Terminal command to make port active!

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Level 3

610 points

Terminal command to make port active!

I've been having a problem connecting to internet and other devices thru my ethernet port. Even though I have airport to get online. I have gone thru the usual diagnostics.

When I use this command in terminal to see what is active I use this command: ifconfig -ul, and the result is: lo0 en1 .

When I use this command in terminal: ifconfig -dl, result is: gif0 stf0 en0 fw1

When I apply this command: sudo ifconfig en0 up, result is: lo0 en0 en1

I am on airport right now.

Is the right command being used to make the ethernet port active? I use to be able to just unplug and replug it in to make it work. I've tried everything but, go somewhere that has a good network and check it out. However, I have sufficient network to troubleshoot. For instance, my linksys hub (4 port) recognizes anything I put in it. Except, my iMac G5. At one time during all the upgrades of OSX I was able to use either ethernet or airport with no problems. But, after 10.4.3 something went different. In the network pref's ethernet says it's not plugged in (but it is). Same for modem. Says not connected (but it is). And I can still get online with a modem. Faxing is no problem at all.

Have I gone nuts?

Don

iMac G5, Mac OS X (10.4.6)

Posted on May 27, 2006 11:47 AM

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Answer 1

Donald Nixon Author

Level 3

610 points

May 27, 2006 5:50 PM in response to Rod Hagen

I've tried just about everything you can imagine with this problem. I've been using OSX since it came out. So, this not beginning for me. I'm just trying to see if I can get the ethernet port up. And without having to do a complete reinstall. I had to do 2 archive and installs. Sometiimes I think that is my problem. Looking at the other folks that have had this problem. They all did a archive and install.

I'm running TechTool Pro now and it says that my ethernet network is inactive.

Maybe it is a dead port period. I wont know until I take it in. I still have Applecare.

Don

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Answer 2

Donald Nixon Author

Level 3

610 points

May 28, 2006 7:01 AM in response to Rod Hagen

It would seem that is up. I have 5 new cables. It's very clean. I have 3 new locations. Already posted there. That's where I got the command's to check and make it active. Also, to list what is there. There was only one person that could help with what I was asking.

When you plug a ethernet cable in. It should at least say something like" the ethernet cable is plugged in. But, not configured" . Again, what do I know. I'm just somebody that knows just enough to get into trouble.

Thanks for you time Rod.

Don

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Answer 3

Rod Hagen

Level 7

32,000 points

May 28, 2006 5:49 AM in response to Donald Nixon

I run ( sudo ifconfig en0 up ) and then run ( ifconfig -ul ) again and this is what it says- lo0 en0 en1. So, ethernet is still down.

No, en0 is your ethernet port, so ethernet is, in fact, "up".

Have you tried different cables? Probably the most common cause of ethernet problems. Simply making sure that there isn't dust or other junk in the port may be worth doing to.

Its hard to work out where to start if you have already tried a lot of new settngs. It may, in fact, be better to simply create a new "location" and start from scratch to see if you can get it working.

Probably the best people for advice on this will be in the networking discussion groups. Might well be worth posting there.

But, if you haven't already done so, try a new cable first.

Cheers

Rod

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Answer 4

Rod Hagen

Level 7

32,000 points

May 27, 2006 5:17 PM in response to Donald Nixon

Donald,

do you have any particular reason for wanting to use terminal commands to achieve your ends?

It should be perfectly possible to sort this out without doing so.

In System preferences/network/ with "Network Port Configurations" (not Network Status) selected in the "Show" box, how do you have them ordered?

Cheers

Rod

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Answer 5

Rod Hagen

Level 7

32,000 points

May 27, 2006 7:15 PM in response to Donald Nixon

If you run ifconfig -ul AFTER sudo ifconfig en0 up does it still show en0 (your ethernet port) as up?

What does System Profiler say about the status of your ethernet port?

have you tried PRAM and SMU resets?

Cheers

Rod

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Answer 6

Donald Nixon Author

Level 3

610 points

May 27, 2006 10:18 PM in response to Rod Hagen

Rod,

I run ( sudo ifconfig en0 up ) and then run ( ifconfig -ul ) again and this is what it says- lo0 en0 en1. So, ethernet is still down.

I plugged the ethernet cable directly into the DSL modem and the "ethernet" lite would not come on, on the modem. When I plug the hub into the modem it turns "green".

When I can't get online with airport. I then try dial up. The little wheel just spins. But, when I turn off airport. The modem continues on and makes a connection. Wha! How come? I guess there can't be more than one thing on at a time.

I'm trying a lot of different settings in pref's. But, I've run out of ideas. I always thought when you plug in a ethernet cable at least the light that should be on would be. In this case it is not. For awhile the ethernet light on the hub would not be on. But, when I hit connect button in menu at top. The light would start blinking like it is making connection. And when I disconnected the light would go out. This is new to me. It should always be on.

I'm lost now. Or I got a dead ethernet port.

Don

P.S.-no I have not tried the PRAM and the other.

Message was edited by: Donald Nixon

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Answer 7

Donald Nixon Author

Level 3

610 points

May 29, 2006 8:41 AM in response to Frank Canzolino

Frank,

No it just moves back to the place in order. Which is as follows. 1. Ethernet
2. Airport 3. Internal Modem. If you have ever watched the pref screen as you switch from ethernet to airport in the order I have showned above. The list changes automatically. Say airport goes active. It moves to top of list. When turned off it goes back to #2. Now that's neat.

Like I have said, when I can't get online with airport. I have to use the internal modem for dial up. If airport is on. The connection wheel in internal modem just spins and spins. Turn off airport and it connects. Even though in the pref's it says internal modem is not plugged in (but it is). It connects anyway.

😟

Don

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Answer 8

Rod Hagen

Level 7

32,000 points

May 29, 2006 1:40 PM in response to Donald Nixon

Donald, it sounds to me as if you are looking at the order in the System Preferences>Network>Show Network Status , not the System Preferences>Network>Show Network Port Configurations

Select Show Port Configurations from the dropdown box where you currently see either Network Staus or a specific device name (its the one at the bottom). Drag ethernet t the top of the list which then appears and try again.

Cheers

Rod

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Answer 9

Donald Nixon Author

Level 3

610 points

May 29, 2006 2:06 PM in response to Rod Hagen

Rod,

The port configuration is the same in both places. 1. ethernet 2. airport 3. internal modem.

I tried to connect to a video camera thru ethernet that works on my clamshell ibooks ethernet. And no luck.

Don

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Answer 10

Rod Hagen

Level 7

32,000 points

May 29, 2006 4:03 PM in response to Donald Nixon

Try a PRAM set (hold down command option p r while starting computer - keep the keys pressed until the chimes have sounded three times).

I'm beginning to run out ideas, Donald, but if anyone can sort it out then Frank will be able to. If not, then its probably hardware I'm afraid. Is the computer still under warranty or Applecare?

Cheers

Rod

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Answer 11

May 29, 2006 8:09 PM in response to Donald Nixon

After zapping the PRAM, let's try this:

Go to System Preferences/Network and Create a new location, naming it something like Ethernet DHCP. Show Port Configurations and disable all of the interfaces except Ethernet. Connect via DHCP and Apply the changes. Repair Permissions using Disk Utility. Can you now connect?

Failing to connect this way, create a new user, log in as that user and repeat the process described above. Can you then connect?

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Answer 12

May 29, 2006 5:54 AM in response to Donald Nixon

If you turn off the AirPort card, does the ethernet port become active?

What is the order of interfaces in the System Preferences>Network>Show Port Configurations screen?

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