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Level 1

5 points

Network Connection - could not find a PPPoE server

This question is different from other similar ones I've read.

I have a Windows box that I use every day, connected to DSL by ethernet to a D-Link modem/router. I frequently connect/disconnect my MacBook Pro 10.6.8 and, until recently, all was well. It would be online as soon as it booted up. Now, while my Windows machine still gets online fine, MacBook says my ethernet is connected, but I can't get online. My DHCP is fine, but when I click the connect button for PPPoE, I get the message "Network Connection - could not find a PPPoE server". I didn't look but I'm assuming it was using both DHCP and PPPoE when it was working properly.

Took it to the shop and as soon as they plugged it in, it was online, with both the DHCP and PPPoE working.

My ISP says it must be a driver issue for PPPoE, something to do with the configuration. So 2 shops say they can only fix it by coming to my home, instead of me taking it in to them. Are they correct, or how can I fix it myself, bearing in mind that I'm fairly new with this?

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Aug 17, 2012 12:55 PM

20 replies

tioli Author

Level 1

5 points

Aug 22, 2012 1:21 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

I used those numbers plus the first OpenDNS number, clicked continue, got "Sorry, the IP address and the router address are not consistent with the subnet mask you entered. Please check the following fields and enter valid values: IP Address, Subnet Mask, Router Address".

And the Subnet and Router were the same as I've used forever.

Aug 22, 2012 2:12 PM in response to tioli

I'll bite, what exactly are the numbers you entered?

tioli Author

Level 1

5 points

Aug 22, 2012 3:57 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Wow... I used the ones you recommended:

IP 192.168.1.7

Subnet 255.255.255.0

Router 192.168.1.1

DNS 208.67.222.222, thinking I only needed one.

So I just tried again with BOTH, and it worked. Great!

Now, a different thought... when I change the location back to 'automatic', it stops working again. And it still says it's using DHCP, not DHCP with manual address. But as long as it works, I'm happy, and I just rebooted and everything is good.

The reason this was such a concern (in addition to it not working!) is that I want to switch everything over to the Mac, and retire the Windows. Should I leave well enough alone, or keep trying to set it to automatic? Will it keep working long term as is or will I have to re-enter things? As you can tell, I don't have much confidence in my ISP.

Aug 22, 2012 4:35 PM in response to tioli

A "Location" is a large set of preferences for every possible thing that has to do with setting up Network. Don't change that!

Instead, run it for a while, do a Restart, run that for a while, then on

System preferences > Network > Ethernet

change Configure IPv4 Using:

to DHCP, and change nothing else.

If that works, don't touch it.

tioli Author

Level 1

5 points

Aug 23, 2012 12:41 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Thanks again. It's already "Configure IPv4: Using DHCP" since it was fixed, instead of "Using DHCP with manual address".

After all this, I can't remember, but it seems to me the IP, subnet, router, and configure IPv4 are all the same as when I started, and the only changes are the location, and DNS servers. Which is great, since they work.

Again, I can't remember, but I thought we had set this up manually, with a static address. So will it work (automatically) at all the hotels I stay at, without me needing to change anything?

Network Connection - could not find a PPPoE server