Question
Making a connection via Network or Laplink Ethernet cable in Laplink Switch & Sync or Laplink PCsync, the source PC does not see or cannot connect to the Mac Host computer. What do I need to do to resolve this connection issue?
Answer
To narrow down the connection issue between the two computers, perform the following tests and try the connection again after each step. If a step fails to resolve the issue, apply the next step. Send Laplink Technical Support the results of the tests if so requested in the directions below.
A - Configuration to check before performing the tests:
1. Check the network connection.
a. Make sure that the PC and Mac are on the same network.
b. Ping the IP address of the Mac from the PC. The result should be: 4 sent ; 4 received ; 0 lost.
c. Ping the IP address of the PC from the Mac. The result should be: 4 sent ; 4 received ; 0 lost
2. On the Mac:
a. Disable antivirus or antispyware applications if installed.
b. Check the firewall settings and make sure that they are allowing incoming connections. Go to System Preferences > Security > Firewall and set to allow all incoming.
c. Make sure that the IPv4 address (ipv4) is not set to off. Switch & Sync or PCsync only uses ipv4. Go to System Preferences > Internet/Network > Ethernet > Advanced > TCP/IP. On the configure Ipv4 field, make sure that it is not set to off. Turn off ipv6.
d. Open Switch & Sync or PCsync
i. Turn off the authentication
ii. Turn off the SSL connection.
iii. Make sure that the non-SSL port is 8444.
iv. Click on 'Start Host'.
3. On the PC:
a. Disable antivirus or antispyware applications.
b. Turn off the Windows Firewall. Go to Start > Control Panel > Windows firewall and set it to off.
c. Open Switch & Sync or PCsync.
i. Disconnect any connections that have been made. On the right column, under Network,
right-click on the existing connection and select 'Delete from the list'. Confirm the deletion.
ii. Click on Connections > Make New Connection. Select 'Over a Network'.
iii. Select 'Connect manually'. Make sure again that the radio button "Connect manually" is
checked. Enter the IP address of the Mac and uncheck the box "Use Secure Connection". The port
should be set to 8444. Click OK.
iv. Leave the 'Computer Account' and 'Password' fields blank. Click OK.
v. Save the connection.
B -
Test I: Creating Switch & Sync or PCsync's log file
- Make sure that Switch & Sync or PCsync is running on both computers.
1. Enable the log file on the PC
a. On the Switch & Sync or PCsync window, click on Application > Options. Go to the
Logging tab.
b. On the Client logging section, select "Yes" (place information in log file) and check 'Warning and Error messages' (information saved in log file). Make sure that the path to the log file exists because otherwise it will not write anything.
2. Make a connection between the computers and send the resulting
log file as stated below.
a. From the PC, right-click on the Mac connection under Network and select file
transfer.
b. If the connection fails, close Switch & Sync or PCsync.
c. Go to the path where the log file is stored. The file by default is called ClientLog.txt.
d. Send the log file to support@laplink.com.
C -
Test II: Testing port 8444
1. On the Mac:
a. Make sure to start the Host in Switch & Sync or PCsync.
b. Open the terminal window as root. Go to Finder > Application > Utilities > Terminal.
c. On the terminal window, type sudo su and hit enter. Enter the password of the root.
d. type netstat -an and hit enter. It will list all the ports opened in this computer. Make sure that "tcp4 0 0 *.8444 listen" is present.
2. On the PC:
a. Open a DOS command window. Click on Start and type cmd in the Run or Search box and hit
Enter.
b. On the DOS window, type telnet IP_address_Mac 8444 and hit enter.
For example: If the IP address of the Mac is 191.168.1.1, the syntax would be telnet
191.168.1.1 8444.
If the connection is established, you will get a black screen. You will get an error message
if the connection fails.
D -
Test III : Searching for error messages
1. On the Mac:
a. Run the command pcsynchost -S -o
i. Stop the host. On the Switch & Sync or PCsync GUI window, click on 'Stop Host'.
ii. Open a terminal window (Go to Finder > Application > Utilities > Terminal).
iii. On the terminal window, type sudo su and hit enter. Enter the password of the root.
iv. type pcsynchost -S -o and hit enter. this runs pcsync host in command line.
v. type PS - aef | grep pcsynchost and hit enter. Make sure that the pcsynchost process is
running.
b. Open the Utility Console. Go to Finder > Applications > Utilities > Console.
2. On the PC:
a. Make a connection. On the Switch & Sync or PCsync window, right click on the Mac
connection under Network and select file transfer.
3. On the Mac:
Check the terminal window and the console window as stated below:
a. Go back to the Mac
b. See if any messages are output in the Mac terminal window.
c. See if any messages relative to Pcsynchost are output in the console.
d. Report any messages on the terminal or console window to support@laplink.com.
E - Test IV : Monitoring the network connection (apply only if familiar with the Windows Network Monitor feature)
1. On the Mac:
a. Make sure that pcsynchost is running
2. On the PC:
a. Open the Windows Network Monitor and start a capture.
b. Make a connection between the computers via Switch & Sync or PCsync.
c. Stop the capture. Save the capture and send the file to support@laplink.com.
Product: PCsync
KB: 395
Last updated: Oct 24, 2010
