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DNS issues after 10.6.5 update

Since updating to 10.6.5 (via the combo update), I experience strange DNS problems on my laptop.

After working fine for some time, suddenly no DNS names are resolved any longer.
Looks like mDNSResponder simply died.

- This happens simultaneously in Firefox, Safari & even from the Terminal.
- It happens both on ethernet, and on wifi.
- I can still Ping my DNS servers, and I can ping my machine from remote as well.
- Everything where I can still remember the IP address seem to work fine.
- Problem happened in different networks
- Nothing obvious in the console messages

It really looks like a pure DNS problem, not a network issue.
Even the Windows emulation I sometimes run on that machine keeps working and can still resolve DNS names correctly.

I repaired permissions, reinstalled the update, cleared the DNS cache... the usual.

Until now, nothing solved the problem. I need to reboot, to get dns lookup back.
This will then work for some time (in the order of hours) and suddenly I'm stuck again.

cheers

Martin

MacBook Pro 15" i7, Mac OS X (10.6.5)

Posted on Nov 14, 2010 2:48 PM

130 replies

Skill83

Level 1

0 points

Mar 28, 2011 6:30 AM in response to Rurik Spence

regular startup;

Mar 28, 2011 7:36 AM in response to Skill83

You'll have to dig more.

Open a second Terminal window and type:

tail -f /var/log/system.log

You are now watching your system log.

execute the "sudo launchctl unload /System..." command

Do you see errors in the log window?

Jim Low

Level 1

0 points

Mar 30, 2011 7:47 AM in response to Jim Low

I suspect here are multiple problems causing freezing of bowsers in OS higher than 10.6.4 -- not just DNS issues. As I mentioned earlier, my system works fine at 10.6.4, and had problems at 10.6.5 and higher. I just recently replaced the video card and that failed to solve the problem. But I am using two displays. As part of the testing with the new card, I was using just one display, and all seemed okay. As soon as I connected the second display, freezing began within an hour of using browsers (as long as I didn't use browsers, no freezing occurred). I now find that I can use either display, but not both, and the problem of freezing no longer occurs at 10.6.7. Now, when using my other video card and troubleshooting at 10.6.5 when it was the latest, I still had the freezing. So either THAT issue was resolved by later updates to the OS, or different video card was the solution.

But that still doesn't solve my problem: how do I use two displays at OS greater than 10.6.4?

Lebako

Level 1

0 points

Apr 6, 2011 10:42 AM in response to Jim Low

Is it safe to use KJK555's patch at 10.6.7?

I've had this problem since we moved and had to change our previous router setup (Zyxel ADSL modem + Buffalo Wlan router) to a Cisco EPC2325 wireless cable modem (I use wlan but problem persists even if I plug my macbook with ethernet cable).

All the other devices in our household work just fine (iphone, ipad, ps3, old Acer pc) but the macbook has huge difficulties in loading web pages or for example in trying to send email in Mail. Interestingly a program called Spotify (which is a music streaming program) work flawlessly at all times - I guess it does not use DNS services?

KJK555

Level 4

2,900 points

Apr 6, 2011 11:39 AM in response to Lebako

I am using my patch on 10.6.7. I was having an intermittent DNS issue with an ftp upload
to my web server, so I tried it and it cured the problem. I didn't have any issues with 10.6.6.,
so I don't know what changed in 10.6.7.

Kj

Jun 27, 2011 1:43 PM in response to KJK555

Hello-

Does anyone know if 10.6.8 has fixed this issue? If not, is it still safe to apply KJ's patch to 10.6.8?

Thanks,
David

ptw

Level 1

8 points

Jul 29, 2011 7:41 AM in response to Axel Luttgens

Add another point for Parallels being the source of the conflict. I have two systems on the same local network and only the one with Parallels installed has the 'DNS deaf' problem. "sudo killall -9 mDNSResponder" brings it back to life.

Pierre29

Level 1

0 points

Nov 23, 2011 3:12 PM in response to KJK555

Again thank you so much for help to resolve mdnsresponder bug.

It works fine for at least six stations from 10.6.5 to 10.6.7 (mac mini and laptop)

So to-day, we have a new laptop with Lion.

I meet the same problem. I apply your fix. But it doesn't work.

However, it's exactly the same problem.

With seamonkey, we can read all websites and with safari, it says there is no internet connection.

Our network use WinProxy and unusual address IP such 169.254.0.xxx for historical reasons.

Thirty stations works perfectly with this configuration.

Do you know how it is possible to apply a similar fix for our laptop using Mac OX Lion ?

We are very disappointed with this problem.

Thank you much for your help,

Pierre

Pierre29

Level 1

0 points

Nov 29, 2011 9:24 AM in response to Pierre29

So i apply the fix of KJK555 on my new MacBook Pro with Mac OS 10.7

Before i apply, no connection internet with Safari, Mac OS Update, Seamonkey, Firefox.

After to apply the fix, connection internet is OK with Seamonkey, Firefox.

I look for every file :

/usr/share/sandbox/mDNSResponder.sb

#from original SL DVD 10.6.4 or earlier#

This file is at the same place in Mac OS 10.7

But i didn't found the three other files :

/usr/sbin/mDNSResponder

/usr/sbin/mDNSResponderHelper

/usr/bin/mDNS

However after to replace manually only mDNSResponder.sb,

no connection internet for Safari, Mac OS Update, Seamonkey and Firefox.

So, i try to apply the fix and now, internet connection is OK for Seamonkey but not for Safari and Firefox.

Have some idea to resolve it ?

Many thanks for help,

Pierre

Jonny S

Level 1

8 points

Aug 21, 2016 2:05 AM in response to Skill83

sudo launchctl load -w /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.mDNSResponder.plist

This worked for me to overcome "service disabled" "no process found" DNS issues.

DNS issues after 10.6.5 update