Self-Assigned IP - Tried Everything?

Question

Self-Assigned IP - Tried Everything?

After Googling for hours and trying everything found on these forums and others, I am at a loss of what to try next.

The Self-Assigned IP address error will not go away on my Macbook. I recently upgraded from 10.5.8 (Leopard) to 10.6.2 (Snow Leopard).

What I have tried...

1) Deleting all network related Preference files:
/Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/com.apple.airport.preferences.plist
/Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/NetworkInterfaces.plist
/Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/perferences.plist
/Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/com.network.identification.plist

2) Disabling Firewall (it was never on, tried on/off multiple times)

3) In Keychain Access. Locating network in question. Access Control. "Allow all applications..."

4) Deleted All Network Locations. All network connections. All network passwords. Retried 1-3, no luck.

5) I can plug directly into wireless router and receive an IP address on the Ethernet.

6) I cannot manually assign an IP address (IP, Router, DNS, etc.).

Other notes of interest...

1) This occurs on multiple networks, but not all.
2) My iPod Touch connects successfully to all networks where my MacBook self-assigns. Other PC computers connect successfully to the network also.
3) I never had an issue with self-assigned IP addresses before upgrading to Snow Leopard.
4) After upgrading to Snow Leopard, I had other issues (the freeze issue in particular) that I resolved by creating a new user account.

Replacing the router is not an option (it is not mine). Re-installing Snow Leopard is not an option.

Any other ideas floating around I have not listed/tried above? Thanks for the help!

MacBook5,1 - 2.4 GHz - 4GB, Mac OS X (10.6.2)

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 10:31 AM

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Answer 1

Dogcow-Moof

Level 8

36,191 points

Feb 17, 2010 12:30 PM in response to Brendon McCarthy

Brendon McCarthy wrote:
Re-installing Snow Leopard is not an option.

Why not?

Are you sure the router has IP addresses available to assign?

Are there any error messages in your /var/log/system.log file (viewable via Applications->Utilities->Console) that seem to apply?

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Answer 2

Feb 17, 2010 12:52 PM in response to Dogcow-Moof

Re-installing is not an option for several reasons. 1) I am traveling without access to easily backup/Time Capsule anything and 2) Installation CD is not currently with me (will have it back in a week).

I can connect another device to the router and it returns the next IP address available in sequence. I select multiple numbers past last issued IP, no luck. This is one of the weirdest effects of this issue in my opinion. I've connected manually to several routers that would not issue me an IP address in the past and every time it worked. But in these two cases, nope.

Regarding log files...I on/off-ed the Airport. Below is what logged up in those few seconds in the System Log...

kernel AirPort: Link Down on en1. Reason 8 (Disassociated because station leaving).
vmnet-bridge[85] Preferences changed called
vmnet-bridge[85] Preferences changed called
configd[36] network configuration changed.
vmnet-bridge[85] Dynamic store changed
vmnet-bridge[85] Preferences changed called
vmnet-bridge[85] Preferences changed called
airportd[1174] Scan() error 16 (Resource busy)
airportd[1174] __performScan() EBUSY, sleep 1 sec, try again
airportd[1174] Scan() error 16 (Resource busy)
airportd[1174] __performScan() EBUSY, sleep 1 sec, try again
airportd[1174] Scan() error 16 (Resource busy)
airportd[1174] __performScan() EBUSY, sleep 1 sec, try again
kernel Auth result for: 00:21:00:69:8c:9a MAC AUTH succeeded
kernel AirPort: Link Up on en1
vmnet-bridge[85] Preferences changed called
vmnet-bridge[85] Preferences changed called
configd[36] network configuration changed.
vmnet-bridge[85] Dynamic store changed
kernel Warning: audit space low (< 5% free)on audit log file-system
Brendon[1203] audit warning: soft /var/audit
Brendon[1202] audit warning: allsoft
Brendon[1201] audit warning: closefile /var/audit/20100217190947.20100217203554
kernel Warning: audit space low (< 5% free)on audit log file-system
Apple80211 framework[1194] ACInterfaceGetPower called with NULL interface
Apple80211 framework[1194] ACInterfaceGetPower called with NULL interface

*In the diagnostics log, I found the following from earlier today...*

airportd[535] [most time: (0.816336) _scan] trace: <CFArray 0x100400460 [0x7fff709fef20]>{type = mutable-small, count = 13, values = (
0 : <CFString 0x10003acb0 [0x7fff709fef20]>{contents = "pref netwkAJ"}
1 : <CFString 0x10003acf0 [0x7fff709fef20]>{contents = "1 prefnetwk"}
2 : <CFString 0x10010f350 [0x7fff709fef20]>{contents = "(0.809866) _scan"}
3 : <CFString 0x100110210 [0x7fff709fef20]>{contents = "(0.000010) _lookup"}
4 : <CFString 0x100400250 [0x7fff709fef20]>{contents = "(0.013401) _keychain"}
5 : <CFString 0x100411180 [0x7fff709fef20]>{contents = "(0.816336) _scan"}
6 : <CFString 0x100412290 [0x7fff709fef20]>{contents = "(0.000008) _lookup"}
7 : <CFString 0x10012e2d0 [0x7fff709fef20]>{contents = "(0.007643) _keychain"}
8 : <CFString 0x100133d00 [0x7fff709fef20]>{contents = "(0.809128) _scan"}
9 : <CFString 0x100118b20 [0x7fff709fef20]>{contents = "(0.000008) _lookup"}
10 : <CFString 0x10040d840 [0x7fff709fef20]>{contents = "(0.007301) _keychain"}
11 : <CFString 0x10041a450 [0x7fff709fef20]>{contents = "(0.809949) _scan"}
12 : <CFString 0x10003ad10 [0x7fff709fef20]>{contents = "fallback"}
)}
com.apple.message.domain: com.apple.airport.autojoin.summary
com.apple.message.signature: KeychainFailure - The specified item could not be found in the keychain.
com.apple.message.result: failure
com.apple.message.value: 3.281412
com.apple.message.value2: 1.000000
com.apple.message.uuid: 173A45A2-3656-4441-888B-0FBB2E06D25D

*But the most recent connection only gave this...*

airportd[1174] [most time: (3.809785) _scan] trace: <CFArray 0x100503410 [0x7fff709fef20]>{type = mutable-small, count = 6, values = (
0 : <CFString 0x10003acb0 [0x7fff709fef20]>{contents = "pref netwkAJ"}
1 : <CFString 0x10003acf0 [0x7fff709fef20]>{contents = "1 prefnetwk"}
2 : <CFString 0x100505c20 [0x7fff709fef20]>{contents = "(3.809785) _scan"}
3 : <CFString 0x100506140 [0x7fff709fef20]>{contents = "(0.000009) _lookup"}
4 : <CFString 0x100118740 [0x7fff709fef20]>{contents = "(0.215545) _keychain"}
5 : <CFString 0x100521070 [0x7fff709fef20]>{contents = "(0.487895) _association"}
)}
com.apple.message.domain: com.apple.airport.autojoin.summary
com.apple.message.signature: AutoJoinSuccess
com.apple.message.result: success
com.apple.message.value: 4.604872
com.apple.message.value2: 1.000000
com.apple.message.value3: 1.000000
com.apple.message.uuid: B9259821-B8EE-4EB4-B753-0D5C177811F7

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Answer 3

Dogcow-Moof

Level 8

36,191 points

Feb 17, 2010 1:29 PM in response to Brendon McCarthy

Among other things, this concerns me:

kernel Warning: audit space low (< 5% free)on audit log file-system</div>

Is your hard drive very low on space?

As far as the router goes, it doesn't use any hardware-specific address authentication (MAC address authentication), does it?

The fact that it doesn't work when you manually specify an address tells me that traffic is being blocked at the router either due to your MAC address or because the router won't allow you to connect if it didn't actually assign the IP address in question.

Is this a home or commercial router?

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Answer 4

Feb 17, 2010 1:38 PM in response to Dogcow-Moof

Ha. I have 7 GB free on a 320 GB drive, so technically < 5%.

There is no MAC filtering on the router. As mentioned, my iPod Touch connects to it without issue (as do other PCs) and I have not touched the router configuration (I do not have access). Its a "home" router, Motorola SBG900 Wireless Surfboard gateway.

When I read about the Keychain being an issue, I thought for sure it might be that since I compared how the passwords were saved with previous networks and there were small discrepancies. One of those logs also points out to something regarding the Keychain, but I have no experience troubleshooting Keychain issues.

Also, I tried using my "old" user account that previously worked with this same router, but no dice.

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Answer 5

Dogcow-Moof

Level 8

36,191 points

Feb 17, 2010 1:50 PM in response to Brendon McCarthy

Brendon McCarthy wrote:
Ha. I have 7 GB free on a 320 GB drive, so technically < 5%.</div>

That's very dangerous; all kinds of things are likely to start breaking at that point.

It's not necessarily the cause of this problem, just very not recommended. 😀

When I read about the Keychain being an issue, I thought for sure it might be that since I compared how the passwords were saved with previous networks and there were small discrepancies. One of those logs also points out to something regarding the Keychain, but I have no experience troubleshooting Keychain issues.

The keychain is only involved in automatically logging into a network without having to provide a password, not in obtaining an IP address.

Still, you may want to try (if you haven't already) deleting the network from your list of preferred networks and clicking the "Apply" button and see if that helps any.

I further assume clicking the button to renew your DHCP lease does nothing.

When this happens are you connected to the network but just cannot get an IP address? (Are the AirPort bars in the menu bar grey or black?)

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Answer 6

Feb 17, 2010 2:41 PM in response to Dogcow-Moof

Cleared up the disk space.

The Keychain idea was spawned from this article: http://www.davidpierron.com/index.php/archives/2009/04/13/289/

Yes, renew DHCP does nothing.

I deleted the network from the Network List. Also removed manually all the Keychain entries. I think I've covered just about all the obvious bases.

Many have posted this issue all over the internet, none have any solutions that work for me (See List in First Post). Still at a loss, going to open up a support call with Apple, but others have said this was also futile.

Waiting for it to eventually, magically work was also posted by many users. I am not a believer in that (although many attest) and it doesn't solve the root of the issue, whatever it is.

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Answer 7

Dogcow-Moof

Level 8

36,191 points

Feb 17, 2010 7:41 PM in response to Brendon McCarthy

Do the following in a Terminal window:

sudo tcpdump -n -vvv -s 0 -i en1 port bootps or port bootpc > dhcp

Then click the renew DHCP lease button in the Network preference pane.

When that fails, go to the Terminal window and type a Control-C (Hold down the Control key and press "c"). You should get a shell prompt back.

Then post the contents of the "dhcp" file here (you can delete it after posting it.)

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Answer 8

Feb 17, 2010 7:51 PM in response to Dogcow-Moof

22:47:40.187875 IP (tos 0x0, ttl 255, id 52099, offset 0, flags [none], proto UDP (17), length 328)
0.0.0.0.68 > 255.255.255.255.67: [udp sum ok] BOOTP/DHCP, Request from 00:23:6c:89:06:ed, length 300, xid 0x9b2e6795, Flags [none] (0x0000)
Client-Ethernet-Address 00:23:6c:89:06:ed
Vendor-rfc1048 Extensions
Magic Cookie 0x63825363
DHCP-Message Option 53, length 1: Discover
Parameter-Request Option 55, length 10:
Subnet-Mask, Default-Gateway, Domain-Name-Server, Domain-Name
Option 119, LDAP, Option 252, Netbios-Name-Server
Netbios-Node, Netbios-Scope
MSZ Option 57, length 2: 1500
Client-ID Option 61, length 7: ether 00:23:6c:89:06:ed
Lease-Time Option 51, length 4: 7776000
END Option 255, length 0
PAD Option 0, length 0, occurs 25
22:47:41.407422 IP (tos 0x0, ttl 255, id 52100, offset 0, flags [none], proto UDP (17), length 328)
0.0.0.0.68 > 255.255.255.255.67: [udp sum ok] BOOTP/DHCP, Request from 00:23:6c:89:06:ed, length 300, xid 0x9b2e6795, secs 1, Flags [none] (0x0000)
Client-Ethernet-Address 00:23:6c:89:06:ed
Vendor-rfc1048 Extensions
Magic Cookie 0x63825363
DHCP-Message Option 53, length 1: Discover
Parameter-Request Option 55, length 10:
Subnet-Mask, Default-Gateway, Domain-Name-Server, Domain-Name
Option 119, LDAP, Option 252, Netbios-Name-Server
Netbios-Node, Netbios-Scope
MSZ Option 57, length 2: 1500
Client-ID Option 61, length 7: ether 00:23:6c:89:06:ed
Lease-Time Option 51, length 4: 7776000
END Option 255, length 0
PAD Option 0, length 0, occurs 25
22:47:44.351618 IP (tos 0x0, ttl 255, id 52101, offset 0, flags [none], proto UDP (17), length 328)
0.0.0.0.68 > 255.255.255.255.67: [udp sum ok] BOOTP/DHCP, Request from 00:23:6c:89:06:ed, length 300, xid 0x9b2e6795, secs 4, Flags [none] (0x0000)
Client-Ethernet-Address 00:23:6c:89:06:ed
Vendor-rfc1048 Extensions
Magic Cookie 0x63825363
DHCP-Message Option 53, length 1: Discover
Parameter-Request Option 55, length 10:
Subnet-Mask, Default-Gateway, Domain-Name-Server, Domain-Name
Option 119, LDAP, Option 252, Netbios-Name-Server
Netbios-Node, Netbios-Scope
MSZ Option 57, length 2: 1500
Client-ID Option 61, length 7: ether 00:23:6c:89:06:ed
Lease-Time Option 51, length 4: 7776000
END Option 255, length 0
PAD Option 0, length 0, occurs 25

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Answer 9

coldone

Level 1

30 points

Feb 17, 2010 9:40 PM in response to Brendon McCarthy

Hi Brendon,

first of all, are you trying to connect by cable or by WiFI?

-) If by WiFi: Can you even connect to the network or is there no connection at all (you can be connected to a WiFI network without having an IP!)?

-) If by cable: Does the link LED on the router show activity?

What you can try regardles of the connection type: Have you tried assigning an IP from the DHCP range manually (including gateway, DNS and network mask)? Do that and see if you get connectivity. If that works, there is likely a problem with the DHCP service. If not, we have to dig further.

C.

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Answer 10

Dogcow-Moof

Level 8

36,191 points

Feb 17, 2010 11:15 PM in response to Brendon McCarthy

Your Mac is sending out valid DHCP DISCOVER broadcast messages, but your Wi-Fi router either isn't responding or your Mac for whatever reason isn't receiving any responses.

Once again, are the bars in the AirPort icon in your menu bar grey or black?

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Answer 11

Feb 18, 2010 6:00 AM in response to coldone

-) If by WiFi: Can you even connect to the network or is there no connection at all (you can be connected to a WiFI network without having an IP!)?

Connection to the WIFI/router is not the issue. Receiving an IP address via DHCP from the router is the issue. Also, as noted, I cannot manually assign an IP address and communicate with the router.

-) If by cable: Does the link LED on the router show activity?

Connecting by cable to the wireless router is how I currently operate. An IP address is assigned without issue.

What you can try regardles of the connection type: Have you tried assigning an IP from the DHCP range manually (including gateway, DNS and network mask)? Do that and see if you get connectivity. If that works, there is likely a problem with the DHCP service. If not, we have to dig further.

I have assigned myself an IP address to the Airport, it registers as connected (green), but no access to the internet is granted. I also can not ping the router despite having an IP in the correct range, subnet, gateway. Connection via ethernet/cable allows pinging and accessing of the routers configuration page (but I cannot configure as it is not my router).

Additionally, as previously mentioned, my iPod (and other PCs) connect without issue, but I have no other MacBooks to test.

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Answer 12

Feb 18, 2010 6:08 AM in response to Dogcow-Moof

Your Mac is sending out valid DHCP DISCOVER broadcast messages, but your Wi-Fi router either isn't responding or your Mac for whatever reason isn't receiving any responses.

So where do I troubleshoot from here if this is the case? Let's assume I cannot program the router. (I am trying to contact the ISP, but it is difficult. Read: foreign country.)

Once again, are the bars in the AirPort icon in your menu bar grey or black?

The bars are solid black. Full strength.

The first router this occurred with (3 days ago), I assumed it was an issue with the router not liking my MacBook. Now with this issue occurring with this current/second router, I am not so sure.

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Answer 13

Dogcow-Moof

Level 8

36,191 points

Feb 18, 2010 1:32 PM in response to Brendon McCarthy

Hmmm... is this a US Macbook being used in a foreign country?

If so, it could be an issue with Wi-Fi channels where the router needs to send out a "country code" in order for your Macbook to properly associate with it (due to the use of different frequencies in different countries.)

I'm not saying that's the problem, just throwing it out there.

Have you found any networks with which you can connect?

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Answer 14

Feb 18, 2010 1:36 PM in response to Dogcow-Moof

I really doubt its a country thing. Its a Motorola SBG900 (Made in China), US Labels.

That is the thing. I can connect to other networks without issue. It was only 2 instances in the past week when this started occurring. Before that, no issues. The only major change to the MacBook as mentioned was the installation of Snow Leopard.

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Answer 15

Dogcow-Moof

Level 8

36,191 points

Feb 18, 2010 1:44 PM in response to Brendon McCarthy

I don't know what to say aside from the fact that it sounds like your DHCP server (router) just isn't responding to broadcast requests coming from your Mac for whatever reason. 😟

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