[SOLVED] Connecting to Multiple LAN's with iMac

[kevinakerberg]

Hi everybody,

I work in a theater running sound, and we're looking to switch over from Windows to Mac. Probably an iMac or a Mac Mini. The switch should be pretty seamless, however one problem remains. We're running a Dante network for our pit orchestra that our computer interacts with using its onboard Ethernet. We also are running a network for monitoring our Shure QLX microphones that the computer interacts with using a seperate PCI-E Ethernet card. Obviously both machines have built in NIC's, however we'd need one more. If I were to get a USB-C to Ethernet adapter, would this act as a seperate NIC than the one on board? Or would it somehow split that signal? Any help is appreciated, thanks!

 

[kanewolf]

Hi everybody,

I work in a theater running sound, and we're looking to switch over from Windows to Mac. Probably an iMac or a Mac Mini. The switch should be pretty seamless, however one problem remains. We're running a Dante network for our pit orchestra that our computer interacts with using its onboard Ethernet. We also are running a network for monitoring our Shure QLX microphones that the computer interacts with using a seperate PCI-E Ethernet card. Obviously both machines have built in NIC's, however we'd need one more. If I were to get a USB-C to Ethernet adapter, would this act as a seperate NIC than the one on board? Or would it somehow split that signal? Any help is appreciated, thanks!

A USB to ethernet adapter would act as an independent network. If you have anything that is MORE latency sensitive, I would use the built-in network adapter. The USB may not be as uniformly responsive.

 

[bill001g]

I had a pretty big post but I will post a short version. You could use vlans and use vlans tags on your ethernet port to make it appear as multiple networks. You need a switch that supports this but they pretty common and inexpensive. Now if the machine you need the dual connect on is the apple I do not know what apple supports. Windows support vlan tags on most versions.

 

[SamirD]

A usb nic would be separate than the one on board. If you want to plug in more devices into the built-in nic, get a cheap 5-port switch from any office supply place or best buy:
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/netgea...nmanaged-switch-white/6840341.p?skuId=6840341

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/netgear-5-port-10-100-1000-gigabit-ethernet-unmanaged-switch-blue/6040713.p?skuId=6040713

 

[kanewolf]

A usb nic would be separate than the one on board. If you want to plug in more devices into the built-in nic, get a cheap 5-port switch from any office supply place or best buy:
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/netgea...nmanaged-switch-white/6840341.p?skuId=6840341

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/netgear-5-port-10-100-1000-gigabit-ethernet-unmanaged-switch-blue/6040713.p?skuId=6040713

That would not allow the two independent networks that was identified in the OP.

 

[SamirD]

That would not allow the two independent networks that was identified in the OP.

Ah I see, when they said network they were actually talking about a real computer network.

Well, if these are just two separate IP networks, it is still possible to put both logical networks on the same ethernet network by binding 2 IP addresses to the built-in nic.

Otherwise, a usb nic will work quite well as I don't think these are going to be bandwidth heavy. In fact, I'd be surprised if the networks are faster than 100Mps.