Wirless & Wired??

I have 2 laptops(both macs) connected to the same wireless network.
Today I wanted to transfer a large file from one to the other so I got a
crossover a cable and connect the two laptops directly to each other.

I wasn't exactly sure what would happen, it seems as though when I
transfered the file they used the slow wifi connection. I had to disable
wifi on one of the laptops in order to benefit from the increased speed
of the ethernet cable.

Can someone explained how this setup actually works and what decides
what connection is used?

On 30 Jan 2007, Mark <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>I have 2 laptops(both macs) connected to the same wireless network.

>Today I wanted to transfer a large file from one to the other so I got a
>crossover a cable and connect the two laptops directly to each other.

I'm not all that familiar with Macs (I do have an iMac, but have had many
years with Windows XP/98/95 and in the 80s, with AppleTalk). My guess is
that broadcasts on your wireless network will mean the two laptops would
have noted the presence and IP address of other systems, so when A tries
to reach B, A already knows to find B via the wireless network.

I don't know how you would have specified the system "B" from "A" but
if you have a way to use the IP addresses, then these could distinguish
between the wireless interface and the wired interface.

"Mark" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:45bfca2f.0@entanet...
>I have 2 laptops(both macs) connected to the same wireless network. Today I
>wanted to transfer a large file from one to the other so I got a crossover
>a cable and connect the two laptops directly to each other.
>
> I wasn't exactly sure what would happen, it seems as though when I
> transfered the file they used the slow wifi connection. I had to disable
> wifi on one of the laptops in order to benefit from the increased speed of
> the ethernet cable.
>
> Can someone explained how this setup actually works and what decides what
> connection is used?

you have to disable one before using the other....I went through this loop a
while back and this was the general opinion from the eggspurts.