ethernet only for lan?

[ConanWolf]

so i have a series of computers that i want to try and connect together via lan but the computers want to use the wifi connection over lan, is there any way to force them to use lan between the 2? pretty much i want wifi for outgoing connections outside the local network but ethernet for lan. is there any way to do that? 

[Eigenvektor]

Windows should normally prefer LAN to Wi-Fi, provided it is able to reach the other machine using the IP you provided.

 

If the computers are connected to LAN and Wi-Fi, they should have two IP addresses. Use the LAN IP address when connecting to the other local machine. Better yet, if LAN is only intended for machine to machine communication, make it a separate network with a different IP range. Then there should be no way for a machine to try and use Wi-Fi when you use an IP from the LAN range.

[Lurick]

1 minute ago, Eigenvektor said:

Windows should normally prefer LAN to Wi-Fi, provided it is able to reach the other machine using the IP you provided.

 

If the computers are connected to LAN and Wi-Fi, they should have two IP addresses. Use the LAN IP address when connecting to the other local machine.

This but also just don't have a default gateway on the LAN (ethernet) side and then everything outbound will go over wifi. Internet connectivity will show over wifi but provided you've got ethernet setup properly anything that needs the subnet on the LAN will stay on ethernet.

[Eigenvektor]

Just now, Lurick said:

This BUT just don't have a default gateway on the LAN (ethernet) side and then everything outbound will go over wifi. Internet connectivity will show over wifi but provided you've got ethernet setup properly anything that needs the subnet on the LAN will stay on ethernet.

I was just editing my post saying LAN should probably be its own network if it is only for local communication

[ConanWolf]

pretty much i have them all connected to a network switch that is not connected to the modem, do i need to worry the ip address changing? im using arch linux for this

[Eigenvektor]

20 minutes ago, ConanWolf said:

pretty much i have them all connected to a network switch that is not connected to the modem, do i need to worry the ip address changing? im using arch linux for this

How did you assign IPs to the machines? If IPs are set statically on each machine, they should not change. If they are assigned through DHCP, their IPs might change, unless you configure a static mapping on the DHCP server based on their MAC address.

 

Alternatively you could set up DHCP + DDNS and use host names (but that's a bit of extra work)

 

I'm sure there's a way to configure which interface should be preferred in Arch, though I don't know how since I've never needed it.

[ConanWolf]

49 minutes ago, Eigenvektor said:

How did you assign IPs to the machines? If IPs are set statically on each machine, they should not change. If they are assigned through DHCP, their IPs might change, unless you configure a static mapping on the DHCP server based on their MAC address.

 

Alternatively you could set up DHCP + DDNS and use host names (but that's a bit of extra work)

 

I'm sure there's a way to configure which interface should be preferred in Arch, though I don't know how since I've never needed it.

the ips were automatically assigned once connected, i dont think the switch has any interface but i could be wrong it was a netgear 5 port switch 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000BVYT3/ref=twister_B0BMJ89V4P?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

[Eigenvektor]

1 minute ago, ConanWolf said:

the ips were automatically assigned once connected, i dont think the switch has any interface but i could be wrong it was a netgear 6 port switch 

You mean a management interface? My first thought was network interface and made me a bit confused If the switch contains a DHCP server, it should be configurable. But I assume this is a cheap unmanaged switch.

 

A switch typically doesn't assign IPs, that's the job of a router. If there's no DHCP and the machines are set to obtain an IP automatically, it's also possible they auto-assigned their own IPs (169.254.x.x). In that case you probably want to configure your own static IPs instead, or add some type of DHCP server to the network.

[ConanWolf]

15 minutes ago, Eigenvektor said:

You mean a management interface? My first thought was network interface and made me a bit confused If the switch contains a DHCP server, it should be configurable. But I assume this is a cheap unmanaged switch.

 

A switch typically doesn't assign IPs, that's the job of a router. If there's no DHCP and the machines are set to obtain an IP automatically, it's also possible they auto-assigned their own IPs (169.254.x.x). In that case you probably want to configure your own static IPs instead, or add some type of DHCP server to the network.

ok i will look into that, thanks!