- Connecting to a Wired Network
- Connecting to a Wireless Network
- Manually Configuring Network Settings
- Making Connections with Cellular Data Modems
- Creating Virtual Private Network Connections
- Managing Multiple Connections with Locations and Configurations
- Seeking Automated Network Assistance
This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
Managing Multiple Connections with Locations and Configurations
If you have a MacBook, chances are you’re not one to sit still. One day you might be connecting from a beach in Maui, and the next, from a coffee shop in Columbus, Ohio.
To help keep things straight, Mavericks includes Configurations and Locations—two important tools for keeping multiple sets of network information.
For interfaces such as VPNs or other devices that might have multiple “versions” of their settings, you can create configurations. A configuration holds information such as the server you’re connecting to and your specific network settings.
A location, on the other hand, has a much broader scope. Locations enable you to create new configurations across all your interfaces and swap them out instantly. Creating a new location is like establishing an entirely new network setup—making instant reconfiguration a snap.
Creating Configurations
To create a configuration, do the following:
To create a configuration (if supported by your network interface), first open the System Preferences and click the Network icon.
- Click the interface for which you want to create a new configuration.
Using the Configuration pop-up menu, choose Add Configuration.
- Enter a name for the configuration.
Click Create. You may now configure the network interface as described in the chapter.
Your new settings are stored and accessible under the configuration name you provided so that you can easily switch from one to another. (You can also remove or rename configurations under this menu.)
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Adding and Using Locations
Locations are like configurations on steroids. Lots of steroids. Using locations, you can create entirely new sets of network interfaces and options and switch between them easily.
Open the System Preferences and click the Network icon.
- The default location of Automatic is set at the top of the network panel.
Choose Edit Locations from the Location drop-down menu.
- A dialog box that lists any configured locations displays.
- Click the + button to add an entry for a new location. (Use – to remove locations you no longer want.)
- Type a name to describe the location, such as “Office Intranet.”
Click Done.
- All your network settings are now set to their defaults for the new location. All VPN connections and other interfaces are gone. You are, in effect, starting fresh with configuring your Mac network setup.
- Configure your network settings as described in this chapter.
After you’ve completed your setup, you can switch between locations using the Location drop-down menu within the System Preferences Network panel. Remember that you can return to your original network settings by choosing the location named “Automatic.”
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