LAN and wifi

Ethernet by definition is a physical connection. No cable, no Ethernet. I’m stumped you have a green LED without cable. Disable WiFi (make service inactive) and see if the solo Ethernet with static IP remains green and actually works.

Or skip this mystery and obtain a 4 port LAN switch, rough cost in Europe under €20, connect it to the back of the router and use it to serve your Ethernet devices. You may need one each for the router and mesh if cable lengths are limited.

Try this https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/use-ethernet-to-connect-two-mac-computers-mchlp1413/mac

The Ethernet interface isn’t successful in getting an IP from your router which I assumed was a router issue. Maybe it’s not. Could you post a snapshot of the Ethernet setting (Network Preferences) on your Mac? In particular the TCP/IP and DNS tabs. Additionally, your router supports only 1 LAN port so please check if it’s not already occupied/reserved.

Same network, different 192.168.86.XX ips. MacOS will use Ethernet for everything except applications that require WiFi or when Ethernet is unavailable. Manually specifying send and receive links by application isn’t possible. Nonetheless, sharing 1 Gig Ethernet for both surfing traffic and file transfer shouldn’t degrade either, assuming surf traffic is routine. Let’s take it up once you’ve got everything up and running.

Are you saying you don’t have an Ethernet cable from your Mac to the port on the router/mesh? I’m beginning to suspect your router is WiFi only, it looks like the solo lan port is to interconnect meshes only. If so, you can’t do Ethernet unless you swap it with a router that does.

If I misunderstood you, try adding an entry in the DNS tab,192.168.86.1. Follow it with a reboot, might do the trick.

Try just connecting a Thunderbolt cable between the two Mac minis. No bridge. It should show as a new network connection.

Ok back to square one: get the switch and be up and running!

You need a physical connection period even for Thunderbolt bridge (which basically converts TB to Ethernet). The green LED on Network Preferences doesn’t indicate physical connection, it mean the Mac already has an IP. Which makes sense since you’re entering a static IP. However, without a cable, the green LED means nothing.

Short summary: get an Ethernet switch (or two), connect its WAN port to the solo port on the router and cable your Macs to its user ports. That will do it.

Good idea ;) +1.

It means your router is out of IP addresses. Login to the router as admin and bump the DHCP IP address range up by at least 1, more if you plan on growing your network. If that’s too techy, please post router details and we’ll get you there.