Network management is a crucial aspect of maintaining a stable and efficient computing environment. For macOS users, understanding how to configure and manage network settings can help ensure seamless connectivity and optimal performance. This article will guide you through various network management tasks on macOS, such as configuring network interfaces, managing Wi-Fi connections, and using command-line tools to diagnose network issues.

Examples:

1. Configuring Network Interfaces: To configure network interfaces on macOS, you can use the "System Preferences" or the "networksetup" command-line tool. Here's how to do it via the command line:

   • List all network services:

     networksetup -listallnetworkservices

   • Set a manual IP address for a specific network service:

     sudo networksetup -setmanual "Wi-Fi" 192.168.1.100 255.255.255.0 192.168.1.1

   • Set DNS servers for a specific network service:

     sudo networksetup -setdnsservers "Wi-Fi" 8.8.8.8 8.8.4.4

2. Managing Wi-Fi Connections: Managing Wi-Fi connections can be done through the "System Preferences" or using the "networksetup" and "airport" command-line tools. Here are some useful commands:

   • Scan for available Wi-Fi networks:

     /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/Apple80211.framework/Versions/Current/Resources/airport -s

   • Connect to a Wi-Fi network:

     sudo networksetup -setairportnetwork en0 "NetworkName" "Password"

   • Disconnect from the current Wi-Fi network:

     sudo networksetup -removepreferredwirelessnetwork en0 "NetworkName"

3. Diagnosing Network Issues: macOS provides several built-in tools for diagnosing network issues. Here are some common commands:

   • Check current network status:

     ifconfig

   • Ping a remote server to check connectivity:

     ping google.com

   • Traceroute to diagnose network path issues:

     traceroute google.com

   • Check DNS resolution:

     nslookup google.com