How to troubleshoot no ethernet connection on MacPro os10.5.8

Question

How to troubleshoot no ethernet connection on MacPro os10.5.8

I inherited a 2nd computer - a dual2.66GHzIntelXeon MacPro - to use here at work that won't connect to our server or the internet. The cable is good because the connection works on my main workstation. No one seems to know anything about this computer other than it is was used for video editing at one point and possibly the network settings may have been changed so it wouldnt download any viruses(?)

With the cable plugged in, in Network settings:

"Location, Automatic" shows Built-in Ethernet "Not Connected" Status: Cable Unplugged (Configure: using DHCP)

switching to

"Location, Company In-house" shows Built-in Ethernet1 Status: Inactive, Built-in Ethernet2 Status: Inactive, Built-in Ethernet3 Status: Not Connected

In Network Diagnostics it says "Not connected to Ethernet"

I tried both ports and jiggling the cable. I don't know if there's an alternate setting/configuration I can change or if both of the 2 ethernet jacks are simply broken (never had that happen), in which case is replacing/reconfiguring them something easily done? Or if theres something/anything else going on I can check?

Mac Pro, Mac OS X (10.5.8)

Posted on Feb 10, 2014 12:04 PM

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Answer 1

BDAqua

Level 10

250,259 points

Feb 10, 2014 1:38 PM in response to TheOriginal150mph

Hello, let's try this first...

Make a New Location, Using network locations in Mac OS X ...

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2712

10.5, 10.6, 10.7 & 10.8…

System Preferences>Network, top of window>Locations>Edit Locations, little plus icon, give it a name.

10.5.x/10.6.x/10.7.x/10.8.x instructions...

System Preferences>Network, click on the little gear at the bottom next to the + & - icons, (unlock lock first if locked), choose Set Service Order.

The interface that connects to the Internet should be dragged to the top of the list.

Reboot, any change?

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Answer 2

Feb 10, 2014 2:12 PM in response to BDAqua

Thanks but I hit a snag. I followed Making new locations at your above link until #5 Choose Network Port Configurations from the Show menu. There is no Show menu in this os10.5.8, but the article says the name changes regularly.

I have a new Location (Test), & Ethernet 1 is default. Status is "Unknown State" & Configure "Using DHCP"

Clicking the Advanced button leads to a bewilderment of other settings, none of which are obvious to use. Am I suppose to proceed using the Configure drop-down or the Advanced button?

I dont understand what you mean when with

10.5, 10.6, 10.7 & 10.8…

You're just saying the same info is good for all these os's?

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Answer 3

BDAqua

Level 10

250,259 points

Feb 10, 2014 3:47 PM in response to TheOriginal150mph

Network Port configurations isn't there in 10.5 & up, it's...

10.5.x/10.6.x/10.7.x/10.8.x instructions...

System Preferences>Network, click on the little gear at the bottom next to the + & - icons, (unlock lock first if locked), choose Set Service Order.

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Answer 4

Feb 10, 2014 6:28 PM in response to TheOriginal150mph

Try the following and then see what network settings say:

"Location, Company In-house" shows Built-in Ethernet1 Status: Inactive

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Answer 5

Feb 11, 2014 10:20 AM in response to Neville Hillyer

Thanks for trying to help.

Under Location Company In-house, Status: Inactive Configure: Using DHCP, no IP Address, Subnet Mask or Router. DNS Server has 2 similar IP address numbers, one ending with 5, one with 12, and Search Domains: (companyname)domain.com

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Answer 6

Feb 11, 2014 10:37 AM in response to BDAqua

BDAqua - Thanks for trying to help.

Location: Test

Status: Connected. Ethernet 1 has a self-assigned IP address and may not be able to connect.

Configure: Using DHCP

IP Address: 169.254.227.102

Subnet Mask: 255.255.0.0

Router: blank

DNS Server: blank

Search Domains: blank

Service order is Ethernet1, Ethernet2, Firewire.

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Answer 7

Feb 11, 2014 12:11 PM in response to TheOriginal150mph

TheOriginal150mph wrote:

Thanks for trying to help.

Under Location Company In-house, Status: Inactive Configure: Using DHCP, no IP Address, Subnet Mask or Router. DNS Server has 2 similar IP address numbers, one ending with 5, one with 12, and Search Domains: (companyname)domain.com

Do this again and remove all services from the left of Network preferences except Ethernet. Select 'Make service active' at little gear. Restart the Mac. If it still fails to talk to the DHCP server ask your IT person for help.

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Answer 8

Feb 11, 2014 2:21 PM in response to Neville Hillyer

I'm up and running! Great. Thanks so much Neville.

I'm not really sure what I did besides delete the extra services and Make service active... or what happened to make it wrong in the first place.

Neville Hillyer wrote:

... ask your IT person for help.

haha. thats you!

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Answer 9

Feb 11, 2014 2:25 PM in response to TheOriginal150mph

Well done.

The critical bit was 'Make service active' and the clue was 'Status: Inactive'.

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Answer 10

Mar 14, 2014 9:39 AM in response to TheOriginal150mph

My connection isn't completely fixed yet and is working only sporadically. Many sites just don't load with "Safari can't connect to the server." messages. Why would some major sites e.g. travelocity.com, thinkstockphotos.com - not connect, while others work ok? If it were a Certificate problem, I usually get an error message.

Also when I switch over to work with another app and come back to Safari, usually the internet connection has dropped. I try "Making Service Inactive" and then "Making Service Active" with no success. The only way I can regain a connection is to quit everything and restart the computer, which is frustrating. What does restarting do for Network connections?

Network shows Status: "Connected. Built-in Ethernet 1 has a self-assigned IP address and may not be able to connect."

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Answer 11

BDAqua

Level 10

250,259 points

Mar 14, 2014 11:22 AM in response to TheOriginal150mph

The first part sounds like a DNS issue.

For 10.5/10.6/10.7/10.8/10.9 > Network Pref Pane, highlight Interface>Advanced button>DNS tab>little + icon.

Try putting these numbers in...

208.67.222.222

208.67.220.220

On the 2nd part, when that happens, does network pref pane>Ethernet>Advanced>TCP/IP show any IP for Server, or is that lost also?

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Answer 12

Mar 14, 2014 3:59 PM in response to TheOriginal150mph

A self-assigned IP is often as a result of a failure to communicate properly with a DHCP server. I advise talking to your local IT support staff about this.

A failure to connect to some sites may be because of local restrictions - some employers do this to stop employees using sites unrelated to their employment. Try changing the DNS server as advised. I sometimes use 8.8.8.8

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Answer 13

Mar 14, 2014 6:46 PM in response to TheOriginal150mph

thanks. when i get back to the office on Mon. I'll give that a try and let you know how it turns out

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