smart Status or Use a Utility like Smart reporter. Smart Status is great to an extent. Can predict impending failure many times. Though can have problems and show no smart status warning and vs. versa.

Simple truth is if system is seizing up, or acting strangely a failing drive is often a culprit.

Drives are cheap, I would replace. The model macs you have support FW Target mode.

Which System has the potentially failing a drive?

acme · 08-03-2012, 09:30 PM

the 2009 Mac Pro is the one with the potentially failing drive or drives...Hitachi Jupiters..just about 3 years old. Drives may be cheap, but money's tight...

Not sure about smart status...it says "verified" but is there more somewhere else?

a

anthlover · 08-03-2012, 10:29 PM

**** Are your drives in an array?? Are you using someone's/Apples array raid software? If so that software may have status info, may require driver updates to work with newest OSX, etc.

You can get more detail from Smart reporter, Its a paid app now with a demo
http://www.corecode.at/smartreporter/

Older Free version
http://www.corecode.at/smartreporter_lite/index.html

I would do the demo of the new version since your "on a mission" I think its a good product. You can always choose to pay. Its basically an app the lives in the menu bar giving status and can send alerts.

** Why 3 Drives? Capacity or array? If its Capacity, easy enough to replace with a larger drive. Or you can eliminate one drive at a time and see if the issues go away.

** What are the hints you have had of failure?

acme · 08-03-2012, 10:47 PM

why 3 drives? 1 came with the mac and is my boot volume. 1 of the 2 others is my "everyday" drive for files and the other is the back up of both my User ƒ and of the everyday files drive.

I am thinking about keeping my documents on my boot volume now, though.

guess I am on a mission, but tired of horsing around with hardware at the same time...

a

anthlover · 08-03-2012, 11:06 PM

Seems in your situation more drives serve no real purpose perse.

I assume there all 1TB by the age of the system. Would suggest using a 2 or 3 TB drive and be done with it for all functions. Additional drives would be for back up, redundant raid, e.g. mirror or speed. It does not seem like you have either raid need. As we started to chat about in your other recent threads..

The frequency that your data changes would determine best back up and whether raid makes sense. Unless its a server or database or your data changes moment by moment an array for redundancy is much more limited value. Better off in my opinion in doing Crash plan and simple CCC back up weekly or something to that effect.

08-03-2012, 09:15 PM	#14
anthlover Hall of Famer Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 2,670	hmm ahh backing up is something you should do all the time. Might be part of the issue also. Failing drive might have something to do with the issues. You did not mention want model computers you have. You do not need to do the credential shake and bake. If you use the connect as function you just use the credentials of the machine your pulling the files from. And air drop does not require credentials at all. **** You should have multiple physical separate back up drives. I highly recommend crash plan also. 50 a year for unlimited storage including external drives and mapped drives. Or like $115 for family plan for up to 10 computers. If you have a failing drive you might want to do many things. Boot of another volume and run disk repair. Depending on model computer you can use FW target mode. Besides back up drives. You can buy a replacement drive put a clean system on it and then put the failing drive in a case. To help you best we need more info on the two computers, model, os, etc. You can go to about the mac more info and tell us Macbook x 5,1 or what ever. Or simply tell us year and model.

08-03-2012, 09:30 PM	#17
acme MVP Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,686	the 2009 Mac Pro is the one with the potentially failing drive or drives...Hitachi Jupiters..just about 3 years old. Drives may be cheap, but money's tight... Not sure about smart status...it says "verified" but is there more somewhere else? a Last edited by acme; 08-03-2012 at 09:32 PM.

08-03-2012, 10:29 PM	#18
anthlover Hall of Famer Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 2,670	smart ** Are your drives in an array?? Are you using someone's/Apples array raid software? If so that software may have status info, may require driver updates to work with newest OSX, etc. You can get more detail from Smart reporter, Its a paid app now with a demo http://www.corecode.at/smartreporter/ Older Free version http://www.corecode.at/smartreporter_lite/index.html I would do the demo of the new version since your "on a mission" I think its a good product. You can always choose to pay. Its basically an app the lives in the menu bar giving status and can send alerts. Why 3 Drives? Capacity or array? If its Capacity, easy enough to replace with a larger drive. Or you can eliminate one drive at a time and see if the issues go away. ** What are the hints you have had of failure?

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08-02-2012, 03:18 PM	#1
acme MVP Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,686	Best way to xfer files Mac to Mac? what is the best way to move files from one Mac to another so that there are no permissions problems of the kind where you can't do anything to the files on the destination Mac without being prompted for credentials? If I do it with a thumb drive, it works ok, but that's slow and not practical for anything above a GB or two. If I do it Ethernet/file sharing, it's fast, but I find the permissions are hosed on the destination Mac! I can't even save a file, or move a folder without that dad gum window asking for my admin password coming up! Is SneakerNet my best option for this and just get used to the slowness? a

08-02-2012, 03:31 PM	#2
trevor Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Boulder, CO USA Posts: 19,550	Do it any way you'd prefer (ethernet is fine), then change the ownership and permissions to whatever you want them to be on the destination computer. These things are malleable, not written in stone. Trevor __________________ How to ask questions the smart way

08-02-2012, 04:03 PM	#3
benwiggy League Commissioner Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 5,040	If you copy files from another Mac to your user account, they should be fine for permissions. If you are copying them outside your user account, then you might get problems.

08-02-2012, 04:24 PM	#4
acme MVP Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,686	OK..I copied files from Mac A, various locations, to Mac B's Documents>Xferred Files folder (my naming) and got heinous permissions issues. Maybe I need to go to the Shared folder or Dropbox instead?

08-02-2012, 06:31 PM	#7
onceagain All Star Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 664	1). Connect Mac #1 to Mac #2, where Mac #2 has the files you want to copy, and has been booted into target disk mode. 2). Go into the terminal 3). cd to the source directory 4). su to root 5). cp -Rp source <destination> Enjoy.

08-03-2012, 02:32 AM	#8
benwiggy League Commissioner Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 5,040	There seems to be some confusion between user "lion" and "lionr". The folder is owned by "lion", but is in "lionr's" user domain. There are also lots of ACLs allowing "lion" various accesses. You could change the ownership and remove all the ACLS, but it might be easier to create a new folder in the Finder, and then transfer the files there.

08-03-2012, 07:34 AM	#9
acme MVP Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,686	ah, it does look confusing... those are users from 2 different computers. I did create a new folder in the finder, ON lionr FROM lion. a

08-03-2012, 08:17 AM	#10
benwiggy League Commissioner Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 5,040	Normally, files (and folders) newly created or copied to a location should inherent the attributes of the enclosing folder by default. (Someone correct me if I'm wrong.)

08-03-2012, 08:11 PM	#11
ganbustein MVP Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Berkeley CA USA Posts: 1,010	Normally, when it's user root doing the copy, the copy retains the attributes of the source. When any other user does the copy, the copy is owned by that user, and inherits its group from the enclosing destination folder. (Unless the copy is overwriting an existing file, in which case it will attempt to preserve owner/group of the existing file.) If Finder asks you for an admin name and password, it's really asking for permission to have root do the copy.

08-03-2012, 08:17 PM	#12
anthlover Hall of Famer Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 2,670	I usually use Sharing On both machines, Got Network. I put in the credentials of the Source machine into onto the Target to get the files computer and pull the files across. Air Drop works too. Never have permissions issues. I would say that your problem may have to do with where your copying them too. Copy them to your Documents folder (preferably a subfolder). Same with the source system store the files in the documents folder generally. There are plenty of programs that move files around. You did not tell us why your moving them around. There is a good program called folder watch that can keep to machines in sync. There is CCC and Super for backups and Partial backups. Crash plan for off site back ups.

08-03-2012, 08:30 PM	#13
acme MVP Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,686	I moved the files because I believed that one of more of my hard drives on another Mac were failing. I used file sharing. I added the source mac to the destination mac's list of who can share. I created the folder on the destination Mac from the source Mac. ...Can't think of any other details about what I did... thank you! a

08-03-2012, 09:21 PM	#15
acme MVP Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,686	I do back up regularly. Weekly. 2009 Mac Pro, mac BOOK pro 2010. I've run Disk Utility and Disk Warrior; neither report any hardware problems on any of my drives.

08-03-2012, 09:29 PM	#16
anthlover Hall of Famer Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 2,670	You can check Disk Utility's Smart Status or Use a Utility like Smart reporter. Smart Status is great to an extent. Can predict impending failure many times. Though can have problems and show no smart status warning and vs. versa. Simple truth is if system is seizing up, or acting strangely a failing drive is often a culprit. Drives are cheap, I would replace. The model macs you have support FW Target mode. Which System has the potentially failing a drive?

08-03-2012, 10:47 PM	#19
acme MVP Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,686	why 3 drives? 1 came with the mac and is my boot volume. 1 of the 2 others is my "everyday" drive for files and the other is the back up of both my User ƒ and of the everyday files drive. I am thinking about keeping my documents on my boot volume now, though. guess I am on a mission, but tired of horsing around with hardware at the same time... a

08-03-2012, 11:06 PM	#20
anthlover Hall of Famer Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 2,670	Seems in your situation more drives serve no real purpose perse. I assume there all 1TB by the age of the system. Would suggest using a 2 or 3 TB drive and be done with it for all functions. Additional drives would be for back up, redundant raid, e.g. mirror or speed. It does not seem like you have either raid need. As we started to chat about in your other recent threads.. The frequency that your data changes would determine best back up and whether raid makes sense. Unless its a server or database or your data changes moment by moment an array for redundancy is much more limited value. Better off in my opinion in doing Crash plan and simple CCC back up weekly or something to that effect.