Create a LAN between Mac Mini and two MacBooks without internet I have a Mac Mini (with USB 3.0 ports, one Thunderbolt port, and one Ethernet port) and two MacBooks (both with Thunderbolt and USB 3.0 but no Ethernet ports).

I want to use the Mac Mini as a central repository (essentially a NAS or external hard drive) for video footage that the two MacBooks can transfer files from at the highest possible speed.

I've considered and researched the following things and haven't found a solution:


USB 3.0 male to male crossover cables (don't exist)
Ethernet crossover cable network (MacBooks don't have Ethernet jacks, would this work with Ethernet to Thunderbolt adapters?)
daisy-chaining Mac Mini → MacBook 1 → MacBook 2 using Thunderbolt (not sure if this is possible, can anybody verify?)


If none of these options are possible, I guess I'll have to connect the Mini to the network via Ethernet and hope transfer speeds are decent.
I think this is what you're looking for as a cheap and easy solution:

http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC704ZM/A/apple-usb-ethernet-adapter

or:

http://store.apple.com/us/product/MD463ZM/A/thunderbolt-to-gigabit-ethernet-adapter

Get a switch, plug your three computers into it via ethernet, and configure them all with static IPs on the same subnet. You can also run a DHCP server on the Mini if you want, but it's not required for this sort of setup.

If you really want the absolute fastest, you'd need to use IP over Thunderbolt directly, but that's getting rather more complicated: http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1657957 Not even sure there are Thunderbolt networking switches available yet.