DHCP trouble - Can get network but not internet

[theniteowl]

Hi All,
My daughter's G4 OS 10.4 has developed problems connecting to the internet.
It is a wired connection.
It was connecting fine previously but now it has trouble getting a DHCP assigned address. It would keep defaulting to a 169. address.
I setup the router to give her a fixed address and then set the Mac to use DHCP with a fixed address. Now I can get connected to the local network but it will not get to the internet.

There are no access restrictions setup on the router. My Linux and Windows boxes are all working fine both wired and wireless but I cannot get the G4 to connect.

I also have a G3 iBook that was given to me missing it's airport card. I have tried connecting it with the wired connection and it was unable to get a DHCP assigned address as well. It is possible the wired connection does not work on the iBook as I have not seen it operate since I got it. The G3 is also running 10.4.
I am about to order an airport card for it but thought I would mention the issue since it seems to be the same as the G4.

Anyone?
Thanks.

At my age I still learn something new every day, but I forget two others.

 

[imeldesign]

Steps I would take:
Plug ibook and and G4 into known good port on router.
If still no DHCP.
Use known good cable in known good port on router and test both.
If one works (ibook) then you know the ethernet port is bad on the G4 or vice versa.
If port is bad on G4 you have two options if it is a tower and that is adding a new network card or using a usb wireless device. Very few work with macs so research. I ended up buying one for my imac when the ethernet port stopped working due to power surge. It was $40.

 

[theniteowl]

I know the cable and ports are good. Swapped out the cable with another working device and moved from port on switch to working port on router.
I can see the Mac from the router and it has an IP address. The Mac (G4) can access network shares and even print to our wirless networked printer, it just cannot get out to the internet in either Safari or FireFox.


At my age I still learn something new every day, but I forget two others.

 

[jmgalvin]

If it was working before and has developed problems, it could be due to a new OSX update. If so check the network system prefs. Sometimes it's as simple as using the Automatic location rather than a set one.

If you messed around with the network prefs, you might try clicking on teh Assist Me button in that window and let the mac do most of the work.

Using OSX 10.3.9 & 10.4.11 on a G4, G5 & Intel Macbook

 

[theniteowl]

I have removed all added locations starting fresh and automatic would not get a connection for me.
I had to set it up for DHCP with a manually assigned address and then go into the Ethernet config and force it to 100Mb full duplex. Now it gets a network connection but still will not see the internet.
Using Assist Me always failed to get an address so I switched to manual.

The only thing that has changed is the router. The firmware locked up and the Mac lost it's connection as well as all wireless connections. The odd thing was that the Mac was the only wired connection that dropped.
I have experienced problems in the past that every time the Mac was trying to get an IP address it caused everyone else to lose their connection or at least have it drop to a crawl for a few minutes. I suspect it may have been the Mac that contributed to the crash of the router. When the router hung up I could not get back in to alter settings and had to reset the box to factory to get back in.
But the router is working for all other devices and no access restrictions are set. Since the Mac gets to the network there must be something in the Mac OS restricting internet usage but I am not sure where to look.
It could be the NIC going bad in the G4 causing odd things to happen but I would think that once network connectivity is there internet connectivity should work unless a restriction is applied either at the router or in the Mac itself.
I just do not know Mac's well enough to know where to look.
Have seen posts from a lot of people complaining about the same issue but the few that had solutions did not apply to my situation.


At my age I still learn something new every day, but I forget two others.

 

[jmgalvin]

Try plugging the mac directly into your cable or other modem and see what happens. You might have to set the location, etc again or use the "Assist me" button.

If you get the connection, it's in your router. That's most likely since you said that's been changed. You might check any help files for the router or go to the maker's site to see what's up. If not it can be all sorts of things, like settings. You can use Network Utility in the utility folder to check some things. You can also run setup assistant for the machine and skip the parts you don't need.

Generally, it's best to use something like setup assistant rather than messing with custom settings unless you're in a corporate setting.

PS; Be careful about getting an airport card for the G3. Apple changed them with later machines and the one that fits the G3 might no be available from Apple. Certain Mac sales specialist like Small Dog computers or OWC might have the ones to fit the G3.

Using OSX 10.3.9 & 10.4.11 on a G4, G5 & Intel Macbook

 

[SYQUEST]

Have you resolved your issue?

If not some items to check: when you check the network preferences with the DHCP option, do you get a Gateway IP? Can you PING the router or other computers on the network?

Without a Gateway IP being assigned, you will NEVER get to the Internet. The computer needs a Gateway IP to find the Internet. Without a Gateway you will not get thru the door so to speak! Being able to PING a device shows that the machine can 'see' the device on the network.

By the way, what router are you using? Some routers have had firmware issues with MACs. You mentioned previously that the PC boxes worked fine on the network. Were you able to connect to the router from the PCs before you defaulted it?

Some routers also provide diagnostic functions for troubleshooting. You might want to read the documentation that came with the router for more information.


Hope this helps!

....JIM....

 

[twiSSt]

When you look at the network settings, what does the DNS server box show, is it empty or does it have a entry?

If empty put your ISP's DNS info in it and see it that resolves the issue.

Twist

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