Ethernet broadcasts are not passed to WiFi in Wifi Router

[wizlinkx]

Hello guys,
I'm new here.

I hope the explanation about my issue is clearly stated and someone can shed some light on this.

I'm trying to connect a Mid 2014 MacBook Pro running macOS Big Sur with an HP ZBOOK G4 running Windows 11 Pro, for file sharing across my home LAN.
I have set up both for file sharing and they work fine via wifi.

Both are connected to a WiFi router, a D-Link model DIR-853/ET. Not connecting to the internet thru this.
The Mac is connected to the router via wifi while The ZBOOK is connected via an ethernet cable and WiFi.
But WiFi is disabled in the ZBOOK when I don't need it, which I will shortly explain.

I'm assuming all features on the router work as they should because it is only 3 months old and has been working well.
The router is configured for DHCP, and the subnet masks are identical.
Accordingly, 192.168.0.x 255.255.255.0
File transfers between them are ok using wifi.

Here's the issue.

I have a small home broadcast studio and use the ZBOOK to connect and control a Blackmagic ATEM Mini Pro video switcher.
The ATEM has USB type-C and ethernet ports.
Ethernet is the only way to control the ATEM using Blackmagic's Control Software.
The ATEM streams Video/Audio via the USB type-C port.
That is connected to the ZBOOK's USB type-C port, which I use as a live input to OBS for broadcasting.

Content files I create on the MAC need to transfer to the ZBOOK on the fly.
Since the Mac can only connect via WiFi to the router ZBOOK ethernet cannot see the Mac.
So this is to say that I can't see the Mac on Windows Explorer 'Network' when connected through ethernet.
I should be able to do the file transfers without having to switch the WiFi adapter on and off on the ZBOOK every time.

The ethernet connection between the ZBOOK and the ATEM via the router is in perfect working order.
I cannot understand why the internal routing between the ethernet ports and the wifi isn't working in the router.

I appreciate your help on this.

Thank you guys in advance.

 

[voyagerfan99]

What are the IP addresses from each computer?
Can you ping each computer from one another?

 

[wizlinkx]

What are the IP addresses from each computer?
Can you ping each computer from one another?

Hi Voyagerfan99,
Thank you for the reply.

On the Mac 192.168.0.146 (wifi adapter)
On the ZBOOK 192.168.0.157 (Ethernet adapter) Network profile type 'Private'
On the ZBOOK 192.168.0.151 (wifi adapter) Network profile type 'Private'
Ping responds when connected via WiFi from both sides. Mac to PC, PC to Mac.
Ping from PC Ethernet to MAC Wifi success.
Ping from MAC wifi to PC Ethernet fail.
Ping from MAC wifi to PC wifi success.

 

[voyagerfan99]

So are you plugging in ethernet to your ATEM and then connecting the ATEM via USB-C and trying to ping that way? I'm confused.

 

[wizlinkx]

So are you plugging in ethernet to your ATEM and then connecting the ATEM via USB-C and trying to ping that way? I'm confused.

I'm trying to ping the ZBOOK's Ethernet port (192.168.0.157) from the MAC and there is no reply.
The ATEM is connected to the Router by Ethernet. No problem at all there. All good and working. Both MAC and ZBOOK can see it and I can ping and get a reply.

The ATEM's USB-C port is directly connected to the ZBOOK and all good. It only sends Audio/Video streaming. Although I can use the USB-C to access the ATEM for the Blackmagic Control Software. I don't want to do that because then I don't have any other method for streaming A/V for the OBS.

I connect cameras and online feeds such as ZOOM video calls via a LENOVO to the ATEM and use its switching in between them.
My problem was I couldn't access the ZBOOK from the MAC.

I continued troubleshooting last night and found Portmaster blocking incoming requests from the MAC although it was working ok before.
I had entered MAC's IP in the Portmaster LAN exceptions and it was all good.
When I shutdown Portmaster I'm able to get through to the ZBOOK from MAC.

So this is a temporary fix.
I probably have to reinstall Portmaster.

Thank you for coming to my assistance.

 

[beers]

This seems like a lot of effort for ICMP replies.

It's layer 2 traffic, if a service isn't working then it's a host firewall.

 

[wizlinkx]

This seems like a lot of effort for ICMP replies.

It's layer 2 traffic, if a service isn't working then it's a host firewall.

Thanks for your reply.

 

[wizlinkx]

Ok. I found a solution to my issue in the Portmaster.
May be this will help someone in the future with a similar situation on a PC with Portmaster installed.
I had to redo this exception in Global settings and it worked.
Select Glabal settings. No 1 in the image.
By default all the incoming LAN connections are blocked.
Switch off Force Block Incoming Connections (Unblock). Slide Switch will turn from green to grey as seen in the No 2 in the image.
This will open up the computer to the LAN. The next steps will protect it from attacks.
Must add the IP addresses only of the devices that needs to connect to this computer (your mobile, Macbook, etc). No 3 in the image.
Very important! is to set the rule to block everything else. No 4 in the image. This is to make sure no other apps or devices can connect.