__Q

Q: El Capitan: Thunderbolt Ethernet & Speed 1000baseT not working

Hi,

 

I have all my internal network in Gigabit ethernet and when I use my macbook pro retina late 2013 with the Thunderbolt ethernet adapter with a manual hardware configuration of speed = 1000BaseT,  it doesn't work.  DHCP can't resolve an IP and in fact,  OSX El Capitan doesn't recognize that the Thunderbolt ethernet is plugged in.    If I change the speed to 100baseTX it works fine tho.  It seems that the thunderbolt adapter in El Capitan, doesn't like the Gigabit speed.

 

I've tried to remove all the network interfaces, restarted El Capitan many times and also deleted /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/NetworkInterfaces.plist and I can't get gigabit ethernet to work.

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X El Capitan (10.11.4), Retine 15 inch Late 2013

Posted on Apr 26, 2016 7:59 AM

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Q: El Capitan: Thunderbolt Ethernet & Speed 1000baseT not working

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  • by Luis Sequeira1,

    Luis Sequeira1 Luis Sequeira1 Apr 26, 2016 8:23 AM in response to __Q
    Level 6 (12,397 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 26, 2016 8:23 AM in response to __Q

    You should not need to configure anything.

    I suggest you delete the network service "Thunderbolt Ethernet", add it again and let all the settings on their defaults.

  • by JimmyCMPIT,

    JimmyCMPIT JimmyCMPIT Apr 26, 2016 8:34 AM in response to __Q
    Level 5 (7,866 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 26, 2016 8:34 AM in response to __Q

    Did it ever work?

    did it work on a previous instance of the OS?

    If so what version?

    do you have a backup of that version?

    have you know of other users with your product (make/model/manufacturer) who have had success with the product in 10.11.4?

    there seem to be a fair share of reviews from the one Apple sells on it's page to warrant a concern.

    http://www.apple.com/shop/reviews/MD463LL/A/thunderbolt-to-gigabit-ethernet-adap ter?page=1&rf=1

     

    The information in this article does not include the instance of a TB/TB2 to RJ45 converter, however it does not specificy mac models and some models do not come with RJ45 ports and only have access to some external converter.

    If the Ethernet connection on your Mac stopped working recently - Apple Support

  • by Luis Sequeira1,

    Luis Sequeira1 Luis Sequeira1 Apr 26, 2016 9:19 AM in response to JimmyCMPIT
    Level 6 (12,397 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 26, 2016 9:19 AM in response to JimmyCMPIT

    There is the distinct possibility of a hardware defect, of course.

    But I also think that the negative comments tell us about as much as the fact that people in this forum have problems: those who do not simply get on using their macs and peripherals.

     

    I can only offer my anecdotal experience: I use a TB->Ethernet adapter for 8 hours or more every day, and have done so for over 2 years, with zero issues.

  • by __Q,

    __Q __Q Apr 26, 2016 9:38 AM in response to __Q
    Level 1 (6 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 26, 2016 9:38 AM in response to __Q

    Thanks for the quick replies.  It used to work ok in Yosemite.   It's very strange, I tried to delete the service, created a new one.  If I select automatic settings it automatically sets the speed to 100 base TX instead of 1000 base T.   If I manually set it to Speed: 1000 base T,  thunderbolt shows as 'not connected' .   


    In the other laptops and pcs , it works fine at gigabit speeds.

     

    I've found on the net people having similar problems with the same model and they ended up going to Apple to get the logic board replaced, which is even more strange as it was working in Yosemite. 

  • by Luis Sequeira1,

    Luis Sequeira1 Luis Sequeira1 Apr 26, 2016 9:42 AM in response to __Q
    Level 6 (12,397 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 26, 2016 9:42 AM in response to __Q

    __Q wrote:

     

    Thanks for the quick replies.  It used to work ok in Yosemite.   It's very strange, I tried to delete the service, created a new one.  If I select automatic settings it automatically sets the speed to 100 base TX instead of 1000 base T.   If I manually set it to Speed: 1000 base T,  thunderbolt shows as 'not connected' .   


    In the other laptops and pcs , it works fine at gigabit speeds.

     

     

    You mean the same adapter works fine in different machines? If that is it, it suggests the adapter is fine.

    I don't think it is a hardware problem, but a software one.

    Try the following simple test: start your mac in Safe Mode and see if the connection works at Gigabit speed.

    If it does, then it is certainly a software issue.

  • by __Q,

    __Q __Q Apr 27, 2016 7:21 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1
    Level 1 (6 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 27, 2016 7:21 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

    Nope, I don't mean the adapter works fine on different machines.     I mean that El Capitan works fine at 1000 base T in the other laptops in the same network.

     

    The same adapter and same network and same box used to work ok in Yosemite.    I'll re install El Capitan from scratch to test if during the upgrade things got screwed up.

     

    Thanks again.

  • by Luis Sequeira1,

    Luis Sequeira1 Luis Sequeira1 Apr 27, 2016 7:42 AM in response to __Q
    Level 6 (12,397 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 27, 2016 7:42 AM in response to __Q

    I don't know the topology of your network, but it occurred to me that the problem might perhaps be with a switch or a router port or something.

    One thing you could try is to swap cables, also try connect your EC mac to a different port in the router - one to which another mac can connect at Gb speed - and do the reverse, connecting another mac to this port.

     

    Yes, I know that it used to work in Yosemite, and you may feel that since you started having a problem after the update it must have been the update, and it may, but coincidences where something unrelated fails also happen. It is worth checking all possible points of failure (and it is easier to swap cables or connect to a different port than it is to reinstall an OS or similar).