Turn off just internet?

[dynalmadman]

Searched Google, searched here, no love.

Connected via WiFi, total of 2 macbook pros, 2 iPads and 2 iPhones.

My Macbook Pro hosts our Plex server for now. When I am done surfing for the day, I want to turn off this machine's access to the internet, while still leaving WiFi active to serve my Plex clients.

I can't figure out how to do it. (Is this gonna be a face palm on my part? I know is it something so obvious that I missed it.)

Thank you
Michael

 

[S.B.G]

You could always just remove your DNS settings when you want to block the Internet.

 

[dynalmadman]

Must be populated by the NIC, as I cannot remove them. I can add, but cannot remove the ones filled in by the network.

Thanks
Michael

 

[S.B.G]

As long as you leave the gateway IP in there, your LAN will remain accessible.

 

[dynalmadman]

You are correct. I went to full manual settings, giving myself a static IP and I was able to remove and replace the DNS at will.

Not terribly elegant, but seems to work. Thank you very much!
Michael

 

[Trona]

Set up two locations under network preferences, one for the day time and one for the night. Switching doesn't require entering any settings.

 

[dynalmadman]

Sounds good. I will give this a shot later.

Thank you
Michael

 

[dynalmadman]

The 2 locations seems to work fine, but wreaks havoc with Plex server. Can't figure out why the server has to be able to access Internet before local clients can access content. I get why it's needed if my client is outside my LAN, but not inside.

More research....

Thanks for the help her
Michael

 

[cruisin]

Are the clients connecting directly by using the internal IP? Some research shows that the clients tend to use a web address to configure themselves. https://www.reddit.com/r/PleX/comments/2nhp2t/pms_and_pht_without_an_internet_connection/

 

[hobowankenobi]

The DNS settings (along with all network settings) come from your router typically, if using a dynamic IP address (DHCP).

Set up the static/manual (as mentioned above), once with DNS settings for internet access, then make a second static/manual location that is identical (same IP), but without DNS settings for no internet access.

Name them accordingly.

Done.

Bonus: by using the same static IP address, no matter which location is selected, your local file sharing will always be the same.

 

[satcomer]

You might want to get the Synology RT1900ac. It has parent settings built in.

Here is review of it: