Internet Sharing Details

The Internet Sharing Details window provides monitoring and management of macOS Internet Sharing, showing connected devices and their DHCP lease information.

Availability: Only when Internet Sharing is enabled in macOS

Access Method: 1. Enable Internet Sharing in System Preferences → Sharing 2. Select the interface that's sharing in PingStalker's toolbar 3. In Interface Details, click Internet Sharing Details button

Note: Button only appears when Internet Sharing is active

macOS Internet Sharing allows your Mac to act as a router, sharing one internet connection with other devices through a different interface.

Common Scenarios:

Ethernet to Wi-Fi: - Mac connected to internet via Ethernet - Shares connection via Wi-Fi hotspot - Other devices connect to Mac's Wi-Fi network

Wi-Fi to Ethernet: - Mac connected to Wi-Fi - Shares connection to Ethernet port - Device plugged into Mac gets internet

Wi-Fi to Wi-Fi: - Mac connected to one Wi-Fi network - Shares via second Wi-Fi adapter - Requires Mac with multiple Wi-Fi interfaces

Mobile Hotspot: - Mac connected to iPhone USB tethering - Shares to other devices via Wi-Fi or Ethernet

Configuration Flow Diagram

The window displays a visual representation of your Internet Sharing setup.

Shared From (Source Interfaces)

Shows: Which interface(s) provide the internet connection

Display: - Interface icon (Wi-Fi, Ethernet, USB, etc.) - Interface name - IP address

Examples: - "Wi-Fi (en0): 192.168.1.50" - "Ethernet (en4): 10.0.0.25" - "iPhone USB (en5): 172.20.10.2"

Multiple Sources: All interfaces contributing to shared connection are listed

When sharing through Wi-Fi, shows hotspot configuration:

SSID: - The network name others see - Example: "John's MacBook Pro" - Configured in System Preferences → Sharing

Channel: - Wi-Fi channel used for hotspot - Example: "Channel 6 (2.4 GHz)"

PHY Modes: - Supported Wi-Fi standards - Example: "802.11b/g/n"

Security: - Encryption type (usually WPA2) - Password protection status

Arrow Indicator

Visual: Large arrow pointing toward internet

Label: "Shared to Internet via:"

Meaning: Shows direction of traffic flow

Gateway Interface

Shows: The interface providing actual internet access

Display: - Interface name and type - IP address - Gateway IP

Example: - "Wi-Fi (en0)" - "IP: 192.168.1.50" - "Gateway: 192.168.1.1"

Significance: This is where your Mac gets internet, then shares it

Connected Devices Table

Real-time list of all devices connected through Internet Sharing.

Auto-Refresh: Updates every 5 seconds

Active Status

Symbol: ✓ (connected) or ✗ (disconnected)

Connected (✓): - Device currently has active connection - DHCP lease active - Can access internet through your Mac

Disconnected (✗): - Device was connected but is now offline - Lease expired or device disconnected - Historical entry

Device Name

The hostname provided by the device during DHCP request.

Examples: - "Johns-iPhone" - "DESKTOP-ABC123" - "Living-Room-TV" - "android-a1b2c3d4e5f6"

When Empty: Device didn't provide hostname (shows as "-" or blank)

Source: DHCP hostname option (option 12)

IP Address

The IP address your Mac's DHCP server assigned to the device.

Format: Typically 192.168.2.x range

Example: 192.168.2.2, 192.168.2.3, etc.

Range: Configured automatically by macOS based on sharing interface

Privacy: Can be obfuscated in Settings → Privacy

MAC Address

The hardware address of the connected device.

Format: 00:11:22:33:44:55

Privacy: Shows OUI + *** when obfuscation enabled (00:11:22:::***)

Persistence: Same device always has same MAC (unless using randomization)

Vendor

Device manufacturer identified from MAC address OUI.

Examples: - Apple, Inc. - Samsung Electronics - Google Inc. - Amazon Technologies

Logo: Displayed when available

Unknown: For randomized MACs or unrecognized OUIs

See: MAC Address Lookup for vendor identification

Remaining Lease Time

How long until the DHCP lease expires.

Renewal: - Device automatically renews at 50% of lease time - Transparent to user - Lease time resets on renewal

Expired: - Device no longer has valid IP assignment - Will request new lease if still connected - May appear as disconnected

DHCP Server Configuration

Automatic Configuration: macOS automatically configures DHCP server when Internet Sharing is enabled

Default Settings:

IP Range: - Typically 192.168.2.2 - 192.168.2.254 - Your Mac uses 192.168.2.1 (gateway)

Subnet Mask: - 255.255.255.0 (/24) - Standard Class C subnet

DNS Servers: - Your Mac's DNS servers are passed to clients - Clients use same DNS as your Mac

Gateway: - Your Mac's sharing interface IP (192.168.2.1) - All traffic routes through your Mac

Use Cases

Monitoring Hotspot Usage

Track: - How many devices are connected - Which devices are using your hotspot - When devices connect/disconnect

Use Case: - Ensure only authorized devices connect - Monitor data usage sources - Troubleshoot connectivity issues

The Internet Sharing Details window provides essential visibility into your Mac's hotspot functionality. Use it alongside Network Scan and other PingStalker features for comprehensive management of shared connections.