Interface Details
The Interface Details pane displays comprehensive information about the currently selected network interface. This pane is located on the left side of the main window and updates automatically when you select a different interface from the toolbar.
Basic Information
The top section displays fundamental interface properties:
Display Name
The friendly name of the interface (e.g., "Wi-Fi", "Ethernet", "USB 10/100/1000 LAN")
Interface Type
The type of network connection: - Wi-Fi - Ethernet - Bluetooth PAN - Thunderbolt Bridge - Virtual (bridge, utun) - Other
Interface Name
The system identifier (e.g., en0, en1, en2)
IP Address
The current IPv4 address assigned to this interface.
Highlighted for easy visibility
Note: If using Privacy obfuscation, this will show partially masked (e.g., 192.168.1.***)
Gateway
The default gateway (router) IP address for this network.
DNS Servers
List of configured DNS servers for this interface, displayed as comma-separated values.
Example: 192.168.1.1, 8.8.8.8
MAC Address
The hardware (Media Access Control) address of this interface.
Note: When privacy obfuscation is enabled, shows OUI plus *** (e.g., 00:11:22:::***)
Subnet Mask
The subnet mask with CIDR notation.
Example: 255.255.255.0 /24
Default Route
Indicates whether this interface is the default route for internet traffic.
Values: - ✓ Yes (this is your primary internet connection) - ✗ No (traffic uses a different interface)
Neighbor Discovery
When available, displays information from LLDP (Link Layer Discovery Protocol) or CDP (Cisco Discovery Protocol) about the connected network device.
Neighbor Name
The hostname or system name of the connected switch/router/access point.
Example: Office-Switch-01, cisco-ap-3702i
Neighbor Port
The physical port on the neighboring device where this interface is connected.
Example: GigabitEthernet1/0/24, FastEthernet0/1
Native VLAN
The VLAN identifier for untagged traffic on this port.
Internet Details
Comprehensive information about your public internet connection. This section updates: - Every 2 minutes during normal operation - Every 10 seconds for 60 seconds after network changes (rapid polling mode) - Automatically detects and logs IP address changes
IPv4 Address
Your public IPv4 address as seen by the internet.
Obfuscation: When privacy mode enabled, shows 203.0..
IPv6 Address
Your public IPv6 address (if available).
Obfuscation: When privacy mode enabled, shows partial prefix
ASN (Autonomous System Number)
The AS number of your internet provider with a clickable link to ipinfo.io for detailed information.
Example: AS7922 (links to https://ipinfo.io/AS7922)
ISP
Your Internet Service Provider's name.
Example: Comcast Cable Communications, Verizon Fios, AT&T Services
Domain
The domain associated with your ISP.
Example: comcast.net, verizon.net
Country
Your country code and full country name.
Example: US (United States), CA (Canada)
IP Change Detection
NetViews automatically monitors for IP address changes and:
- Logs internal IP changes to Network Logs
- Logs external (public) IP changes to Network Logs
- Shows optional alert notifications (configurable in Settings → Alerts)
- Enters rapid polling mode after detection
Speed Test Button
Quick access button to launch the Speed Test tool.
Alternative Access: Toolbar → Speed Test button or ⌘R
Wireless Details
For Wi-Fi interfaces, this section displays detailed wireless information. Updates every 1 second in real-time.
SSID (Network Name)
The name of the Wi-Fi network you're connected to.
Note: Requires Location Services permission. Without it, macOS restricts SSID access.
BSSID (Access Point MAC)
The MAC address of the specific access point you're connected to, along with vendor identification.
Example: 00:11:22:33:44:55 (Cisco Systems)
Note: Useful for identifying specific APs in multi-AP networks
Channel
The Wi-Fi channel number.
2.4 GHz: Channels 1-14 (depending on region) 5 GHz: Various channels (36, 40, 44, 48, 149, 153, 157, 161, etc.) 6 GHz: Wi-Fi 6E channels (1-233)
Channel Width
The bandwidth of the Wi-Fi channel.
Values: 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, 160 MHz
Impact: Wider channels = higher potential speeds but more interference
Band
The frequency band in use.
Values: - 2.4 GHz (longer range, more interference) - 5 GHz (faster speeds, shorter range) - 6 GHz (Wi-Fi 6E, fastest speeds, shortest range)
Signal Strength (RSSI)
The Received Signal Strength Indicator in dBm.
Color Coding: - Green: ≥ -62 dBm (excellent signal) - Yellow: -69 to -63 dBm (good signal) - Red: ≤ -70 dBm (weak signal)
Interpretation: - -30 dBm: Maximum signal (rare, requires close proximity) - -50 dBm: Excellent signal - -60 dBm: Good signal - -67 dBm: Acceptable signal - -70 dBm: Weak signal, may experience slowdowns - -80 dBm: Poor signal, frequent disconnections - -90 dBm: Unusable signal
Noise Level
The ambient radio frequency noise in dBm.
Typical Values: -90 to -95 dBm (lower is better)
SNR (Signal-to-Noise Ratio)
The difference between signal and noise, measured in dB.
Calculation: SNR = Signal - Noise
Color Coding: - Green: ≥ 25 dB (excellent) - Yellow: 15-24 dB (good) - Red: < 15 dB (poor)
Interpretation: - 40+ dB: Excellent, maximum performance - 25-40 dB: Very good, high speeds achievable - 15-25 dB: Good, decent performance - 10-15 dB: Fair, reduced performance - < 10 dB: Poor, unstable connection
Connection Speed
The current Wi-Fi link speed in Mbps (megabits per second).
Example: 866 Mbps (802.11ac), 1201 Mbps (802.11ax)
Note: This is the PHY rate, not actual throughput. Real-world speeds are typically 40-60% of this value.
More Details Button
Opens the comprehensive Wireless Details window showing:
- Complete 802.11n/ac/ax capabilities
- Security information (WPA2/WPA3, cipher suites)
- BSS load and channel utilization
- Supported rates and PHY modes
- Radio measurement capabilities
- Neighboring access points
- DTIM information
See: Wireless Details for complete documentation
DHCP Information
Displays all DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) parameters for dynamically configured interfaces.
DHCP Server
The IP address of the DHCP server that assigned this interface's configuration.
Router
The default gateway provided by DHCP (usually same as Gateway in basic info).
Subnet Mask
The subnet mask provided by DHCP.
Broadcast Address
The broadcast address for this subnet.
Example: 192.168.1.255 for network 192.168.1.0/24
Domain
The DNS domain name provided by DHCP.
Example: local, home.arpa, example.com
DNS Servers
DNS servers provided by DHCP (may differ from manually configured DNS).
Lease Time
The total duration of the DHCP lease.
Example: 24 hours, 7 days, infinite
Renewal Time (T1)
When the client will attempt to renew the lease with the same DHCP server.
Typical Value: 50% of lease time
Rebinding Time (T2)
When the client will attempt to contact any DHCP server if renewal failed.
Typical Value: 87.5% of lease time
Static IP Detection
If the interface is configured with a static IP (not DHCP), this section will indicate that no DHCP information is available.
All DHCP Options
A detailed list of all DHCP options received, showing:
- Option code (1-255)
- Option name (e.g., Subnet Mask, Router, DNS Server)
- Option value
Privacy Note: MAC addresses in DHCP options can be obfuscated when privacy mode is enabled.
Common Options: - Option 1: Subnet Mask - Option 3: Router - Option 6: DNS Server - Option 15: Domain Name - Option 51: Lease Time - Option 58: Renewal Time (T1) - Option 59: Rebinding Time (T2)
Internet Sharing
When macOS Internet Sharing is enabled and this interface is sharing its connection, an additional button appears:
Internet Sharing Details Button
Opens the Internet Sharing window showing:
- Shared interfaces configuration
- Wireless AP details (if sharing via Wi-Fi)
- Connected devices with DHCP leases
- Device names, IPs, MACs, and vendors
See: Internet Sharing for complete documentation
Live Updates
The Interface Details pane updates automatically:
| Section | Update Frequency | Triggered By |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Info | On change | Network configuration changes, interface selection |
| Neighbor Discovery | Real-time | LLDP/CDP packet capture |
| Internet Details | 2 minutes | Timer (10 seconds for 60s after network change) |
| Wireless Details | 1 second | Timer (when interface is Wi-Fi) |
| DHCP Information | On change | DHCP transactions, interface selection |
| Internet Sharing | 5 seconds | Timer (when sharing enabled) |
Usage Tips
Monitoring Signal Strength
For Wi-Fi connections:
- Watch the Signal Strength value and color
- Monitor SNR for quality assessment
- Use "More Details" to see neighboring APs
- Check Channel to identify potential interference
Troubleshooting Connectivity
When experiencing issues:
- Verify IP Address is assigned
- Check Gateway is reachable (use Ping Monitor)
- Confirm DNS Servers are responding (Settings → DNS Monitoring)
- Review Default Route status
- Check Internet Details for public connectivity
Understanding Your Network
To better understand your network setup:
- Review Neighbor Discovery for switch/router information
- Note VLAN configuration if displayed
- Check DHCP lease times for renewal schedules
- Examine all DHCP options for advanced configurations
Identifying Network Changes
NetViews helps you detect changes:
- Watch Network Logs for IP change events
- Monitor Interface Details for configuration changes
- Enable alerts in Settings for proactive notifications
Next, explore the Ping Monitor to learn about continuous host monitoring, or check out Network Logs to see real-time network events.