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markw10 · Jan 15, 2007, 12:23 PM

I am upgrading my main server computer in my house to a Mac Pro likely this summer. I know it has built in Gigabit Ethernet and I plan to as well add the Wi-Fi 'n' option. Also, in Feb. I plan to get the new 'n' version of the Airport Express Base Station. The only thing I don't like about this is it doesn't have the Gigabit Ethernet option. I thought of a possible workaround to have wi-fi 'n' in my house as well as gigabit for all wired computers. The reason this is important is I have 2 desktops other than the Mac Pro which are all gigabit LAN but yet I also have one, soon two MacBook Pro's as well as a Apple TV on the way.
My workaround would be to have the Mac Pro using Wi-Fi so of course tied into the Airport Express Base Station. As well, I would purchase a gigabit switch which would be hooked onto the gigabit LAN connector on the Mac Pro. I would then use that switch to run the wires to the other two desktops for gigabit LAN and would not use the LAN connectors at all on the Airport Express Base Station. The question, can I use both of these on the Mac Pro at the same time? Would this in a sense create a seamless network meaning that I could communicate (such as transferring files) from my MacBook Pro (over airport wi-fi) to a desktop that is connected via gigabit LAN?

edge.it · Jan 15, 2007, 01:05 PM

off the top of myhead im going to say no. every time in os x.4 ill have wireless up and plug into Ethernet everything turns off and im sitting there wiaiting. you can not share connections like that simultaneously. either choose gigabit or "N". If you are willing to upgrade to os x server, then there might be options there,

hempcamp · Jan 15, 2007, 07:40 PM

I'm not sure if you can "use" both at once -- there's probably a way to activate that from the command line.

One thing you could do is use the gigabit ethernet to connect to the network, then share that connection over wi-fi (system prefs -> sharing -> internet). That would essentially turn your Mac Pro into a base station and eliminate the need for a new base station (unless you wanted to expand range).

--Chris