OSX and DHCP server?

[Alex Satrapa]

On 07/08/2007, at 19:02 , Terry Allen wrote:

> Russ, someone else may chime in with something, but for DHCP to be  
> provided by the Macbook, you will need to have Internet Sharing &  
> Web Sharing turned on in System Preferences.

To expand on the scenario, the address that the Mac assigns itself  
(from the 169.x.x.x network, if I remember correctly) is part of a  
number range allocated to "local". This is a magic network range used  
by devices that follow the ZeroConf specification (the Apple  
implementation is called Bonjour), so your Mac is assigning itself an  
address based on a procedure which the Ethernet-enabled device  
doesn't know.

> ... perhaps if you have a router with DHCP server, you can plug the  
> device into a switch on the same LAN & thus be able to contact it.

I've always found this to be the most reliable and convenient means  
to connect Ethernet devices together. No messing about with crossover  
cables (or messed up "auto detection"), no problems later on with my  
Mac trying to assign DHCP addresses on someone else's network, etc.

If it is imperative that you be able to talk directly between the  
device and the Mac (in the field, for example, where you don't want  
to lug around an extra box with associated battery pack), Internet  
sharing is the way to go. Just remember that you'll have to switch  
Internet sharing off when you get back home or strange things will  
happen to your home network (which can usually be solved by turning  
off Internet sharing and waiting a few hours).

Alex