Old Guy with a G5

Q: Ethernet self-assigned 169 IP address 10.4.11

Suddenly and without warning my old G5 running Mac OS X 10.4.11 lost connectivity to the internet. I booted one morning and saw the dreaded 169 IP in the Network tab of System Preferences. Oddly enough when I boot from HARDDRIVE2 (same OS) in the same G5 everything's OK and I have internet. Booting from the main drive, HARDDRIVE1, yields nothing but 169 frustration.

 

Here's a list of what I've done to troubleshoot:

 

- Rebooted the modem (CenturyLink Actiontec C1000A)

 

- Rebooted the G5

 

- Trashed /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration folder and the two files within, NetworkInterfaces.plist and preferences.plist

 

- Determined that the ethernet cable is working properly

 

- Determined that all four ports on my modem are working properly

 

- Used Network Setup Assistant to obtain a 192 IP

 

The genius at my local Apple Store can't figure it out and Apple Tech Support won't talk to me because the OS is too old. You're my only hope, Obi-won.

PowerMac, Mac OS X (10.4.11), No Internet!

Posted on Mar 12, 2014 12:38 PM

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Q: Ethernet self-assigned 169 IP address 10.4.11

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  • by rccharles,

    rccharles rccharles Mar 12, 2014 3:09 PM in response to Old Guy with a G5
    Level 6 (8,486 points)
    Classic Mac OS
    Mar 12, 2014 3:09 PM in response to Old Guy with a G5

    Is this a cable connection?  I read yes.  I'd define a new location for you connection in preferences.  ( seems like you must have done that. )

     

    This is for wifi, but should be the same for cable.

     

    This happens after applying Security Update 2008-06.

     

    Another thing that you could try it is deleting or copying to desktop the preference files for networking.  Mac OS will regenerate these files.  You would then need to reconfigure your network settings.

     

    http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=8185915#8185915

     

    http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=10718694#10718694

     

     

    fyi:

    If Tiger has a working ethernet connection and configured to use dhcp, but doesn't find a dhcp server, Tiger will generate these addresses:

       ip address: 169.254.193.199

       mask: 255.255.255.0

     

    Robert

     

    =======================================================

     

    I suggest that you try pinging Google.com.

     

    Macintosh-HD -> Applications -> Utilities -> Terminal

    # press return to run the command.

     

    # settings for you communications port.  en0 is the ethenet cable port

    ifconfig

    # gateway address

    netstat -nr | grep default

     

     

    mac $ ping -c4 google.com

    PING google.com (64.233.187.99): 56 data bytes

    64 bytes from 64.233.187.99: icmp_seq=0 ttl=245 time=177.617 ms

    64 bytes from 64.233.187.99: icmp_seq=1 ttl=245 time=251.899 ms

    64 bytes from 64.233.187.99: icmp_seq=2 ttl=245 time=169.291 ms

    64 bytes from 64.233.187.99: icmp_seq=3 ttl=245 time=250.119 ms

     

    --- google.com ping statistics ---

    4 packets transmitted, 4 packets received, 0% packet loss

    round-trip min/avg/max/stddev = 169.291/212.232/251.899/38.894 ms

     

    mac $ ping -c4 64.233.187.99

    PING 64.233.187.99 (64.233.187.99): 56 data bytes

    64 bytes from 64.233.187.99: icmp_seq=0 ttl=245 time=176.723 ms

    64 bytes from 64.233.187.99: icmp_seq=1 ttl=245 time=247.889 ms

    64 bytes from 64.233.187.99: icmp_seq=2 ttl=245 time=176.890 ms

    64 bytes from 64.233.187.99: icmp_seq=3 ttl=245 time=244.623 ms

     

    --- 64.233.187.99 ping statistics ---

    4 packets transmitted, 4 packets received, 0% packet loss

    round-trip min/avg/max/stddev = 176.723/211.531/247.889/34.744 ms

    mac $

     

    Analysis: If you cannot ping Goolge.com but you can ping 64.233.187.99, then you need to enter you dns address.  For some reason Mac OS X sometimes doesn't set the dns.  You can set it manually.

     

    Try pinging your router.

     

    mac $ ping -c4 192.168.1.1

    PING 192.168.1.1 (192.168.1.1): 56 data bytes

    64 bytes from 192.168.1.1: icmp_seq=0 ttl=255 time=0.958 ms

    64 bytes from 192.168.1.1: icmp_seq=1 ttl=255 time=0.950 ms

    64 bytes from 192.168.1.1: icmp_seq=2 ttl=255 time=0.955 ms

    64 bytes from 192.168.1.1: icmp_seq=3 ttl=255 time=0.984 ms

     

    --- 192.168.1.1 ping statistics ---

    4 packets transmitted, 4 packets received, 0% packet loss

    round-trip min/avg/max/stddev = 0.950/0.962/0.984/0.013 ms

    mac $

     

    Try pinging your dns server  8.8.8.8 or 8.8.4.4

  • by Old Guy with a G5,

    Old Guy with a G5 Old Guy with a G5 Mar 12, 2014 11:51 PM in response to rccharles
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 12, 2014 11:51 PM in response to rccharles

    Thanks for responding, rccharles.

     

    CenturyLink = Qwest = DSL

     

    Yes, I deleted the NetworkInterfaces.plist and preferences.plist in /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration.

     

    Sorry, I don't know Linux or the Terminal. Don't know a bash from a grep from a chmod from a sudo. Could you type out explicit instructions of the copy/paste variety?

     

    Thanks, again.

  • by rccharles,

    rccharles rccharles Mar 13, 2014 11:42 AM in response to Old Guy with a G5
    Level 6 (8,486 points)
    Classic Mac OS
    Mar 13, 2014 11:42 AM in response to Old Guy with a G5

    Perhaps the hardware ethernet port has gone bad.  There are usb to ethernet adapters.

     

     

    You can use

    harddrive > applications > utilities > network utility

    to diagnose the situation.

     

    You can ping google.com.

    Result:

    Ping has started ...

     

    PING google.com (64.233.167.99): 56 data bytes

    64 bytes from 64.233.167.99: icmp_seq=0 ttl=244 time=215.362 ms

    64 bytes from 64.233.167.99: icmp_seq=1 ttl=244 time=279.597 ms

    64 bytes from 64.233.167.99: icmp_seq=2 ttl=244 time=189.747 ms

    64 bytes from 64.233.167.99: icmp_seq=3 ttl=244 time=250.657 ms

    64 bytes from 64.233.167.99: icmp_seq=4 ttl=244 time=183.232 ms

    64 bytes from 64.233.167.99: icmp_seq=5 ttl=244 time=243.753 ms

    64 bytes from 64.233.167.99: icmp_seq=6 ttl=244 time=173.108 ms

    64 bytes from 64.233.167.99: icmp_seq=7 ttl=244 time=230.239 ms

    64 bytes from 64.233.167.99: icmp_seq=8 ttl=244 time=180.639 ms

    64 bytes from 64.233.167.99: icmp_seq=9 ttl=244 time=232.177 ms

     

    --- google.com ping statistics ---

    10 packets transmitted, 10 packets received, 0% packet loss

    round-trip min/avg/max/stddev = 173.108/217.851/279.597/33.615 ms

     

     

    If that does not work, try pinging 64.233.167.99 Result:

     

    Ping has started ...

     

    PING 64.233.167.99 (64.233.167.99): 56 data bytes

    64 bytes from 64.233.167.99: icmp_seq=0 ttl=244 time=189.655 ms

    64 bytes from 64.233.167.99: icmp_seq=1 ttl=244 time=213.471 ms

    64 bytes from 64.233.167.99: icmp_seq=2 ttl=244 time=257.873 ms

    64 bytes from 64.233.167.99: icmp_seq=3 ttl=244 time=172.745 ms

    64 bytes from 64.233.167.99: icmp_seq=4 ttl=244 time=226.723 ms

    64 bytes from 64.233.167.99: icmp_seq=5 ttl=244 time=171.883 ms

    64 bytes from 64.233.167.99: icmp_seq=6 ttl=244 time=260.308 ms

    64 bytes from 64.233.167.99: icmp_seq=7 ttl=244 time=172.963 ms

    64 bytes from 64.233.167.99: icmp_seq=8 ttl=244 time=198.840 ms

    64 bytes from 64.233.167.99: icmp_seq=9 ttl=244 time=181.215 ms

     

    --- 64.233.167.99 ping statistics ---

    10 packets transmitted, 10 packets received, 0% packet loss

    round-trip min/avg/max/stddev = 171.883/204.568/260.308/32.247 ms

     

    If pinging 17.254.3.183 works but pinging Google.com doesn't. You have a bad DNS Server address.

     

     

    I use Google.

     

    Google provides free dns lookup.  Their numbers are:

    8.8.8.8

    8.8.4.4

  • by Old Guy with a G5,

    Old Guy with a G5 Old Guy with a G5 Mar 13, 2014 1:31 PM in response to rccharles
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 13, 2014 1:31 PM in response to rccharles

    Perhaps the hardware ethernet port has gone bad? In the first paragraph of my first post in this thread I wrote:

    Oddly enough when I boot from HARDDRIVE2 (same OS) in the same G5 everything's OK and I have internet. Booting from the main drive, HARDDRIVE1, yields nothing but 169 frustration.

     

    Let me elaborate. Built-in Ethernet 1 yields an internet connection when the G5 is booted from HARDDRIVE2 but not when it's booted from HARDDRIVE1. Could Built-in Ethernet 1 work for one drive but not the other? In the same machine? A long shot, I'd say. More than that I do not know.

     

    Thanks again for your response, Robert, but all the ping tables look like Greek to me. Pretend I'm four years old.

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua Mar 13, 2014 1:43 PM in response to Old Guy with a G5
    Level 10 (123,618 points)
    Mar 13, 2014 1:43 PM in response to Old Guy with a G5

    Couple of things to try...

     

    Make a New Location, Using network locations in Mac OS X ...

     

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2712

     

    Is that Interface dragged to the top of Network>Show:>Network Port Configurations and checked ON?

     

    The Interface that connects to the Internet, needs to be drug to the top of System Preferences>Network>Show:>Network Port Configurations and checked ON.

     

    Another is to remove that interface in Network prefs with the Minus icon, reboot & add Ethernet 1 again.

  • by rccharles,

    rccharles rccharles Mar 13, 2014 2:40 PM in response to Old Guy with a G5
    Level 6 (8,486 points)
    Classic Mac OS
    Mar 13, 2014 2:40 PM in response to Old Guy with a G5

    When I am answering multiple posts over several days, things get confused. Sorry.

     

    I'll let BDAqua take a look at this.

     

    Robert

  • by Old Guy with a G5,

    Old Guy with a G5 Old Guy with a G5 Mar 13, 2014 10:23 PM in response to rccharles
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 13, 2014 10:23 PM in response to rccharles

    Thanks for the suggestions, BDAqua, but I've already tried those with no luck. I even tried renaming HARDDRIVE1 and rebooting. Here are two new interesting pieces of information:


    1) I dragged the G5 desktop down to my local Apple store and the they had no trouble getting an Internet connection when booted from HARDDRIVE1. When I brought the computer home it continued to get the 169 IP.

     

    2) I have an external FireWire drive with Leopard 10.5.8 installed and when booted it automatically had an Internet connection.

     

    I don't know what to make of this. Somehow HARDDRIVE1 and the CenturyLink Actiontec C1000A modem are not getting along.

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua Mar 14, 2014 12:04 AM in response to Old Guy with a G5
    Level 10 (123,618 points)
    Mar 14, 2014 12:04 AM in response to Old Guy with a G5

    To find out if it's system wide or user specific, try this...

    Open System Preferences>Accounts, unlock the lock, click on the little plus icon, make a new admin account, log out & into the new account.

    Does it work in the new account?

  • by Old Guy with a G5,

    Old Guy with a G5 Old Guy with a G5 Mar 14, 2014 7:42 AM in response to BDAqua
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 14, 2014 7:42 AM in response to BDAqua

    Thanks, BDAqua, but no joy. The IP still is a 169.

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua Mar 14, 2014 11:59 AM in response to Old Guy with a G5
    Level 10 (123,618 points)
    Mar 14, 2014 11:59 AM in response to Old Guy with a G5

    See if Neville's solution here helps...

     

    https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5889072?tstart=0

  • by Old Guy with a G5,

    Old Guy with a G5 Old Guy with a G5 Mar 14, 2014 2:10 PM in response to BDAqua
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 14, 2014 2:10 PM in response to BDAqua

    Unfortunately the difference between the GUIs of the Tiger and later prefpanes is too great and I'm unable to proceed.

     

    It's as if there's a file or setting somewhere on this HARDDRIVE1 keeping it from cooperating with my modem. Exorcism, anyone?

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua Mar 14, 2014 2:41 PM in response to Old Guy with a G5
    Level 10 (123,618 points)
    Mar 14, 2014 2:41 PM in response to Old Guy with a G5

    In 10.4.11, Sys Prefs>Network>Show: Network Port configurations, there you can highlight one & Delete, Duplicate or Add an Interface.

  • by Old Guy with a G5,

    Old Guy with a G5 Old Guy with a G5 Mar 14, 2014 5:28 PM in response to BDAqua
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 14, 2014 5:28 PM in response to BDAqua

    Thanks, BDAqua, been there done that.

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua Mar 14, 2014 7:04 PM in response to Old Guy with a G5
    Level 10 (123,618 points)
    Mar 14, 2014 7:04 PM in response to Old Guy with a G5

    Hmmm, I'll have to mull this when I get home on my eMac/10.4.11

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