Ethernet port not working with a Gigabit switch

I'm having the same issue with a new Mac Mini. I have three different gigabit switches (D-Link DSG2208, Netgear GS105 and an Airport Extreme) and it fails at gigabit speed with each one. Tried new cables (cat5e and cat6) and the only way to get it to connect is by running at 100Mbps. Auto negotiate works on the Airport and the Netgear but sets the connection to 100 Mpbps. The D-Link fails completely and won't connect at all unless you manually set it to 100.

I have three other computers all connecting at Gigabit speed, including a slightly older Intel Core 2 Mac Mini. No resolution from Applecare when I called.

Oh dear, I've been scratching my head on this for a while. I bought the Mini back in October and finally got round to completing my home cabling project recently and move the Mac to wired Cat5e and initially it seemed to connect at 1000base but would intermittently drop - now, same symptoms as everyone else - it just shows "no ethernet connection" :-((

I have checked my Netgear JGS516 switch and it is apparently .ab compliant - so what next? Are Apple going to fix the NIC card firmware? I've also tried it connected to a Netgear GS something gigabit desktop switch, also ab compliant, and same problem.

The main switch - JGS516 is only a couple of months old and my work laptop and PC connect just fine at 1000base.

This is my first Mac and it's very disappointing to find this issue.

Anyone got any other updates or suggestions?

Anthony..

My new refurbed mini is dying the wifi death, too. It was lightning fast when I bought it three weeks ago. Then one day it suddenly slowed dramatically. On speedtest.net I get ~700Kbps downstream and (believe it or not) ~6Mbps upstream. My 3 year old Macbook Pro sitting right next to it (with the exact same Signal/noise ratio as the Mac Mini) gets 18Mbps down and (strangely) ~3Mbps up. The Macbook Pro has an Atheros chip, while the new Mini uses Broadcom. I've got to believe that has something to do with it.

Both are connected to my Time Capsule ~20 ft away, with four bars of signal and no dropouts (so far).

Having exactly the same issue here as well. It had been working fine since I had bought the mini back in November and then just recently it started giving me the "no cable plugged in" unless I forced it down to 100BT.

Both my switches (Peabird 8GT and Netgear GS 108) show the issue although the Netgear will cause auto negotiate to fall back to 100BT whereas the Peabird just gives me no cable. Everything is wired up with Cat 6 cabling and non of my other computers have any issues negotiating a 1000BT connection.

I was going to bring in the Mini for a motherboard swap when I discovered this topic which worries me that a MB swap might not make a difference (although the fact that it worked for 3 months would seem to indicate something has failed). Really hoping someone find the magic sauce to get it working.

...my concern is, Apple will probably just blame the switch, especially as a couple of people have had success changing their switches.

I had Netgear confirm my switch is 802.3ab compliant and hoped this thread would shed some light - alas not so far...

A couple more tests to do then I'll have to cart is all in to an Apple store and hope is misbehaves their too 😟

Hi All,

I am having the same issue with my used Macbook that I got.

Here is what I have found so far:
1. Netgear GS108 (unmanaged) - Won't auto-negotiate. Works only if I manually set the Macbook to 100Mbps.
2. Netgear GS108T (managed) - Will auto negotiate, but only to 100Mbps. I can probably play with the switch settings here since it is managed. I think it has negotiated a 1000Mbps at times. Will test further.
3. 5-port Trendnet (unmangaed, will have to look up model number for those interested) - Auto-negotiates perfectly to 1000Mbps!
4. Hook directly into my PC's extra ethernet port - Auto-negotiates perfectly to 1000Mbps!
5. Old Linksys 10/100 switch - Auto-negotiates perfectly to 100Mbps!
6. All other machines (PC and Mac) auto negotiate to their proper speeds.

I'm guessing this could be the way some Macs and switches auto negotiate their links. There may be some differences in hardware/firmware that cause failure. That's maybe why a MB swap doesn't help.

Hi BigDaveyL,

I'd be interested in the Trendnet model number, at this point finding a switch that works would be great.

I've also managed to auto-negotiate a 1000BT connection on the Netgear GS108 but it never stays up for very long.

Have read all sorts of things blaming the heat or a weak power supply but still holding out hope that a simple firmware update might correct the issue. In the meantime, if anyone finds a switch that does work I'll try and confirm.

I can check one I get home from work. It is one of the 5 port "green" switches.

I bet there are subtle differences in the firmware and/or OS and/or Hardware Versions of the models affected.

Hello all,

I've got a preliminary list of switches that I have tried and worked (or didn't work):

Manual Config at 100Mbps
Netgear GS108

Auto Config to 100Mbps only:
Netgear GS108T

Works (automatically configures at 1000mbps):
Trendnet TEG-S50g (dirt cheap at newegg.com)
Linksys EG008W

The strange thing in my case is that, it initially worked and stayed up for a while whilst connected to the Netgear JGS516, but started to drop. Now, it won't connect at all on "Auto" so has to be manually set to 100. If I manually set to 1000base, it says no ethernet connected.

On the Netgear GS10x, it will actually auto-negotiate, but only to 100mbps, not the full 1GB.

I have an appointment at the Apple Store on Tuesday with a "Mac Genius" but can't say I'm holding much hope.

I too am hoping they'll sort the firmware out....

Although I can't guarantee it was always keeping up a 1000BT connection initially until it stopped working altogether, after which I began constantly monitoring the connection speed, I hadn't noticed any issues the first 3 months either.

I have ordered a Trendnet TEG-S50g which will be delivered on Monday so I'll report back as to whether this switch manages to negotiate (and keep alive) a 1000BT connection from my ailing mini.

That's the thing.
1. Most people aren't monitoring their connections like some of us. 🙂 So as long as it "Just Works(tm)" they are fine with it.
2. Gigabit switches/routers are becoming cheaper and more common. But 10/100 switches are still cheaper.

Footleg

Let us know how you make out at the Genius Bar.

I had the same problem on a new Mac Mini (posted previously in this thread). Since it was new and within the two week return I brought it to the genius bar. They offered to exchange it for a new one, which I did, but they never tested the one I had. They did say if it happens with the new one I should bring in one or more of the routers I had issues with to show them.

Nonetheless, the new one worked perfectly. Connected at and remains at gigabit speed with no issues, using the same two switches and cabling the previous mini failed on.

I can also confirm the Linksys SR2024C works