Setting network adapter metric priority in Windows 7
I'm having an issue on Windows 7 - if I have my Ethernet cable plugged in, Windows will default to using my WiFi network adapter. I would prefer that Windows default to my Ethernet connection. In order to resolve this, I have to manually disconnect the WiFi adapter in Control Panel's "Networking and Sharing Center", and then it will recognize my Ethernet connection.
Another weird thing is when I look at Control Panel\Network and Internet\Network Connections, my "TAP-Win32 Adapter OAS" is always disconnected. My Ethernet adapter is only noticed when I have it plugged in; and only then it shows up as a new adapter called "Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller".
Note: Sorry I can't show screen captures because I'm one reputation point away from being able to show images.
I followed the steps in the articles How to Change the Priority of Wired/Wireless Network Cards in Windows and An explanation of the Automatic Metric feature for Internet Protocol routes
Here are my current metrics (network adapter priority):
C:\Users\Michael> netstat -rn
===========================================================================
Interface List
10...1c c1 de 98 1b 88 ......Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller
16...00 ff fa d7 9e 94 ......TAP-Win32 Adapter OAS
13...00 26 82 c8 41 a7 ......Broadcom 43224AG 802.11a/b/g/draft-n Wi-Fi Adapter
12...70 f3 95 79 4f ec ......Bluetooth Device (Personal Area Network)
24...00 50 56 c0 00 08 ......VMware Virtual Ethernet Adapter for VMnet8
1...........................Software Loopback Interface 1
18...00 00 00 00 00 00 00 e0 Microsoft ISATAP Adapter
21...00 00 00 00 00 00 00 e0 Microsoft ISATAP Adapter #2
22...00 00 00 00 00 00 00 e0 Microsoft ISATAP Adapter #3
14...00 00 00 00 00 00 00 e0 Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface
17...00 00 00 00 00 00 00 e0 Microsoft ISATAP Adapter #4
20...00 00 00 00 00 00 00 e0 Microsoft ISATAP Adapter #5
===========================================================================
IPv4 Route Table
===========================================================================
Active Routes:
Network Destination Netmask Gateway Interface Metric
0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 192.168.1.1 192.168.1.103 28
0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 192.168.1.1 192.168.1.101 24
127.0.0.0 255.0.0.0 On-link 127.0.0.1 306
127.0.0.1 255.255.255.255 On-link 127.0.0.1 306
127.255.255.255 255.255.255.255 On-link 127.0.0.1 306
192.168.1.0 255.255.255.0 On-link 192.168.1.103 270
192.168.1.0 255.255.255.0 On-link 192.168.1.101 268
192.168.1.101 255.255.255.255 On-link 192.168.1.101 268
192.168.1.103 255.255.255.255 On-link 192.168.1.103 270
192.168.1.255 255.255.255.255 On-link 192.168.1.103 270
192.168.1.255 255.255.255.255 On-link 192.168.1.101 268
192.168.116.0 255.255.255.0 On-link 192.168.116.1 276
192.168.116.1 255.255.255.255 On-link 192.168.116.1 276
192.168.116.255 255.255.255.255 On-link 192.168.116.1 276
224.0.0.0 240.0.0.0 On-link 127.0.0.1 306
224.0.0.0 240.0.0.0 On-link 192.168.1.101 268
224.0.0.0 240.0.0.0 On-link 192.168.116.1 276
224.0.0.0 240.0.0.0 On-link 192.168.1.103 270
255.255.255.255 255.255.255.255 On-link 127.0.0.1 306
255.255.255.255 255.255.255.255 On-link 192.168.1.101 268
255.255.255.255 255.255.255.255 On-link 192.168.116.1 276
255.255.255.255 255.255.255.255 On-link 192.168.1.103 270
===========================================================================
Although the "Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller" has the higher priority metric, Windows still uses the WiFi connection by default. So to be explicit, I followed the instructions from the article; I unchecked the "automatic metric" assignment, and set it manually; only for the following adapters (on TCP/IPv4):
- 10: TAP-Win32 Adapter OAS
- 12: Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller
- 14: Broadcom 43224AG 802.11a/b/g/draft-n Wi-Fi Adapter
- 16: Bluetooth Device (Personal Area Network)
I then rebooted, and unfortunately, these settings were not picked up. Running the "netstat -rn" displays the same interface list priority as shown above, and again Windows used the WiFi adapter by default.
If anyone has run into the same issues and resolved them, please let me know. The fact that Windows 7 does not prioritize an Ethernet connection over a WiFi connection baffles me, and its annoying to have to finagle around with it every time I boot up.
If you also understand the behavior for the two adapters "Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller" and "TAP-Win32 Adapter OAS", that would be helpful as well.
Answer
Windows has two different settings in which priority is established. There is the metric value which you have already set in the adapter settings, and then there is the connection priority in the network connections settings.
To change the priority of the connections:
- Open your Adapter Settings (Control Panel\Network and Internet\Network Connections)
- Click Alt to pull up the menu bar
- Select Advanced -> Advanced Settings
- Change the order of the connections so that the connection you want to have priority is top on the list