iMac using Ethernet or Wifi?

[LarryJoe33]

My iMac is connected to Ethernet and Wifi. Ethernet is listed first priority in Networks and Wifi second. How can I tell which network it is actually using? I looked in Activity Monitor and it's not obvious. I had just assumed it was using ethernet but I get wifi like speeds (120 mbps)?

 

[Fishrrman]

If ethernet is first on the list, I would reckon that it will ALWAYS be used.

The wifi will be used ONLY if the ethernet connection isn't working. But if your ethernet is connected to the same router that is broadcasting your wifi signal, if you lose ethernet, you've probably lost wifi as well...

 

[Raz0rEdge]

There isn't any that explicitly tells you which interface is being used. The two network interfaces, however, will get different IP addresses if they are both active at the same time..

You might want to disable the WiFi and run a test purely on Ethernet to see what sort of speeds you get and then flip it around. With that baseline information, turn both on with the prioritization you want and re-test. Then try flipping the priority to see if it has any effect on the overall speed.

Ethernet, depending on the router, is either 100 Mbps or 1000 Mbps (most recent routers are the gigabit speed)..more expensive ones go to 10 gigabit. WiFI 802.11AC goes up to has a bunch of speeds depending on the bandwidth, but WiFi is very lossy, so you won't get anywhere near the theoretical max speeds..

Also when testing on either interface ensure that you test against the same site under the same circumstances..

Regards

 

[Tonsko]

netstat -rn in the terminal will tell you which interface is 'default', i.e. the one currently in use. Can test by turning wifi off though and seeing if the default interface changes. More info abut IP addresses can be found using the ifconfig command in terminal.

Or, as poster above says simply disable wifi, then you know which interface is being used.

 

[LarryJoe33]

Thank you all, very helpful. When I did the speedtest I disabled wifi to force or ensure it was on ethernet. That was when it returned 120mbps, which is the same as the wifi. The router is xfinity's latest I hooked it up about a month ago and my speed doubled. It is also the router that has the ability to communicate with an app and be controlled o shut off certain devices, set up profiles, device specific parental controls etc. Pretty cool stuff. I assume it's the latest technology on terms of speed but maybe not.

 

[SmallDane]

How are you testing the speed? If you're testing the internal LAN speed, then you should expect something like 940 mbps. But if you're testing your Internet speed, then it depends on how fast your Internet connection from your ISP is.

 

[LarryJoe33]

How are you testing the speed? If you're testing the internal LAN speed, then you should expect something like 940 mbps. But if you're testing your Internet speed, then it depends on how fast your Internet connection from your ISP is.

Thanks. I am testing it by shutting off WiFi and then going to Speedtest.net and running a test. The results are very similar to the same WiFi test or 120mbps. Maybe xfinty has me limited based on my plan?

 

[SmallDane]

Thanks. I am testing it by shutting off WiFi and then going to Speedtest.net and running a test. The results are very similar to the same WiFi test or 120mbps. Maybe xfinty has me limited based on my plan?

Then you're testing your Internet speed and not your local network speed. So it has nothing to do with WiFi vs Ethernet. Ask your Internet provider what speed you are paying for. But 120mpbs is pretty good.

 

[LarryJoe33]

Then you're testing your Internet speed and not your local network speed. So it has nothing to do with WiFi vs Ethernet. Ask your Internet provider what speed you are paying for. But 120mpbs is pretty good.

Thank you. I guess I assumed an ethernet connection would blow away wifi.

 

[SmallDane]

Thank you. I guess I assumed an ethernet connection would blow away wifi.

You're testing your Internet connection - not your Ethernet or WiFi connection. Ask your Internet provider what speed you're paying for. It's probably around 100 mbps. That's fairly common depending on where you live, I guess.

 

[LarryJoe33]

I will and thanks. I guess I just assumed there would be a significant difference between WiFi and a direct connection with the router. I guess WiFi has changed.