Issue with linking devices

[magdas]

Dear all,

I have a Dropbox basic account and three devices that I'd like to link - an iMac, iPad and MacBook. In order to link my new iMac earlier, Dropbox asked me to unlink one as it seemed that I already have three devices linked (even though I only had two at this point). By looking closer, the list contained two version of my MacBook, one named "MacBook Pro" and another named "macbook-pro-4.eduroam.student". I'm not sure what the latter is other than it containing information of the internet network that I am logged in at my University (i.e. "eduroam"). I unlinked the latter while linking my iMac. Now back on my MacBook, I am asked again the same question, see screenshot:

Does anybody know what this is? Why is my MacBook not just the "MacBook Pro" on the list but the "macbook-pro-4.eduroam.student"? I basically just want my three devices linked and I am not always on the eduroam network, only when at University.

Any help would be appreciated!

Thanks so much!

Best,
Murat

[Lusil]

Hey @magdas, thanks for reaching out to us.

As a first step, could you check your Security page online and see if all the devices that you're asked to link/unlink from your account are listed? 

Could you also clarify for me if, by any chance, you have two user profiles on your computer?

Let me know what you find!

[magdas]

Hey @Lusil ,

Thank you so so much for the prompt response! Here's a screenshot from the security page online under devices:

It lists my iMac (with the same "eduroam" add on, I am at the University right now logged onto the eduroam network with both my iMac and MacBook Pro), as well as my MacBook Pro and my iPad.

However, when I actually go on my MacBook it asks me to log in again, I then get this info, see screenshot:

And the when I click on "or unlink some devices: I again see this:

So what I don't understand is what thew difference is between the two MacBook Pro's, I only have one single MacBook. "Eduroam" is just the internet network, not a device. When I go home, I am logged into another network.

I don't have any other user profiles on my MacBook, see screenshot:

Thanks so much for helping out!

[Lusil]

Thanks for your swift reply, @magdas!

Could you also check what the device name is currently by clicking on the Apple icon that's on the top left corner of your screen and choosing About this Mac? 

Keep me posted!

[magdas]

Thanks so much @Lusil !

Here's a screenshot of the about me:

Let me know if you need anything else.

Thank you!

[Lusil]

Thanks for getting back to me, @magdas. 

I've followed up with a ticket to the email address connected to your Community profile so that we can have a better look into this. 

When you have the chance, please check your inbox for my latest message and we'll take it from there. Cheers!

[magdas]

Hi @Lusil  thanks for this!

I received the email and just hit reply and replied to your email. I tried to click on the ticket link on top but wasn't able to log in there!

Hope the repky email is sufficient?

Thanks!

[Lusil]

No worries, @magdas! Just got back to you via email too. 

Looking forward to hearing back from you!

[Здравко]

Hi @magdas,

Dropbox application reads (and use for registration) your full machines domain name. That name include your machine name (eventually modified when there is another machine in same LAN area using same name) and (possibly sometimes) concatenated name of the full router domain on the network. In all cases this name is only to identify particular device to you, not to Dropbox (i.e. improve human readable representation). Dropbox use authorization codes for identification particular device connection and the count of such connections is actually meaningful (to Dropbox), not the devices count! In Dropbox documentation, device count is denoted, but this is incorrect! That's where confusion comes from. Probably you have some old connection not unlinked properly and this connection is still in count. Solution could be:

• Unlink your device.
• Remove all entries referring the device, using web interface.
• Link back your device to the account.

Hope this helps.

[magdas]

Hi @Здравко ,

Thanks so much for this elaborate response - I don't understand any of it though however 😅 Not really a pro when it comes to stuff like this.

I unlinked both accounts of my MacBook Pro and then relinked it again online. Now I have three devices linked as should be. However, the devices linked in terms of both my iMac and MacBook Pro contain the newtork information, see screenshot:

What will happen when I take it home and use a different internet network, will it then create a fourth device ID again?

This is all sooo confusing to me!

I need the linking to work properly as I will be using Dropbox to sync text files via a writing app across the devices and am worried that this is not gonna work.

Any help appreciated!

Thank you!