New iMac Setup Help

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Sparrow

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New iMac Setup ...

The addition on a new macbook air to my system required so many upgrades to my system I decided to start again ...

I've installed a

1) new iMac with an external disc-drive, a wireless keyboard, mouse and track pad (with all my photo stuff emails migrated from my old iMac after cleaning it up a bit)

2) macbook air, with the same data on it

3) a 2tb wireless time vault, backing it all up and acting as a wireless server

4) a wireless canon all-in-one scanner printer

5) is where my problems start ... a mkI Minolta Dimage 5400 scanner attached via USB2 cable to an airport extreme that's acting as an extension to the time-vault.

My problem is that while the iMac and the air-port extreme are connected wirelessly I can't find a connection to the scanner anywhere on either the iMac or the macbook ... any ideas?

... I was hoping to de-clutter my desk not add to it and running a cable would be awkward where I am.

(BTW if I connect the scanner directly to the iMac, view-scan picks it up straight away)
 
I too am having trouble understanding your configuration. I assume you are running Yosemite 10.10.3. Why does the iMac have an external hard drive if you are using "Continuity" to synchronize files ("same data on it") on the two computers and using a "wireless time vault"? (I'm actually not sure what a "wireless time vault" is.) Did you use a USB connection with an external drive to the AirPort Extreme or are you using an AirPort Time Capsule? Is the wireless time vault set up as a Time Machine or as a server?
 
MaxElmar said:
Stewart,

I think you are out of luck using the USB port for the scanner. Our semi-benevolent overlords at Apple have decided that port is for storage or printing only.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201712

That's if I understood the description of your system. Still early here. Drinking 1st coffee of the day.
Click to expand...

... yes, that certainly reads that way doesn't it

I have an 6 or 7 year old mac mini doing nothing I wonder if that could be used to run as a scanner server of sorts?

I wonder why they restrict the USB's function like that in the first place
 
My scanner runs off USB directly to the Mac. I remember having an Airport Express which had a usb port for a printer. I am not sure how well that worked. I am not sure that you can choose a scanner attached to a remote wireless device like the Airport Extreme in that way. This recent Apple advice says as much - see down the page about scanning from the Airport Extreme's USB.

https://support.apple.com/en-au/HT201577
 
Logic would tell you that the AirPort could be used as a hub/dock for USB and wireless operations. Apple, being only semi-benevolent, did not want to do that. (MaxElmar, I love that description of Apple.)

My Canon printer works great connected to an AirPort Time Capsule.
 
Sparrow said:
... yes, that certainly reads that way doesn't it

I have an 6 or 7 year old mac mini doing nothing I wonder if that could be used to run as a scanner server of sorts?

I wonder why they restrict the USB's function like that in the first place
Click to expand...

This is not a matter of Apple "restricting" the USB port at all.

The scanner acquisition and control algorithm in VueScan cannot reach the Minolta connected to the USB port of a server device because there is no software available for the server device that would allow the Minolta to broadcast itself and its control opportunity to VueScan... that would be a piece of software developed for the specific device, usually supplied by the manufacturer of the device. Apple cannot write that software.

(My HP E710 multifunction printer/scanner/fax machine has wireless built in. Turn it on and VueScan finds it directly ... It, in essence, has its own wireless hub and a custom driver for that server broadcasting its existence to the network, and VueScan can find and access it.)

Your only option is to connect the Minolta 5400 to the host computer that is going to use it via USB. There is no available software that would allow it to be operated by a remote client connected wirelessly to any host server; Minolta is long gone so there's no-one to write it.

G
 
Godfrey said:
This is not a matter of Apple "restricting" the USB port at all.

The scanner acquisition and control algorithm in VueScan cannot reach the Minolta connected to the USB port of a server device because there is no software available for the server device that would allow the Minolta to broadcast itself and its control opportunity to VueScan... that would be a piece of software developed for the specific device, usually supplied by the manufacturer of the device. Apple cannot write that software.

(My HP E710 multifunction printer/scanner/fax machine has wireless built in. Turn it on and VueScan finds it directly ... It, in essence, has its own wireless hub and a custom driver for that server broadcasting its existence to the network, and VueScan can find and access it.)

Your only option is to connect the Minolta 5400 to the host computer that is going to use it via USB. There is no available software that would allow it to be operated by a remote client connected wirelessly to any host server; Minolta is long gone so there's no-one to write it.

G
Click to expand...

... so am I correct in thinking I could connect the minolta scanner to the old mac-mini by USB ... then make the mini available on the iMac's screen? as some sort shared device?

And just leave the airport extreme to extend the wifi out into the garden ... the far end of which i'm typing this at the moment which is quite impressive
 
You could slave the mini to your scanner via usb and have it direct all scanned files to a folder in the wireless bu drive.
Then access the files from any computer on the network.
This is what I do with my old Pakon and Nikon V Ed which both operate via old drivers which Yosemite does not support.
I use an old XP laptop as a scanner "Slave". That laptop lives with the scanners on a separate cabinet.
 
Sparrow said:
New iMac Setup ...

The addition on a new macbook air to my system required so many upgrades to my system I decided to start again ...

I've installed a .........


5) is where my problems start ... a mkI Minolta Dimage 5400 scanner attached via USB2 cable to an airport extreme that's acting as an extension to the time-vault........

My problem is that while the iMac and the air-port extreme are connected wirelessly I can't find a connection to the scanner anywhere on either the iMac or the macbook ... any ideas?

... I was hoping to de-clutter my desk not add to it and running a cable would be awkward where I am.

(BTW if I connect the scanner directly to the iMac, view-scan picks it up straight away)
Click to expand...

Scanning may be a bit of a stretch for the capabilities of Air-Port.

From personal experience using a MacBook Air running Yosemite - that USB cable is way slower than a Thunderbolt to Firewire 800 adapter with a FW800 to FW400 intermediate cable.

Yes, the cable arrangement does add clutter - but my Minolta 5400 is much faster than with a USB 2 cable.

You speak of clutter - try my Nikon Coolscan 8000. Its huge.
 
With a new setup, I'd rather not reintroduce an old piece (mini -- not the scanner), especially something that would need supported -not to mention the complicated access you are encountering. When I did the same thing, I simply decided to directly plug-n-play my dedicated Nikon and Espon scanners as needed. That also helped keep my work area clutter free and the devices dust free, stored away until needed.
 
f16sunshine said:
You could slave the mini to your scanner via usb and have it direct all scanned files to a folder in the wireless bu drive.
Then access the files from any computer on the network.
This is what I do with my old Pakon and Nikon V Ed which both operate via old drivers which Yosemite does not support.
I use an old XP laptop as a scanner "Slave". That laptop lives with the scanners on a separate cabinet.
Click to expand...

I wonder if I could also allow the iMac permission to share the mini on the iMac's screen? (I don't really have space for another screen and keyboard in the scanner cupboard)

PS ... and the mac mini also has an Aux jack-socket that would allow me to connect my Tivoli wireless to iTunes and the internet, I lost that with the old airport express not working on Yosemite
 
Sparrow said:
I wonder if I could also allow the iMac permission to share the mini on the iMac's screen? (I don't really have space for another screen and keyboard in the scanner cupboard)
Click to expand...
There may be a way . Research "Target display mode". The problem will be that sharing the display will require a cable leaving you needing two cables. (One for usb to mini another from mini to iMac. Maybe just use the MacBook air portably as the scanner machine and share the files. I feel you on this one. Old scanner drivers create havoc in the wireless workplace :/

I don't scan much color so for me, not having the best monitor in the house for the scanning phase is ok.
For my B&W scans it's all about a "full" histogram.
I can see that just fine on any display in order to get a file extracted. Then, do final edits on the larger 27iMac display.
 
Sparrow said:
I wonder if I could also allow the iMac permission to share the mini on the iMac's screen? (I don't really have space for another screen and keyboard in the scanner cupboard)...
Click to expand...

One method would be to use Teamviewer https://www.teamviewer.com or something of that ilk. Once setup and running, the Mini could run as a headless server if the remote software (e.g. TeamViewer, ...) is configured to run a boot time.

You might have issue with the screen's color accuracy with any such wireless remote display arrangement. Many will downsample the color depth to reduce the data pushed. You may find that the Mini plus its own monitor is preferable as a scanning station.
 
Sparrow said:
... so am I correct in thinking I could connect the minolta scanner to the old mac-mini by USB ... then make the mini available on the iMac's screen? as some sort shared device?

And just leave the airport extreme to extend the wifi out into the garden ... the far end of which i'm typing this at the moment which is quite impressive
Click to expand...

You can configure the mini to operate as an independent computer, attach the scanner to it. Then you operate the mini using Apple Remote Desktop to run Vuescan on the mini, and tell VueScan to put the output files somewhere accessible to the iMac.

It's kind of a complicated interaction. You have to interact with the scanner physically anyway.. Wouldn't it just be so much easier to put it on a desk or tabletop near where your sitting and plug it in?

G
 
f16sunshine said:
There may be a way . Research "Target display mode". The problem will be that sharing the display will require a cable leaving you needing two cables. ...
Click to expand...

Target Display Mode simply turns the iMac into a display for another computer to use, just like Target Drive Mode turns the iMac into a hard drive for another computer to use. You need a direct cable connection to the 'remote' computer to use these modes, it's really not appropriate for the kind of 'scanner server' that Sparrow is trying to arrange. Apple Remote Desktop running to the mini operating as a headless system is likely the best shot.

G
 
Sparrow said:
.....I have an 6 or 7 year old mac mini doing nothing I wonder if that could be used to run as a scanner server of sorts?
....
Click to expand...

I'd say yes. Wipe off all the software you don't need. Try booting off an external drive (ssd) incase your internal drive goes south.

Look into alternative new scanners.

Companies don't want to write and support old products as they don't provide any cash flow.

If companies wanted to generate goodwill they would open up the driver code for their old products so that the Open Source folk could take a swing at updating it. But goodwill is not traded in the markets (e.g. wall street).

Aint capitalism grand.....

B2 (;->
 
Congratulations!

You have an excellent platform for your work.

I believe OS X will "allow the iMac permission to share the mini on the iMac's screen". Do you want use use the MacBook Air as a second monitor. Or are you interested in operating the MacBook Air from the iMac (or vice versa)?
 
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