Network Card Priority Tip (Warning Geek Alert)

You might need this.  Geeky, but easy to do.  I'll give instructions for Windows and Mac.

Most of us have one network connection on our computer, either a WiFi connection or a cabled ethernet connection.  But sometimes we have or need a connection to an additional network at the same time.

For instance... a coworker running Windows 7 wanted to use his Clear WiMax 4G in the office.  It plugs in a USB port and gives broadband speeds wirelessly and much faster than our T1 line.  But... this meant that he couldn't get on our local network.

What we had to do was to tell Windows the order to try the network devices.  This is much like saying "If you can't find it at Walmart, try K-Mart".

Windows 7 made it rather easy.

Click:

• Start
• Control Panel
• Network and Internet
• View Network Status and Tasks
• Change Adaptor Settings

Now find the local ethernet connection.  In my case it is called "Local Area Connection", the name of the network below that, and below that the name of the device, "Intel (R) PRO/1000 CT Network Connection".

• Right click on the network device
• Click on "Properties"
• Find "Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IP{v4)" in the list and click on it to highlight it
• Click the "Properties" button at the bottom right of the list
• Click the "Advanced Button" near the bottom right of the new window
• Uncheck "Automatic metric" which is the last item on the IP Settings tab.
• Change the "Interface metric" to 2
• Click OK
• Click OK
• Click Close
• Repeat for the Clear WiMax USB device, making sure that the interface metric is set to "1".
• Close the Control Panel Window

On my Mac it is even easier.

Click:

• Apple Menu
• System Preferences
• Network
• The gear at the bottom of the device list
• Set Service Order

Now drag the devices/connections to your desired order.  When done, click OK, Apply and then close the window.

Both Windows and OS X make it pretty easy to do this, of course it IS easier on the Mac.