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Level 1

5 points

"Airport has a self assigned IP address & cannot connect to internet"

Hi, I'd appreciate any insight at all on this...
Apologies in advance for this vast post...!
(but I guess I may as well mention everything I've already tried...)

BACKGROUND:
I was recently trying to add an Airport Express Base Station to an existing ethernet and wireless network, which has been working flawlessly for 3 years.
(Network consists of an ethernet-connected G4 Dual 1.42 desktop running OS X.3.3, and two wireless-connected iBooks- one a 12" running OS X.3.5, the other a 14" on OS X.4.2).
For various reasons, I've now given up with the Airport Express, but ...

PROBLEM:
On the wireless 12" iBook- "Safari can't open the page "xxx" because it can't find the server "xxx"- ie, the internet connection is now wonky.(The problem is the same in Firefox, IE, and Camino too).

The fault must be with configuration on this laptop, as the other two machines on this network are still running and connecting normally with no problems at all.

What is the cause of this problem? (IP addresses? DNS server?)

WHAT I'VE TRIED SO FAR:
1. First looked at System Preferences --> Network --> Network Status, where I see this;
"Airport is connected to the network "Fritz!Box SL WLAN". Airport has a self-assigned IP address and may not be able to connect to the Internet."
Alongside it an amber button (which is usually green).

Then according to JohnHuber1's suggestion in Discussions on May 3rd 2006;
"Go to System Preferences --> Network and double click on Airport to open its preferences. Click on theTCP/IP tab and select Configure IvP4: "Using DHCP" and click on Apply Changes to save it."
I tried toggling this (it was already set this way), and then Restarted, but it hasn't helped.
I also tried clicking the 'Renew DHCP lease' button. Also hasn't helped.

2. Repaired permissions. It hasn't helped.

3. Read Apple KB article No:106798- 'Troubleshooting "Server could not be found" messages'.
From this article, it seems that
a) The problem cannot be caused by "an actual loss of internet connection", as the other 2 machines are still connecting fine.
b) Typing http://17.254.0.91 instead of http://www.apple.com makes no difference, therefore it doesn't APPEAR to be a DNS server problem. (?)

4. Tried to reconfigure the Airport settings using Network SetUp Assistant.
This allows me to select Airport as my connection method, select the network from the list; but once I've entered the network password and pressed 'continue', it then gives me a dialogue box, saying
"Unable to establish a network connection. Your computer could not connect to the internet. Click OK to go back and change your network settings and try again".
Returning to Network Prefs, I now see a box saying "Your Network Settings have been changed by another application".
I can't seem to get out of that vicious circle.

5. Opened a fresh Test Account, behaviour is the same here as in the regular user account.

6. Opened Network Utility, tried to 'Ping' on 17.254.0.91 (Apple site). Then tried to Ping my network router (192.168.178.1), and then also the other 2 computers on the network. Result in each case was "10 packets transmitted, 0 packets received, 100% packet loss".

What can I do to fix this problem? I suspect it's some small configuration checkbox in Network preferences which I've inadvertently altered.
But have I got any idea what I've done...?

Sorry for the epic post. But you get the idea...!
Thanks for your thoughts...

G4 Dual 1.42, FW800, 2GB RAM, (OSX.3.3), iBook G4 (1.2ghz, 1GB RAM, OSX.3.5) Mac OS X (10.3.3) 3 int.HDs, 3 Lacie ext.HDs, Logic Pro 6.4, RME Fireface 800.

Posted on Jul 18, 2007 2:53 PM

57 replies

Sep 24, 2007 10:53 PM in response to Utneguy

Hello,
I'm having the same problem. It is a recurring one now as well. The first time I fiddled and it seemed to get fixed but now it is back and it isn't getting fixed. Both times it became an issue after OS X crashed.
This was my original querry:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1111788&tstart=0
I have tried everything suggested to Andy plus Utneguy's suggestion (as I am on a D-Link as well) and I tried was is suggested on my thread "go to the HD/Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration. Trash the com.apple.airport.preferences.plist, NetworkInterfaces.plist & preferences.plist, you will need to enter your password to do this. Restart the computer and set up your network information and join your Airport network." but nothing has worked.
My computer works by ethernet and my other mac works through the wireless. Could removing and reinstalling the airport card solve this?

Sep 26, 2007 5:45 PM in response to AndyL

AndyL-

Time to pull apart the configuration for your Home Router and check parameters against what the ISP said to put in there... maybe it is dispensing bad stuff.

Paraic

Level 1

0 points

Sep 28, 2007 5:00 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

I had the same problem with a new Macbook Pro. I tried all the suggestions made by various posters (other than deleting system files which seems inadvisable under most circumstances).

Looking through all the router settings, I noticed it was set to 802.11g only. I switched it to mixed at hey presto - the Macbook connected using its manual settings. I then changed it to Auto DHCP and it's still working.

Maybe this could help AndyL?

Sep 28, 2007 8:33 PM in response to Paraic

I paid $100 to a mac tech guy to find out nothing was wrong only to come home and find out nothing was fixed. So I called my ISP provider and they said everything was ok from their end. Then I called my router manufacturer and they couldn't figure it out but they thought it might be the WEP. They recomended I call Apple for help. Before I called them I restored the factory settings on my router and removed the WEP. I then turned off my Airport and removed it from the port configurations. Upon reboot I turned everything on a I'm back online wirelessly. Sure wish I had tried that before spending the $100. I'm still not positive that this won't happen again though.

Paraic

Level 1

0 points

Oct 1, 2007 2:11 AM in response to Rob Pingle

Indeed. Turned out my 'fix' was only temporary. Some combination of changes seems to get me back online until the max sleeps or is powered off. Then we're back to 'normal' (ie not working) again.

Oct 13, 2007 12:18 PM in response to AndyL

I have just discovered this thread after starting to experience the same problem with my G4 Powerbook. It works perfectly on my home wireless network. However, this week I went on the road and first found the problem in the airport, where I connected a few months ago without difficult ("Airport is connected to the network - it has a self-assigned IP address and may not be able to connect to the internet"). The network was BT Openzone (UK).

Oh well, I thought, might be a router - although I thought I could see a few other people tapping away. I went to my hotel, and connected to the hotel network (BT Openzone!) immediately, without changing any settings. Must have been the airport wireless router after all ...

Then I popped into the London Regent Street Apple Store - and blow me if I didn't have the same problem! And here I could see everyone else was connected and surfing away. (And I've connected here before without any problem on the same machine.) But then I went to another airport and connected to a different ISP without difficulty. Home again, and once more I connected straightaway.

What could be going on? A quick search through the web doesn't throw up anything very obvious.

annexit

Level 1

23 points

Nov 10, 2007 10:06 PM in response to AndyL

Hi, all and AndyL are you still out ther and what has happened? I poste long ago on this forum and like many others have had some temp fixes, di dnot post back since nothering worked for very long, came back to check in again, tonight since my laptop has not been connected for several weeks, no time to tinker, but another thing I noticed - with the Airport connected green button, but no internet, I could wirelessly print, get on to other computers on my network, and reach the router but NOT the internet. Currently, I am back on line wirelessly, though I cannot say how - did all the things that have not worked (turn router off and on, reset), feeling relieved but a little nuts since I have no idea what I did. Any updates from anyone else? Andy where are you? How are you?

elko

Level 2

278 points

Nov 12, 2007 5:22 AM in response to annexit

I recently encountered this problem myself and after hours of troubleshooting, changing routers, settings, rebooting, releasing, renewing, repairing etc. there was only one setting in the either of the routers that I hadn't edited, just skipped over it each time. It was the only thing left to try and I can't say that was what fixed it, but I am able to connect through my original (Belkin) router again. Here it is:

+WAN > MAC address+

+ +
+Some ISPs require that you clone (copy) the MAC address of your computer's network card into the Router. *If you are not sure then simply clone the MAC address of the computer that was originally connected to the modem before installing the Router. Cloning your MAC address will not cause any problems with your network.*+

A "more info" link provided this additional info:

+MAC Address+
+MAC is an acronym for Media Access Controller. All network components including cards, adapters, and routers, have a unique "serial number" called a MAC address. Your ISP may record the MAC address of your computer's adapter and only let that particular computer connect to the Internet service. When you install the router, the Router's own MAC address will be "seen" by the ISP and may cause the connection not to work. Belkin has provided the ability to clone (copy) the MAC address of the computer into the router. This MAC address, in turn, will be seen by the ISP's system as the original MAC address and will allow the connection to work. If you are not sure if your ISP needs to see the original MAC address, simply clone the MAC address of the computer that was originally connected to the modem. Cloning the address will not cause any problems with your network.+
+To Clone your MAC address, make sure that you are using the computer which was ORIGINALLY CONNECTED to your modem before the Router was installed. Click the "Clone MAC address" button. Click "Apply Changes". Your MAC address is now cloned to the router.+

Nov 14, 2007 8:44 PM in response to elko

Would a "Hard Reset" of the Router accomplish the same thing?

elko

Level 2

278 points

Nov 15, 2007 9:03 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

If you're referring to cloning the mac address, not at all. It has nothing to do with resetting the router. You must do it while you are wired by ethernet to the router, and logging in to the router to do this in the WAN settings.

Nov 17, 2007 8:17 PM in response to elko

When you have to copy your Mac's hardware address to the router, that is usually done to circumvent the ISP's pig-headed notion that the FIRST hardware address that logged on (your original computer direct-connected without Airport Base_Station/Router) is the ONLY hardware address that can ever log on.

I was trying to suggest that resetting the ISP's modem or other Hardware -- using a Hard Reset -- might coax it to forget the initial hardware address it had learned, and to learn a new one instead --(the address of your new Router).

Others have reported good results in calling the ISP and telling them they got a "new computer", and asking how to change the ISP equipment to accept a new Hardware address. When that is done, connect your new Router as the "new computer", and connect \[multiple computers] happily ever after.

While cloning the hardware address may work in some instances, It seems beyond what should be required to simply get online. I would ask the ISP for help first.

Message was edited by: Grant Bennet-Alder

AndyL Author

Level 1

5 points

Nov 29, 2007 4:13 PM in response to annexit

Hi Annexit,
To cut a very long story short... I have still never managed to fix the actual problem.
I've come to realise that the problem was in fact related only to connecting via airport to my home network router. Something got jiggered when I connected the Airport Express Base Station to the network (for about 2 hours!); it's never worked properly since then.
I got it working fine on every other network.... but even after having reset the router/modem and tried everything I could think of, the laptop still gives me a green light but stubbornly refuses to connect to the internet.
However, 5 months down the line, I've kind of given up, and just learned to live with it. 😟
(I've still got a functioning desktop, fortunately!)
I'm resolved to the fact that I'll only get this solved when I next update the router. And I've got better things to spend the rest of my cash on right now, so...

Any further ideas gratefully accepted, and thanks to all those who helped over the last few months, but I'm afraid it's still a problem. Hope you find a solution!
I'll report back again if I do find a fix.
Andy

"Airport has a self assigned IP address & cannot connect to internet"