Ethernet v. Wireless Grudge Match

August 25, 2005 9:04 AM

I have been given a nice, new laptop at work. It has a wireless card, and is also connected via an ethernet cable. How can I get it to default to using the faster, more stable ethernet connection when I'm at my desk?

Right now, unless I completely disable the wireless connection, the ethernet connection isn't used. I don't want to always be disabling the connection, then needing to remember to re-enable it for meetings or at home. Our wireless is heavily used by untold numbers of people (I'm in an academic library) and is sometimes slow or unstable, so I want to use ethernet as long as it's plugged in. There seems to be a preference set, I just want to flip the order.

posted by donnagirl to computers & internet (3 comments total)

In OS X you drag your preferred connection to the top of the list in network preferences. (You didn't specify which OS you're using)
posted by Popular Ethics at 9:11 AM on August 25, 2005

You didn't say which type of computer it was (Windows-based or Mac); in either event, you're right that you can set the preference.

Windows XP: go to your Network Connections control panel, and then under the "Advanced" menu, select "Advanced Settings...". You'll see a dialog box pop up, and the selected tab will be "Adapters and Bindings." At the top of that box is a list of all your network connections (labeled "Connections"), and they're in the order that Windows XP will use them. If you want Ethernet to take priority, highlight your network card and use the little up arrow on the right to move it to the top of the box. Click OK, and you're done.

Mac OS X (10.4, which is what I have access to at hand): open the Network preference pane, and select "Network Port Configurations" from the "Show" pulldown. The network connections are similarly listed in the order that OS X will use them. Drag your ethernet card to the top of the list, and then click "Apply Now." You're done.
posted by delfuego at 9:12 AM on August 25, 2005

Perfect, delfuego! Sorry, I forgot to mention I was on XP. Thanks for the help!
posted by donnagirl at 9:59 AM on August 25, 2005