Full FeedDirect from Steve: Migration Assistant works over Ethernet.
The next in my unintentional “Direct from Steve” series deals with the lack of Firewire on the new MacBooks, and what is arguably one of the most important and useful applications on the Mac, Migration Assistant.
I first wrote to Steve the following email:
I’m sure you are getting tons of these emails, but it is a very important issue for most Mac users. What is the alternative for Target Disk Mode now that a phase-out of FireWire has begun? I’m aware of the wireless Migration introduced with the MacBook Air, but that is absolutely no replacement for the speed of FireWire. Wireless speeds are far from approaching FireWire at a reasonable price. USB cannot support Target DIsk Mode. Migration Assistant, though often used only once, is one of the best parts of OS X, and I really hope it isn’t being removed as FireWire leaves the MacBooks, and presumably, other Macs on down the line.
And one of his secretaries or a mail rule wrote back, to say that “Migration Assistant now works over ethernet.” As if on cue, a software update showed up for me, “Migration and DVD/CD Sharing Update.”
So now, while Firewire may still be a concern for those with FireWire hard drives, at least the Target Disk mode and migration issue is solved. Though I am wondering how speeds compare with Ethernet vs. Firewire.
You’ll notice this was an option before, and was outlined in our Migrate Your Mac Without Firewire article; however, this method does not involve Migration Assistant. So make sure to install the update rather than go file-by-file as the solution seemed to be just hours ago.
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But does this allow target disk boot mode? More than once, I have had to boot a machine from another, as the hard drive in the primary machine had “difficulties”. Speed was never a real issue in this regard, but having the ability to recover was invaluable.
on October 17, 2008 at 08:51 AM - LINKBlast! I was gearing up to buy one of these (they aren’t in my local store yet) and now I learn about the missing Firewire.
I’m a Mac tech and frequently need to TDM (Target Disk Mode) to other Macs, for an example from this week, to install from a DVD when their old Mac doesn’t have DVD. (No, that old eMac doesn’t support CD/DVD sharing either).
I was really looking forward to the upgrade, but I guess I’m stuck with my old MacBook for a long long time. Rrrrr.
on October 18, 2008 at 07:01 PM - LINKI saw last Tues details and snapped up the previous generation MacBook Pro from the Applestore.com refurb area. I love the idea of beefed up video but need two FW ports to best handle ProTools level audio. 50% of pro audio interfaces are FireWire based which has naturally steered people to Apple for years. They’re not placing that loyality in jeopardy.
on October 20, 2008 at 08:28 AM - LINKJust an additional 2 cents: I just tried the Migration Assistant over ethernet from a 10.5.5 Last-Gen Macbook Pro to a new one. Completely dysfunctional, kept timing out and asking for the passcode again. I had the firewall down on the old Mac, and the “network” consisted of a brand-new ethernet cable going between with nothing else in play. They talked for a while, but kept flaking out. I’m transferring now over FW800.
I wouldn’t touch the new MacBook with a ten-foot pole until they sort out the ethernet migration tool.
on October 21, 2008 at 02:43 PM - LINK