Problem with internet access

911pcars · 09-24-2005, 12:36 AM

My mac suddenly lost the ability to connect. It displays a "No Server" type message when I try to access (via IE and/or Safari). I've got a DSL connection (DSL modem) that goes to a router and separate switch. Normally, the router and switch feed my Mac, laptop and 3 PCs.

Funny thing is that it doesn't work with the normal connection setup, but I can bypass the router and connect directly to the DSL modem and the connection is fine.

Anybody know what's happening? All other computers are working fine with the internet.

I've tried plugging into different router ports and switching cables.

Thanks,
Sherwood

tabs · 09-24-2005, 03:05 AM

Ghosts in the machine...

stomachmonkey · 09-24-2005, 05:50 AM

Reboot everything, modem, router and all of the computers.

Take as much out of the equation as possible.

Boot Mac first and see if issue persists before booting the other computers.

If that does not work then more info about your set up will be needed, like which Mac, which router, OS version, is it getting address via DHCP or static, etc..

good luck.

Scott

Bill Verburg · Bill Verburg's Garage

Quote:

I can bypass the router and connect directly to the DSL modem and the connection is fine.

That suggests that perhaps the router is the issue.

I recently replaced mine after a spate of similar issues, some days it worked fine other days it had to be coxed.

Joeaksa · 09-24-2005, 07:07 AM

Reboot the computer, pull the power on the modem and router. Power up the modem after the computer is up and going then power up the router.

I have used a "best data" cable modem the last 4 years with no issues. A month ago started having little or no connection to the net. Tech found a weak signal and replaced all the cable to the house. 2 weeks later same thing and ended up that Cox Cable is not supporting my old modem. It still worked fine but they changed something in their system that made it not compatable.

Finally had to go with a new modem and it works fine but am somewhat perturbed with Cox.

If you do the above in that sequence it should start talking with everything. Like Bill says, if not then it really points to the router. I have had a Linksys router that worked fine for 11 months then started losing ports. Finally it got down to where only the WiFi and one cat 5 port worked. Replaced it and the Netgear router has worked great so the routers/switches do fail. You might try using another port on the router for the cable to your computer.

JoeA

911pcars · 09-25-2005, 09:30 PM

Thanks for all the suggestion guys, but I'm still incommunicado.

I've tried every combination suggested:

Switch cables
Switch ports
Power computer OFF, then power DSL router ON
Computer ON, power router OFF, then ON

My daughter's networked computer just went out today. So of the 4 workstations (1 Mac, 3 PCs), we've got one Mac and one PC down; 2 still able to connect. Her computer, like mine, is able to connect when plugged directly into the DSL modem (bypassing the router). However, plugged into one of the two working computer router ports, it still doesn't connect.

I'd rather not buy a new router on a guess as I'd rather be sure that was the source of the problem. Sorta like replacing a battery just because it discharged - but still okay.

However, unless I can solve this quickly, I'll have to resort to replacing parts.

Any other ideas?
Thanks,
Sherwood

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

I've occasionally had problems using "automatic" as a location for the network. I set specific locations with their respective settings and use those. This is with a laptop though...

Joeaksa · 09-25-2005, 09:46 PM

Sherwood,

You say that you have two computers down. Will the other two work if plugged directly into the modem? Will all of them work if plugged directly into the modem?

If they all work direct, then I cannot see anything else in the chain here other than the router.

JoeA

911pcars · 09-25-2005, 10:06 PM

JoeA,
My reasoned mind tells me it isn't the router if I plug in an otherwise able-bodied computer (A) into a router port that was just 5 seconds ago connected to another (B) and was able to connect to the internet, and then (A) still doesn't work.

Perhaps that's why I'm not a computer geek. Car geek yes.

I'll try your suggestion tomorrow: plugging the other two directly into the DSL modem, but I have no doubt they will all work connected in this manner. I just thought there was some network setting inside the computer(s) that automatically changed to disallow access (virus?).

Seems like a trip to the computer store is in order. I currently have a 4-port SMC router. Any brand demonstrably better/longer lasting?

Sherwood

HardDrive · 09-25-2005, 11:01 PM

More information is needed.

On the PC that cannot connect, select Start, then Run. At the run command type 'cmd'. From the command prompt type 'ipconfig'.

What do you see? If the IP Address says 169.254.X.X (Xs could be anything), this indicates that you are not getting an address from the router. If it is 192.168.X.X, then this should be a non-issue.

If you want to check on a mac, you need to get to a command prompt(not sure how), and type 'ifconfig'. If it says 0.0.0.0, then you are not getting an address.

That fact that changing cables and ports has no effect makes me think the the router is not giving you guys addresses.

If this is all kosher, we can take a look at sercurity.

911pcars · 09-25-2005, 11:35 PM

"...........If the IP Address says 169.254.X.X (Xs could be anything), this indicates that you are not getting an address from the router. If it is 192.168.X.X, then this should be a non-issue."

HardDrive,
I did check the router addresses. On the two not connecting, the addresses started out with 169.254.xxx.... The computers that connected had 192.168.xxx....... addresses.

Thus, the two aren't receiving valid router addresses? BTW, these work when connected directly (one at a time) into the DSL router.

May I confirm this as a router issue or is there something else?

Thanks,
Sherwood

Joeaksa · 09-26-2005, 08:21 AM

Sherwood,

Not sure how to do this on a Mac but is there something like a device manager on the computer? On a PC you go to the device manager, select the device you are interested in and go to properties. It will then tell you if the device is working properly or not.

Also, does the Mac have lights that flash when data is transfered to the network cable? Do they flash on the two "inop" computers when plugged in?

I am curious if your NIC (network adapter) is working on the two that are not talking to the router. Can you plug all four computers in the router and talk or share files and drives between the four computers? If you are still having problems with these two would wonder if your network card or driver is the issue.

Joe

911pcars · 09-26-2005, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Joeaksa
Sherwood,

Not sure how to do this on a Mac but is there something like a device manager on the computer? On a PC you go to the device manager, select the device you are interested in and go to properties. It will then tell you if the device is working properly or not.

Also, does the Mac have lights that flash when data is transfered to the network cable? Do they flash on the two "inop" computers when plugged in?

I am curious if your NIC (network adapter) is working on the two that are not talking to the router. Can you plug all four computers in the router and talk or share files and drives between the four computers? If you are still having problems with these two would wonder if your network card or driver is the issue.

Joe

Joe,
The lights on the router usually blink at a fast rate if there's a connection. The two lines on the non-connected computers (1 Mac, 1 PC) do not blink (steady ON). Have not checked the "Device Manager" on the PC, but it too works when the router is bypassed.

The 3 PCs are networked and can share files and printers. I'm not sufficiently smart enough to network the MAC.

I'm sending this message from my MAC via a direct connection to the DSL modem (bypassed the router), so I can only assume my network card is operational. Is that a correct assumption?

Thanks,
Sherwood

Joeaksa · 09-26-2005, 11:49 AM

If every one of the computers can access each other when hooked to the router, then it does not sound as if there is a problem with the network card in each computer or the router.

Its interesting that they can share files between themselves but two of the four are not able to access the internet. Its using the same system going through the router to the other computer that it would use to get access to the internet.

Also, if you can access the internet by plugging each one into the modem, then the network cards on each are good.

Sure that you do not have a couple of network bad cables? This is an interesting one. Your pings from the info that HardDrive gave you show that there is a problem with two of the systems... They all should be returning a 192... address.

Joe A

911pcars · 09-26-2005, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Joeaksa
If every one of the computers can access each other when hooked to the router, then it does not sound as if there is a problem with the network card in each computer or the router.

Its interesting that they can share files between themselves but two of the four are not able to access the internet. Its using the same system going through the router to the other computer that it would use to get access to the internet.

Also, if you can access the internet by plugging each one into the modem, then the network cards on each are good.

Sure that you do not have a couple of network bad cables? This is an interesting one. Your pings from the info that HardDrive gave you show that there is a problem with two of the systems... They all should be returning a 192... address.

Joe A

I haven't verified the network between computers is okay. I switched cables to see if there's a problem. None.

Connected directly to the DSL modem, this computer shows a 69.225.xxxx address; connected to the router (and the only one), it's 169.xxx... and no connection.

Sherwood

Halm · 09-26-2005, 01:43 PM

If the 2 working PC have an IP address starting with 192 and the 2 that are not working are getting 169 addresses, then it sounds like the DHCP server on the router is not functioning. You could try configuring them with a static IP. Go to the working PC's open a CMD window and type IPCONFIG /All. That will give you the info you need to do a complete static address. The DNS info is particularly important to enter correctly.

PM me if you need more info or help.

Mulhollanddose · 09-26-2005, 02:00 PM

Its AlGore's fault

stevepaa · 09-26-2005, 03:04 PM

You might want to put the others on a switch and run the switch from a good port on the router.

HardDrive · 09-26-2005, 04:02 PM

Halm is correct. For whatever reason, these computer are not getting addresses from the router. A broadband DSL/Cable router acts as a DHCP server. This server provides the TCP/IP addresses that you computers need to communicate. If this service fails, Microsoft computers will assign themselves addresses that look like 169.254.x.x

If you assign these computers addresses manually, and everything works fine, then it is very likely that DHCP component of you router is the issue. Wheather it configuration/hardware issue....I dunno. We can look at that.

Go to the other computers that and run an IPCONFIG from a command prompt. The addresses range on most consumer routers is 192.168.0.x. The address of the router itself is typically 192.168.0.1. If the results of the IPCONFIG tell you that the default gateway addresses is 192.168.0.1, then this is the case. I am going to take a shot in the dark, and tell you to use 192.168.0.225 as an addresses. With the number of machines were talking about, it is unlikely this being used. Also, like Halm said, it will be important to also configure the DNS addreses is well. This is all done from the same property dialog box in XP.

So, assuming it in 192.168.0.x:

IP address 192.169.0.225
Subnet mask 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway 192.168.0.1

Set the DNS Primary and Secondary addresses to match what is on the other computers. IPCONFIG /all on a working computer will tell you this.

Hope this helps. If its not 192.168.0.x, you can just change the '0' field to match your network. 192.168.50.x for example.

911pcars · 09-26-2005, 11:19 PM

thanks for the suggestions guys. Hal sent me some screenshots of the device manager and where to manually input the IP address. I was successful on the two XP machines. Less so on the Windows ME and the MAC.

Just to confirm. The router was not automatically assigning an IP address to each computer.

Correction. the non-connected PCs were not able to communicate nor print to the networked printer.

I was able to verify all computers work individually when connected directly (one at a time) to the DSL modem, so this appears to be a router issue. I was also able to make a connection (one computer at a time) to a router switch connected directly to the DSL modem (bypassed the router).

I'm wondering whether I can just use the router switch plugged into the DSL modem since the IP addresses are inputted manually?

Hal suggested I venture over to the SMC website and see if they have some software that'll update/fix the issue, then probably spend the few bucks for a new router tomorrow. Unless I become real smart this evening, it looks like Plan B.

thanks all,
Sherwood