Connecting a Mac to a server is the ideal way to transfer data directly from one computer to another, share large files, or access a file from another network. You can connect to any Mac or Windows server on the network, as long as file sharing is enabled on your computer. This article explains how to connect to a server using a Mac.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Use the Finder Window Knowing the Server Address
Step 1. Open a Finder window by clicking on the icon
The latter is characterized by two stylized white and blue smiling faces. It is located directly on the System Dock visible at the bottom of the screen.
Step 2. Click on the Go menu
It is displayed on the menu bar at the top of the screen.
Step 3. Click on the Connect to Server option
It is the last item in the "Go" menu that appeared.
Step 4. Type the address of the server you want to connect to in the "Server address" text field. The address to connect to should consist of the protocol to be used to establish the connection (for example "afp:", "smb:" or "ftp:" depending on the server type), followed by the registered domain name of the " Domain Name System "(DNS) and the full path of the computer.
Step 5. Click the Connect button
It is located in the lower right corner of the "Connect to Server" window.
Step 6. Select the "Guest" or "Registered User" option
If you have a user account on the server you are connected to, click on the "Registered User" radio button. If you do not have a user account available, click on the "Guest" radio button to log in. These two options are listed in the "Connect As" dialog box.
Step 7. Type your username and password into the available text fields
If you have chosen to access the server using an existing user account, you will need to provide login credentials (username and password) by typing them in the corresponding fields.
Step 8. Click the Connect button
At this point you will be connected to the indicated server.
Method 2 of 4: Using the Finder Window Without Knowing the Server Address
Step 1. Open a Finder window by clicking on the icon
The latter is characterized by two stylized white and blue smiling faces. It is located directly on the System Dock visible at the bottom of the screen.
Step 2. Click on the Go menu
It is displayed on the menu bar at the top of the screen.
Step 3. Click on the Connect to Server option
It is the last item in the "Go" menu that appeared.
Step 4. Click the Browse button
It is the first button displayed in the lower right corner of the "Connect to Server" window. You'll see a list of all available servers on the network your Mac is connected to.
Step 5. Click on the name of the server you want to connect to
You can connect to the server you want using the main pane of the "Network" window or the navigation sidebar on the left of the latter.
Step 6. Select the "Guest" or "Registered User" option
If you have a user account on the server you are connected to, click on the "Registered User" radio button. If you do not have a user account available, click on the "Guest" radio button to log in. These two options are listed in the "Connect As" dialog box.
Step 7. Type your username and password into the available text fields
If you have chosen to access the server using an existing user account, you will need to provide login credentials (username and password) by typing them in the corresponding fields.
Step 8. Click the Connect button
At this point you will be connected to the indicated server.
Method 3 of 4: Re-connect to a Recently Used Server
Step 1. Click on the Apple menu
It features an icon identical to the Apple logo and is located in the upper left corner of the screen.
Step 2. Place the mouse cursor on the Recent Items item
A list of all recently used applications, documents and servers will be displayed.
If you have not connected to any servers recently, the "Server" section of the list will be empty
Step 3. Click on the name of the server you want to reconnect to
It is displayed in the "Server" section of the "Recent Items" list. The Mac will reconnect to the indicated server and the shared files will be displayed in a "Finder" window.
To connect to the server, you may need to provide a username and password
Method 4 of 4: Use an AppleScript
Step 1. Open a Finder window by clicking on the icon
The latter is characterized by two stylized white and blue smiling faces. It is located directly on the System Dock visible at the bottom of the screen.
Alternatively, click on the magnifying glass icon in the upper right corner of the screen, type the keyword terminal in the search bar that appears and click on the "Terminal" icon that will appear in the list of results
Step 2. Click on the Applications folder
It is displayed within the left sidebar of the Finder window. A list of all applications that are installed on the Mac will be displayed.
Step 3. Go to the Utilities folder
It is characterized by a blue folder icon on which work tools are visible. It is displayed inside the "Applications" folder. A list of all applications responsible for managing the system will be displayed.
Step 4. Start the "Terminal" app by clicking on the icon
It features a black screen with a white command prompt inside. Click on the indicated icon to open a "Terminal" window.
Step 5. Type the following command into the "Terminal" window:
tell app "Finder" to open location. This is the start of the command to connect to a server from a Finder window. Don't press the "Enter" key for now. You still have to complete the command.
Step 6. Add the following code to the command you entered in the "Terminal" window:
"[protocol]: // [username]: [password] @ [IP_address] / [folder]". Replace the command parameters as follows. Replace the parameter "[protocol]" with the protocol of the server (for example FTP or SMB). Replace the parameters "[username]" and "[password]" with the username and password of the account to be used for the connection. Replace the parameter ["IP_address"] with the IP address of the server. At this point, replace the "[folder]" parameter with the name of the shared folder you want to access.
- In the case of a local server, replace the parameter "[IP_address]" with the keyword "local".
- The full command should look like this: tell app "Finder" to open location "ftp: // admin: [email protected]/images"
Step 7. Press the Enter key on your keyboard
The command entered will be executed and the Mac will connect to the specified server.
