I use a dock with an ethernet connection, but sometimes I disconnect and go to a different room on wifi. When I plug back into the dock, I always have to disable wifi to switch to the ethernet connection even though it is the first entry in the service order list and wifi is at the bottom. Pretty annoying to break the connection every time i plug back into the dock. Saw this issue in posts from 2011-2013.
MacBook Pro
I believe the Mac hardwares Network Service order (to obtain an internet connection) always tries to connect to the internet on the last connected Network interface.
Example:
☆ Wi-Fi that's connected to your ISP
☆☆ Ethernet → router (or Switch) not connected to the internet
Already Connected to Wi-Fi ☆ → plug in new connection ☆☆ Ethernet (no internet/LAN)
== Mac cannot connect to the internet. Even though It's still connected to Wi-Fi that has internet access.
Solution:
Turn Off Wi-Fi ☆ → While Ethernet with no Internet is still connected → Turn Wi-Fi ON ☆ == Connected to Internet & LAN simultaneously.
Perhaps that's what you speak of? Otherwise, turn off Wi-Fi once ethernet is reconnected in macOS or perhaps third party software can enforce it better. (NO idea about software that does).
Here is some evidence to prove my point. I have a fast internet connection, but slow wifi due to being far from the access point.
I ran three speed tests:
1) On Ethernet - about 500Mbps
2) On Wifi - I just disconnected the cable - around 14Mbps (curiously, upload speed was greater than download, for some reason):
3) Reattached the Ethernet cable - but did NOTHING ELSE; back to around 500Mbps
Yeah that is more or less the case. In my mind it would make sense to auto switch to a better connection, but I could also see the argument to maintain the current connection without explicit instruction to drop it.
I can only say that this is not my day to day experience. My setup is similar: my MBP is usually at my basement desk, connected to Ethernet via a dock (which also provides HDMI to the external display, and a few USB-A ports). Wifi reception is poor, since the access point is far away. I can clearly notice the difference when I plug it in, and no I don’t have to switch off Wifi.
Sounds normal. Does it connect to the Ethernet if you disconnect from Wi-Fi before you plug into the dock?
It’s normal to maintain an inferior connection when a higher ordered and better connection is available?
Unless you tell it to switch. Yep.
The latter seems to be the case. At least for the last 10+ years.
That's not quite the same scenerio. At least it doesn't sound like it. It sounds like you are removing the Ethernet cable from the dock, not removing your Mac from the dock with Ethernet.
Fair point. I will redo the test after removing the mac from the dock and will let you know.
Ok, I detached the dock from the mac, then reattached, and same thing. It picked up the Ethernet connection, no problem:
Perhaps the difference has to do with the docks. Not something i can test.
Network Service Order ignored... 10 years later...
