I will have to forward that question to our Cisco engineer that set up the router / DHCP server. I will respond ASAP.
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Macbooks fail connecting to Ethernet network
I manage a moderate size network in an off-campus student housing facility with 350+ connections to the internet. The internet comes into the building via fiber optic and is distributed by a Ciscso Router using DHCP. Behind the Cisco router are a number of managed SMC switches. These feed 115 apartments where there is a small SMC home-style switch in each apartment. There are also several wireless access points in the common areas of the building connected to the managed switches.
Students using PC's don't have any problem, but we regularly have reports of problems with students using Macbooks. The Macbook will connect to the wireless in the common areas, but fails connecting to the wired network, showing no connection at all. When a PC laptop is plugged into the same jack using the same cable, it connects with no issue - proving that this is a Macbook configuration issue.
Some students report that their Macbooks worked on our network before they took them to campus, but on return they would not connect. I don't have any specifics on this.
I'm not current on Macs so I really don't even know where to start. My son has a Macbook and I know he had to make a minor change to the default settings to get it to work on my Windows network at home, but I don't know what that was.
So come on you Apple Gurus - I know this is probably a simple fix that I'm just not finding!!!
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Answers
See if anything here helps: http://reviews.cnet.com/83
Strung -
Thanks for finding that. The solution offered in that article is WAY TOO TECHNICAL for me to distribute to users. It requires downloading tools to edit system files - not something I want to suggest to users.
We don't support the end users at all. If there was a way to implement a fix with document that could be emailed to users, that would be the only way we would get involved in the configuration of their computers.
Here are some suggested changes you might make on the Cisco end, like turning off Spanning Tree Protocol:
http://www.macwin
Again, Thanks for continuing to try and help. The switches are SMC, not Cisco - but no matter. According to one post in that article....
"Turn off spanning tree for the ports connected to Macs or insert dumb switches between the Macs and the dysfunctionally smart Cisco hardware."
There are "dumb" switches between the Macs and all managed switches - so that is probably not the problem either.
Go to System Preferences/Network
In the center of the window, you should see the IP address, etc.
Is there an entry in DNS Server? I manually assign my addresses, so I don't remember if Mac pulls those settings over DHCP or not. If not, manually set the DNS servers, and you should be good to go.
If not, there is another possibility.
If they worked before, then the students took them on campus and upon return they no longer worked, I am willing to bet that the campus network installed VPN software to allow access to their network. This is what my daughter's college does. When the Mac comes home, possibly it is still trying to use the VPN software.
Try setting a new location on the Mac for the apartment building and setup that location to use DHCP.
System 10.5.8 instructions:
Go to System Preferences/Network
Location drop down menu should be at the top of the window.
Select Edit Locations
Click the plus sign at the bottom left of the window, name the location
Click done
You should now see the Network window, select ethernet on the left
under configure (center of window) select using DHCP
select apply at the bottom of the window.
Hello again. The Apple MacBook users at our facility were given this procedure and asked to report back results. They never reported back, but I have had no new complaints, so I'm going to assume this has fixed the problem.
I am splitting the points, awarding 1/5 to Strung for his repeated effort and 400 t WNYPCREPAIR for what I believe is the correct solution.
Thank you both.
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by: strungPosted on 2009-10-19 at 09:17:41ID: 25606555
Does your system require a DHCP client ID?