Accessing Macs via the internet - slow despite fast ISP?

[el-John-o]

Hey folks!

On my Mac Mini at my office, I can see my Mac Mini at home (which acts as a home server) in the Finder. It "just works"(TM). The problem is the speed, it's incredibly slow.

Both at my office and at home I have a full duplex gigabit fiber connection. Which means with overhead and what not I can reliably get 940-960mbps upload and download speeds via a speed test.

I use iCloud which is the main way I sync files around but every once in a while it would be handy to access my home server directly; which has a lot more data than I could fit in iCloud. However, it's extremely slow. Taking minutes to begin transferring files and then transferring them at very slow (single digit mbps) speeds. It's actually faster to use Screen Sharing and then copy the file into the iCloud synced 'documents' folder and wait for it to appear on the office machine; and that's a clunky way to do it.

Anything I can do to speed this up? Or good third party options? I'd consider a VPN setup but honestly I'd like to avoid that if possible.

 

[ssmed]

What operating system and means of sharing are you using for your direct access? It sounds like you home server is open to all kinds of internet abuse, unless I have misunderstood your set-up. A good quality VPN device will give good throughput and security, but might be quite expensive to match those throughput numbers.

 

[el-John-o]

What operating system and means of sharing are you using for your direct access? It sounds like you home server is open to all kinds of internet abuse, unless I have misunderstood your set-up. A good quality VPN device will give good throughput and security, but might be quite expensive to match those throughput numbers.

Both machines are running Big Sur and are signed in to the same Apple ID. So essentially I'm using "Back to my Mac" (or whatever that feature has been renamed under the iCloud umbrella).

But the performance is very slow. Maybe that's typical, I'm not sure.

 

[ssmed]

I didn't think my back to my Mac had been available since High Sierra and discontinued in 2019. I fear you have no active protection from the internet except the Macs own firewall.

 

[satcomer]

You have to look at home output speed limitations!even with fast downloads you upload speed are pitiful! Try getting a LLC and then get a business line into your Home to get better upload speeds at home! Plus open System Preferences->network advanced, highlighting your network connection and make sure if you have that in the Advanced button section and make sure data is going the same speed as input!