How to build a 2-Computer network with an ethernet switch?

If you have an ethernet switch, you can use it to build a 2-computer network as described below:

1. Read the manual of the ethernet switch to ensure that all RJ45 ports (sockets) are Auto Negotiation RJ45 ports. All ports have identical functions. You can use any of them to build local network.

2. Power on the ethernet switch.

3. Connect a Mac computer to the switch with an ethernet cable. Allow the Mac to use DHCP configuration. The switch will assign a private IP address to the Mac. Check the IP configuration using "ifconfig" command.

$ ifconfig

en7: flags=8863... mtu 1500
  options=4...
  ether 00:e1:...
  inet 169.254.233.59 netmask 0xffff0000 broadcast 169.254.255.255
  media: autoselect (100baseTX <full-duplex>)
  status: active

4. Connect a PC computer to the switch with an ethernet cable. Allow the PC to use DHCP configuration. The switch will assign another private IP address to the PC. Check the IP configuration using "ipconfig" command.

> ipconfig

ent0: 
  IPv4 address: 169.254.63.13 
  Netmask: 255.255.0.0
  Gateway: 

5. Test the network by "ping" the Mac from the PC.

> ping 169.254.233.59
  from 169.254.233.59: ... time<1ms
  from 169.254.233.59: ... time<1ms
  ...

6. Test the network by "ping" the PC from the Mac. This may not work, if your Mac is not smart to find the IP route.

$ ping 169.254.63.13
Request timeout for icmp_seq 0

⇒ VPN (Virtual Private Network)

⇐ Add Ethernet Switch to Network

⇑ WiFi/Modem Router Configuration

⇑⇑ Internet Connection - Frequently Asked Questions