Time capsule not connecting via ethernet after power failure

Let me suggest a total network change.. people usually hate this but if you are getting nowhere.. and it seems whatever changes we suggest are indeed getting nowhere..

Please test the easiest possible setup.

That is to put the Optus modem in full router..

So change from Optus Bridge to NAPT.

Then put the TC in bridge mode.

When you put the Optus modem in full router your login will still be on the 4200 and its NAT maybe a bit limiting but it is a test to see if it fixes your issues.

I also want you to put the TC in bridge after a full factory reset.

Factory reset universal

Power off the TC.. ie pull the power cord or power off at the wall.. wait 10sec.. hold in the reset button.. be gentle.. power on again still holding in reset.. and keep holding it in for another 10sec. You may need some help as it is hard to both hold in reset and apply power. It will show success by rapidly blinking the front led. Release the reset.. and wait a couple of min for the TC to reset and come back with factory settings. If the front LED doesn’t blink rapidly you missed it and simply try again. The reset is fairly fragile in these.. press it so you feel it just click and no more.. I have seen people bend the lever or even break it. I use a toothpick as tool.

N.B. None of your files on the hard disk of the TC are deleted.. this simply clears out the router settings of the TC.

Any thoughts on what to try next? (like getting the TC to completely forget the modem and start again!)

At this point, that is exactly what you need to do.

Power off the TC by pulling the power cord from the back of the device

Wait a minute

Hold in the reset button on the TC first, and keep holding it down for an additional 10 seconds while you simultaneously plug the power cord back into the TC

Release the reset button after the hold period, and allow a full minute for the TC to restart to a slow, blinking amber light status

The network settings have now been reset back to factory defaults, but this action will not affect the stored data on the TC hard drive in any way

Now, you can set up the TC again, just like you did when it was new. You can use the same network name and password that you used before if you wish, or use a new network name and password.

I am in Australia also happen to be using a speedstream 4200 from Optus (although my ISP is AANET).

My experience is that the TC cannot handle PPPOE connection to the modem in bridge. There is no obvious reason for the failure .. it simply refuses to work.

The 4200 can be a bit tricky to setup.. so I need to know how it is setup.. are you running it in bridge with the TC set to PPPOE.

Or do you have the 4200 running as router and the TC bridged. A couple of screenshots would be great.

You certainly cannot run double NAT. That will fail because the Optus 4200 is set to default IP of 10.1.1.1 and the TC is set to 10.0.1.1 so they will not route correctly.. anyway double NAT should be avoided.

I need the info before proceeding.. sorry as I see you have already had lots of time on the phone and with apple.

Power failures cause strange problems..

What I would like you to do if you have the modem as full router... and the TC in bridge is to plug the ethernet from the modem to LAN ports 1, then 2 and then 3 to trial them all.

The WAN port on the Gen5 TC is flakey at best.

If you want to talk to me direct my email is available in the profile.

With this additional information, you have really done all that you can do.

Your next step would be to take the TC to an Apple Store.....if you have one in your area....or contact Apple Support. Contact Apple for support and service - Apple Support

This is a special type of NAT. True NAT actually.. whereas most NAT routers are really NAPT. As often happens our terminology is wrong.

The difference is that NAPT is one public address to many private addresses.. using PORT translation..

True NAT simply changes the IP in the header. It is only allowing one computer to connect and does so without PORT translation.. so it is actually not blocking anything.. it is more a protection for the internal network vs landing a public IP on the LAN interface.

See http://www.differencebetween.com/difference-between-nat-and-vs-napt/

However.. it will still give double NAT errors albeit these are less serious because this is sending through every packet with ports unchanged.

The 4200 modem has the ability to choose either NAT or NAPT.. and you can assign a computer to NAT even running NAPT.. so it is another term for DMZ. Or Default Server in Apple router terms.

This is a screenshot from the modem.. it is not commonly presented as it leads to confusion.. what the heck is NAT vs NAPT.

From my point of view it is useful. I like having this level of control. Especially if you get PPPoE client issues it is still possible to effectively bridge but without using PPPoE.

ie this is a solution where PPPOE is not offered and only PPPOA is available.

Sorry, I am stumped on this one. Perhaps another user will be able to explain why the TC works in the Apple Store but not in your home.

If you find a solution, I would be interested to learn what it was.

The 4200 is not a powerful router.. there are times you may find it is a bit light on for your network or doesn't understand apple protocols. Things like airplay.. might be a complete mystery to the 4200 which ceased production when the ark landed on Ararat. (not the local one).

But for now if it works I am a pragmatist.. enjoy it and worry about the technical issues if / when they turn up.

There is good reason for it.. but without knowledge of what is going on, it will certainly cause the TC to configure itself wrongly.

Ok.. I think the problem is Optus use a mode called 1 to 1 NAT. That is what Optus Bridge is.. not a true bridge but it does provide a single address.

What this does is mess up the TC.. so the solution is actually a fairly simple one..

Please try this before over worrying about sending me screenshots.. ie only if this fails.

Go to the network tab and then network options and change it from using 10.0 to 192.168

This is how it looks in the Mac.

Save that and it will process and from that point although you will get a double NAT error it should actually function OK.

Ultimately you do need to fix it.

You can bridge the 4200 and test the PPPoE on the TC.

This is somewhat tricky.. there are online helpful instructions on how to bridge the 4200..

This is one I used to use..

http://www.phoenixthesmeg.byethost16.com/howto/sss4200.html

I have subsequently found several different methods and some easier than others.. however all roads lead to the same place.

The other solution is simply replace the 4200 with another modem.

Depending on your usage.. buying a decent all in one modem router can be a lot better fix than fiddling with the bridged modem and router.. especially as it might not work at all.

A TP-Link D7 is about $160, very good bang for bucks.. easy to configure.

There are cheaper units if this is too much.. just say.. but if you want a decent router this is about what it will cost you.

You can bridge the TC and run it as AP .. i guess you don't need Time Machine if you don't have a Mac??

Why do you have a Time Capsule?? 😉😝