"Open at login" connection has become inconsistent

[gogreen1]

I connect a Macbook Air and an iMac via wifi. It used to work well--consistently every time. I startup the Macbook Air first, then the iMac with the "open at login" item. Now, sometimes this works, more often it doesn't. When it doesn't work, I get the "there was a problem connecting to the server..." message on the iMac.

I can't tell if the problem is the Macbook Air (2017), the iMac (2017), the router (Asus RT-AX88u Pro), or a combination of these items. The router signal is strong. The same problem occurs on both 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands, and on two different networks I have running in the house (Xfinity and CenturyLink). There are no other wifi connection problems with either Mac.

So how can I determine where the problem lies?

 

[MacInWin]

Sorry, but your post is confusing to me. Are you saying that you want to mount a drive in/connected to the iMac on the MBA? What is the "item" you have in the open at login? What are the versions of macOS on both machines?

If it's not a drive you want mounted, what is the nature of the connection between the two?

 

[Rod]

Yeah, I don't get it either, if you are saying you have a Startup at Login Item that is effectively your iMac (I can only imagine you used the IP Address of the iMac) then I am very surprised it worked at all at any time. Nor do I understand why you would wnt to do such a thing. Personally my Apple Watch logs me in to my MacBook Pro circumventing the need for me to enter my login password but that is managed in Passwords;

 

[ferrarr]

To my understanding, the OP has two Macs, a MBA and an iMac. I believe they want to login to the iMac, and have the MBA available, so they do not have to login to the MBA, each time.

OP, have you checked the checkbox for "Remember password in Keychain"?

 

[Rod]

I had no idea you could do that.

 

[ferrarr]

Yeah, back in the early 2000, using Tiger I had a G4 MDD and a G4 PowerBook that I would do that with. If they are on the same network it is easier to do, than if you are trying to do it over the internet. I didn't have a need to do it when I had my M1 Studio, and a 15" 2018 MBP, but I don't see why it wouldn't still be possible.

Like, when you're on your Mac, do you see your wife's Mac in the Sidebar, or maybe connected through the network?

 

[Rod]

I nkow one thing that may interfere with that type of connection and that's a VPN because it changes your IP address. For example HandOff will not work between my iPhone and MBP if the VPN is active on either or both devices.

 

[gogreen1]

I log in to the MBA. Then I log in to the iMac and connect to the MBA via wifi with "Open at login."

 

[Rod]

View attachment 40259 I log in to the MBA. Then I log in to the iMac and connect to the MBA via wifi with "Open at login."

I suppose you have tried removing then re adding that item.

 

[gogreen1]

Yes, I've tried that several times.

 

[MacInWin]

connect to the MBA

Define that, please? Do you mean that you actually take control of the MBA, or do you attach a drive from the MBA to the iMac? Are you screen sharing the MBA on the iMac? "Connect" has multiple meanings and you have not told us anything about this "connection" as yet.

 

[gogreen1]

Define that, please? Do you mean that you actually take control of the MBA, or do you attach a drive from the MBA to the iMac? Are you screen sharing the MBA on the iMac? "Connect" has multiple meanings and you have not told us anything about this "connection" as yet.

I think I CAN take control of the MBA if I wanted to, but I "connect" to it mainly to sync my work files with those from my iMac to the MBA. When I'm connected, the MBA volume name appears on my iMac desktop and in the Finder under Locations. I'm not screen sharing.

 

[MacInWin]

Can you explain to us how you "sync" these files? Remember, we cannot see your systems at work, so you need to tell us. You say the MBA volume name appears on your iMac desktop. From that description, it would seem you are mounting the internal drive from the MBA to the iMac so you can put files on that MBA drive. If that is what is happening, and it is intermittent, it can be because one or the other of the systems is going to sleep and losing the connection, or that the radio signal through your WiFI network is weak or being interfered with to make the connection unreliable.

 

[ferrarr]

And in addition to what Jake mentioned, confirm "Put hard disks to sleep" has not been enabled on the MBA.

 

[gogreen1]

Can you explain to us how you "sync" these files?

I sync my files to the MBA via FreeFileSync.

And in addition to what Jake mentioned, confirm "Put hard disks to sleep" has not been enabled on the MBA.

This is one idea that I think has made a difference. I disabled sleeping and now connecting and staying connected so far work perfectly.

I also repositioned my router (Asus RT-AX88u Pro) from a low shelf to a higher position on a centrally located wall. That makes a big difference overall, and I think it's contributing to my staying connected.

I'll see if I connect and stay connected. It occurred to me that the problem might be the MBA's failing AirPort/Bluetooth card. After all, it's 8 years old now. As I said, I'll have to see what happens in the next few days, but still, could this be a problem?

Thanks, all, for sticking with me on this.