Get APLawrence.com by RSSAlternate Network Configurations with OS X
2009/03/04
I have to configure or test routers fairly often. Usually I don't need to actually hook them up to the Internet; having a local connection is enough. Almost always the setup involves configuring a client for DHCP and having the new router supply that.
However, that's slightly inconvenient as normally my MacBook is set to a static IP. Switching to DHCP to work on a router means wiping that information out and then having to re-enter it when I'm done. That's at least mildly annoying, but there are at least two simple ways to deal with this.
The first is the more complex and I really can't think of any reason why you'd want to do it this way, but I'll mention it just in case. What you'd do is create another instance of the Ethernet interface. You can do that either by choosing "Duplicate Service" while highlighting the normal Ethernet connection or by clicking the "+" and adding a new Ethernet connection.
Click on the gear icon (arrow in image is pointing at it) to make that service "Inactive" normally. When you want to use it, make the static Ethernet inactive and this one active.
Locations
There's a far easier way. I created a new "Location" called "routers":
When I need to switch to work on a router, I just choose the "router" location and plug in. I can do that from the main Apple menu or from the Network Configuration in System Preferences. Either way, I'm instantly switched to the DHCP configuration I need and can instantly switch back when I'm done.
Take Control: The Mac OS X Lexicon
Take Control of Screen Sharing in Leopard
Take Control of Permissions in Leopard
Have you tried Searching this site?
Unix/Linux/Mac OS X support by phone, email or on-site: Support Rates
This is a Unix/Linux resource website. It contains technical articles about Unix, Linux and general computing related subjects, opinion, news, help files, how-to's, tutorials and more. We appreciate comments and article submissions.
Many of the products and books I review are things I purchased for my own use. Some were given to me specifically for the purpose of reviewing them. I resell or can earn commissions from the sale of some of these items. Links within these pages may be affiliate links that pay me for referring you to them. That's mostly insignificant amounts of money; whenever it is not I have made my relationship plain. I also may own stock in companies mentioned here. If you have any question, please do feel free to contact me.
Specific links that take you to pages that allow you to purchase the item I reviewed are very likely to pay me a commission. Many of the books I review were given to me by the publishers specifically for the purpose of writing a review. These gifts and referral fees do not affect my opinions; I often give bad reviews anyway.
We use Google third-party advertising companies to serve ads when you visit our website. These companies may use information (not including your name, address, email address, or telephone number) about your visits to this and other websites in order to provide advertisements about goods and services of interest to you. If you would like more information about this practice and to know your choices about not having this information used by these companies, click here.
I sell and support
Kerio Mail server
Click here to add your comments
Don't miss responses! Subscribe to Comments by RSS or by Email
Click here to add your comments
If you want a picture to show with your comment, go get a Gravatar
Take Control of Users & Accounts in Snow Leopard