Connectivity solutions for your desktop and laptop setup
Connectivity solutions for your desktop and laptop setup
You'll need a 10GbE switch and a 10GbE NIC on the laptop. Often you can find adapters that convert Thunderbolt to 10GbE or USB to 5GbE. Check if your modem has more RJ45 ports—use it if available, so you don't need an extra switch. It only has two 10GbE ports, but you could get one with more ports for the laptop. Just plug and play works fine.
Before purchasing a switch, verify that your modem can also act as a router. If not, connect only one device per IP address—most providers limit this to one IP. Securing an affordable 10Gbps router seems nearly out of reach, so consider reaching out to your ISP to see if they can allocate an additional IP address. Many US providers offer a premium for extra IPs instead of just one. Alternatively, you could attach a second 10Gbps port to your desktop and use it to link your laptop, then share connections. I don’t recommend this approach since the laptop’s usage would strain your desktop’s CPU, likely reducing its performance. However, if your priority is delivering 10Gbps speeds on your main machine, enabling file transfers between devices at that speed and keeping your laptop connected could be the most cost-effective solution.