

MAC MINI SERVER PORTS PORTABLE
It’s a small, portable desktop computer that can turn any screen into a Mac-powered smart computer.
MAC MINI SERVER PORTS PRO
Mac Pro image via AnandTech.Apple’s Mac mini is exactly that: a mini Mac. My thanks to Jim Tanous who contributed to this article. It's a really nifty capability of our modern Macs. Flexibility is introduced for service isolation, security, or redundancy. The ability of a Mac to operate on two separate networks and have a simultaneous pair of IP addresses opens doors. This mixed mode isn't as secure as using Ethernet cables, but it works. Use the popup labeled Interface: and select Wi-Fi. One can add to the existing Ethernet configuration by using the "+" button at the bottom of the Network window. But they save the day by also having Wi-Fi - which can also be used simultaneously.Īgain, referring to Figure #1 above with, say, an Apple AirPort base station connected to switch #2, Turning on the iMac's Wi-Fi in addition to the the existing Ethernet network on port #1 (the only port) would allow access to the second network via switch #2. This raises the question: what if one is using two networks in a small office or home and can't afford a Mac Pro? iMacs only have one Ethernet port. But for those without a Mac Pro, there is an intriguing way to achieve the same thing. Note that OS X Server has a better GUI for managing that DHCP server. 1) They can be manually assigned or 2) OS X client does have a built-in DHCP server capability. Some design/publication studios use this technique to isolate their production work from security risks coming from the Internet.īecause there is no router that invariably has a DHCP server when using Option #2, the Macs on that LAN have two options to obtain a unique IP address. However, port #2 is connected to a LAN of Macs (and perhaps PCs) that use the file storage capacity of the Mac Pro server, (and perhaps other services) but they don't have access to the Internet. It has access to the Internet via the router on port #1. In this case, the Mac Pro is acting as a file server. This is just a simple example of how a Mac Pro can bridge two networks and provide simultaneous services.
MAC MINI SERVER PORTS PLUS
Plus the iPad and iPhones can then do their Wi-Fi sync to iTunes. Connecting the Mac Pro's port #2 to switch #2 allows all the Macs, iPads and iPhones connected to switch #2 to print with, for example, Printopia. Further suppose an AirPort base station is connected to switch #2, but the Mac Pro is acting as both the master iTunes library and as print server on port #1. Suppose Ethernet port #2 were not in use on the Mac Pro in Figure #1. One example of how this would help is the following. If there are times when there's a need for security, to isolate the Mac from one of the networks, that's managed with the geared popup at the bottom of the Network window. In this case, a second IPv6 network is being used for testing. The Mac Pro can access everything on both of those networks at the same time, and devices on those networks can see the Mac Pro.įor example, here's what the Mac's System Preferences > Network might look like for port #1 (called Ethernet).Īnd here's what it might look like, in parallel, for port #2 (called Ethernet 2). I've chosen to use two of the most popular private (non-routable) IP address schemes, 10.x.x.x and .x, in this example. (Dual Networks) In this case, the Mac Pro is connected to two separate networks, both on the Internet, and each Ethernet port has its own IP address. Now, let's look at the bottom half of Figure #1 above. Or two small, co-located companies may be sharing resources.

For example, one might be a production and the other an experimental network (or a back up). However, it may happen that a home or, more often, a small business may have two separate networks. Those scenarios are generally reflected in the top half of Figure #1 shown below, using just one Ethernet port on a Mac Pro.

Cable Modem > Wireless Router with ports > Macs, iPads etc.Cable Modem > Router > Switch > AirPort, Macs, iPads, etc.If course, at home, some typical configurations are: That's a situation that doesn't usually arise in a home, but it could. What I'm going to discuss here is a connection to two networks, simultaneously. Other configurations include, for example, something called "link aggregation." That's when two Ethernet ports are combined to achieve greater bandwidth. This article is focused on the ones I'm familiar with and have tested. There are several reasons why one might want to utilize both of these Ethernet ports. How and when would one want to use both of these ports? I'll discuss a pair of typical scenarios. Unlike all other Macs, the Mac Pro line has two Ethernet ports.
