Q: Networking Mac Pros, direct and through a switch
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by Grant Bennet-Alder,HelpfulMay 9, 2016 5:30 PM
Grant Bennet-Alder
May 9, 2016 5:30 PM
in response to Michael Carter5
Level 9
(60,774 points)
Desktopsfor near-Hard Drive performance, you need a Gigabit Ethernet switch. If you don't have one, you need to get one. That is the only acceptable way to manage local computer-to-computer File transfers.
Your Router does not need gigabit speeds, because your connection to the Internet is not likely to be faster than 100M bits/sec. The 'trick" (if there is one) is that computer-to-computer transfers use the Ethernet cabling, but they do not use the Routing function of your Router, only direct data transfer (the "Switch functions) if wired that way.
There is no simple way to get faster speeds, such as plugging in a cable computer-to computer.
The second Ethernet port is good for connecting Network Storage, such as a NAS.
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May 9, 2016 5:30 PMby Michael Carter5,Thanks Grant - so if I understand this correctly -
Upgrade the switch near my desk to gigabit (that's pretty cheap these days), use cat6 cables for both machines, and access the RAID through my older Mac Pro until I get enclosures taken care of for the new box (er, can)?
Pretty painless, though I imagine I'll be happier when I have tbolt raids direct to the new machine.
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by Grant Bennet-Alder,May 9, 2016 7:37 PM
Grant Bennet-Alder
May 9, 2016 7:37 PM
in response to Michael Carter5
Level 9
(60,774 points)
Desktops
If you can't quickly put your hands on Gigabit Switches, (they are not exactly a hot consumer item) the Apple online store has at least one of every size you could need.
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May 9, 2016 8:32 PMby Michael Carter5,They seem to be all over Amazon, NewEgg and the like. NetGear is making them for under $30 in their standard 5-port case, which have been solid performers for me - they're all over my house. They seem to have hit the "commodity" level, and I imagine (like 10 vs 100 baseT) the manufacturers are "might as well" by now...
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by Grant Bennet-Alder,May 9, 2016 8:43 PM
Grant Bennet-Alder
May 9, 2016 8:43 PM
in response to Michael Carter5
Level 9
(60,774 points)
Desktops
Gigabit switches are not on the front rack at BestBuy. But you obviously know their value and where to get them.
As you probably also know, the vital issue for cables for Gigabit Ethernet is "all 8 conductors present" (and properly wired, of course). You cannot run power-over-Ethernet devices (which steal some of the wires for power), or use 4-conductor cables. The Mac demands all 8, or you don't get Gigabit speed.
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May 21, 2016 8:22 AMby Grant Bennet-Alder,you can plug in the cable. NOTHING will happen.
You then need to examine the IP addresses in use. Choose a new pair of IP addresses that are in one of the "Private network" ranges, but are not being used by the Network already.
RFC1918 name IP address range number of addresses largest CIDR block (subnet mask) host id size mask bits classful description[Note 1] 24-bit block 10.0.0.0 - 10.255.255.255 16,777,216 10.0.0.0/8 (255.0.0.0) 24 bits 8 bits single class A network 20-bit block 172.16.0.0 - 172.31.255.255 1,048,576 172.16.0.0/12 (255.240.0.0) 20 bits 12 bits 16 contiguous class B networks 16-bit block 192.168.0.0 - 192.168.255.255 65,536 192.168.0.0/16 (255.255.0.0) 16 bits 16 bits 256 contiguous class C networks from:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Private_network
Manually assign a unique address from the new range to each of the en2 ports on each Mac. also be certain that the subnet Mask is set wide enough to include both addresses, or just use 255.255.255.0. There will be no Gateway address.
Manually assign Gigabit speed, flow control and jumbo frames
If this does not work, you can use network Utility or terminal to "ping" the address of the other port, to see if it responds. If you ping the last address in the subnet, all devices should respond.
This is not easier so far, and it will not produce a measurable speed improvement. But it may keep you busy for a while, if that is your desire.
