Router Not Assigned WAN IP

Jak666 · 12-11-2008, 21:06

Hi.

Have looked for an answer to this to no avail so hope this isn't a duplicate post.

I am trying to use my MacBook to access the internet wirelessly using a Linksys WRT54GL router (running the latest standard firmware).

I am using a Virgin Media Ambit Cable Modem.

I can connect to the router wirelessly, and have configured it (I believe) correctly - the MAC address of my laptop has been cloned, network name changed and WPA key set up, and router IP changed to 192.168.2.1

I can connect to the internet when I connect the MacBook directly to the cable modem.

However, when I connect the modem to the router, and then power up the modem, router, and then laptop, whilst I can connect to the wireless network, I cannot access the net.

Checking the router status this seems to be because no IP address is being assigned to the router by the modem.

Any ideas how to fix this?

All help much appreciated.

Ramrod · 12-11-2008, 21:07

Password is correct?
edit...forget that, I missread your post

MovedGoalPosts · 12-11-2008, 21:13

Have you tried a different ethernet cable between the modem and router. It's always possible that is faulty. I can see you are powering the modem and router off when you swap stuff.

I'd do a factory reset to the router to get it back to default settings. Get connections sorted out wired between internet <> router <> computer first, then worry about wireless. It really shouldn't be necessary to clone your computer's mac into the router.

Jak666 · 12-11-2008, 21:37

Hi.

Thanks for the real quick replies.

Wired: I know both the cables I am using work - I have tested them both when connecting the modem directly to the laptop (that's how I'm online now)

However - when connecting the router to the laptop via a cable, it does not assign a correct IP to the laptop (by correct I mean the laptop is telling me I have an IP assigned in the range 169.234.xxx.xxx, whereas DHCP on the router is set up to assign IPs to connected computers in the range 192.168.2.100-149. This DHCP allocation works when wirelessly connecting to the router, just not using a cable.)

So I can't make the wired connection work either. . .

Cheers.

---------- Post added at 21:37 ---------- Previous post was at 21:36 ----------

p.s. I've done many, many factory resets too in an attempt to get this to work. . .

devonps · 13-11-2008, 08:59

Some things I would look into are:

I assume you've logged onto the router using an admin id & password and double checked the config - especially the wireless settings?

Have you checked the logs of the router to see what's happening?

Try re-connecting to the modem directly (wired) and go to Canyouseeme and see what IP address is being assigned to the modem.

Have you setup an encrypted passphrase for the wireless connection and ensured it is the same on your Mac as your router?

When you connect your Mac to the modem directly is the assigned IP address the same as the one from CanYouSeeMe - it should be?

Finally can you get a command line on your Mac? If so, try the following command: IFCONFIG when you are in various states of connection.

I've made an assumption here, how many LAN ports do you have?
If it's 1 then use IFCONFIG eth0, else cycle the command through eth1, eth2 - increase the number for the number of LAN ports you have.

BTW: IFCONFIG is short for interface configuration and tells you a bunch of details about your network connections including the assigned IP address. If you're unsure of the command put it into Google first.

Hope some of this can help,

Steve.

Kymmy · 13-11-2008, 09:03

Tell the router to use it's own MAC instead of the cloned MAC as there's no reason at all to do that unless you;re using a fixed registered IP or your desperate to keep hold of a dynamic IP for as long as possible....

MovedGoalPosts · 13-11-2008, 09:47

Something odd with your laptop's settings if it isn't getting an IP address from the router when you havea wired connection to it.

have a look at your network card settings and make sure that eveything, especially the TCP/IP settings for it are set to auto. Don't know if there is an equivalent for the mac, but on a PC trying a command prompt iprelease and ipconfig can force a reset, where something has got stuck.

Make sure you power off the laptop when you swap it's connection between modem and router. Router should be running before you try and connect the laptop.

Jak666 · 13-11-2008, 09:47

Thanks guys.

I'll work through the suggestions when I'm next at home.

devonps · 13-11-2008, 10:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob

Don't know if there is an equivalent for the mac, but on a PC trying a command prompt iprelease and ipconfig can force a reset, where something has got stuck.

FYI: A Mac basically runs a variant of UNIX - so you can use IFconfig instead of IPconfig.

Steve.

Jak666 · 15-11-2008, 18:30

Hi.

Thanks for the replies.

I am renewing the DHCP lease each time I power cycle either the router or the modem or change connections. Also I am making sure the modem is up before powering on the router, and then making sure that I renew the DHCP lease on the laptop once the router is up and stable.

All settings for the laptop ethernet port are set to Auto.

I assume you've logged onto the router using an admin id & password and double checked the config - especially the wireless settings?

Wireless settings seem to be ok - I can connect fine to the router itself wirelessly. Just cannot establish connection to the net.

Have you checked the logs of the router to see what's happening?

Have enabled logs. Nothing abnormal so far.

Try re-connecting to the modem directly (wired) and go to Canyouseeme and see what IP address is being assigned to the modem.

Site states xx.xx.xx.xx. See IFCONFIG details below.

Have you setup an encrypted passphrase for the wireless connection and ensured it is the same on your Mac as your router?

Yes. It's all synchronised and works as expected.

When you connect your Mac to the modem directly is the assigned IP address the same as the one from CanYouSeeMe - it should be?

Yes it is. See below.

Finally can you get a command line on your Mac? If so, try the following command: IFCONFIG when you are in various states of connection.

Here is the dump of the information when connected in various ways.

IFCONFIG when connected to router via cable:

ians-computer-2:~ ian$ ifconfig
lo0: flags=8049<UP,LOOPBACK,RUNNING,MULTICAST> mtu 16384
inet6 fe80::1%lo0 prefixlen 64 scopeid 0x1
inet 127.0.0.1 netmask 0xff000000
inet6 ::1 prefixlen 128
gif0: flags=8010<POINTOPOINT,MULTICAST> mtu 1280
stf0: flags=0<> mtu 1280
en0: flags=8863<UP,BROADCAST,SMART,RUNNING,SIMPLEX,MULT ICAST> mtu 1500
inet6 fe80::217:f2ff:fef0:e52a%en0 prefixlen 64 scopeid 0x4
inet 169.254.192.15 netmask 0xffff0000 broadcast 169.254.255.255
ether 00:17:f2:f0:xx:xx
media: autoselect (100baseTX <full-duplex,flow-control>) status: active
supported media: autoselect 10baseT/UTP <half-duplex> 10baseT/UTP <full-duplex> 10baseT/UTP <full-duplex,hw-loopback> 10baseT/UTP <full-duplex,flow-control> 100baseTX <half-duplex> 100baseTX <full-duplex> 100baseTX <full-duplex,hw-loopback> 100baseTX <full-duplex,flow-control> 1000baseT <full-duplex> 1000baseT <full-duplex,hw-loopback> 1000baseT <full-duplex,flow-control> none
fw0: flags=8863<UP,BROADCAST,SMART,RUNNING,SIMPLEX,MULT ICAST> mtu 2030
lladdr 00:19:e3:ff:fe:14:xx:xx
media: autoselect <full-duplex> status: inactive
supported media: autoselect <full-duplex>
en1: flags=8863<UP,BROADCAST,SMART,RUNNING,SIMPLEX,MULT ICAST> mtu 1500
ether 00:17:f2:ec:xx:xx
media: autoselect (<unknown type>) status: inactive
supported media: autoselect

IFCONFIG when connected to router wirelessly:

lo0: flags=8049<UP,LOOPBACK,RUNNING,MULTICAST> mtu 16384
inet6 fe80::1%lo0 prefixlen 64 scopeid 0x1
inet 127.0.0.1 netmask 0xff000000
inet6 ::1 prefixlen 128
gif0: flags=8010<POINTOPOINT,MULTICAST> mtu 1280
stf0: flags=0<> mtu 1280
en0: flags=8863<UP,BROADCAST,SMART,RUNNING,SIMPLEX,MULT ICAST> mtu 1500
ether 00:17:f2:f0:xx:xx
media: autoselect status: inactive
supported media: autoselect 10baseT/UTP <half-duplex> 10baseT/UTP <full-duplex> 10baseT/UTP <full-duplex,hw-loopback> 10baseT/UTP <full-duplex,flow-control> 100baseTX <half-duplex> 100baseTX <full-duplex> 100baseTX <full-duplex,hw-loopback> 100baseTX <full-duplex,flow-control> 1000baseT <full-duplex> 1000baseT <full-duplex,hw-loopback> 1000baseT <full-duplex,flow-control> none
fw0: flags=8863<UP,BROADCAST,SMART,RUNNING,SIMPLEX,MULT ICAST> mtu 2030
lladdr 00:19:e3:ff:fe:14:xx:xx
media: autoselect <full-duplex> status: inactive
supported media: autoselect <full-duplex>
en1: flags=8863<UP,BROADCAST,SMART,RUNNING,SIMPLEX,MULT ICAST> mtu 1500
inet6 fe80::217:f2ff:feec:c7d6%en1 prefixlen 64 scopeid 0x6
inet 192.168.2.100 netmask 0xffffff00 broadcast 192.168.2.255
ether 00:17:f2:ec:xx:xx
media: autoselect status: active
supported media: autoselect

IFCONFIG when connected to modem (can access net):

lo0: flags=8049<UP,LOOPBACK,RUNNING,MULTICAST> mtu 16384
inet6 fe80::1%lo0 prefixlen 64 scopeid 0x1
inet 127.0.0.1 netmask 0xff000000
inet6 ::1 prefixlen 128
gif0: flags=8010<POINTOPOINT,MULTICAST> mtu 1280
stf0: flags=0<> mtu 1280
en0: flags=8863<UP,BROADCAST,SMART,RUNNING,SIMPLEX,MULT ICAST> mtu 1500
inet6 fe80::217:f2ff:fef0:e52a%en0 prefixlen 64 scopeid 0x4
inet xx.xx.xx.xx netmask 0xfffffc00 broadcast 92.234.23.255
ether 00:17:f2:f0:xx:xx
media: autoselect (100baseTX <full-duplex,flow-control>) status: active
supported media: autoselect 10baseT/UTP <half-duplex> 10baseT/UTP <full-duplex> 10baseT/UTP <full-duplex,hw-loopback> 10baseT/UTP <full-duplex,flow-control> 100baseTX <half-duplex> 100baseTX <full-duplex> 100baseTX <full-duplex,hw-loopback> 100baseTX <full-duplex,flow-control> 1000baseT <full-duplex> 1000baseT <full-duplex,hw-loopback> 1000baseT <full-duplex,flow-control> none
fw0: flags=8863<UP,BROADCAST,SMART,RUNNING,SIMPLEX,MULT ICAST> mtu 2030
lladdr 00:19:e3:ff:fe:14:xx:xx
media: autoselect <full-duplex> status: inactive
supported media: autoselect <full-duplex>
en1: flags=8863<UP,BROADCAST,SMART,RUNNING,SIMPLEX,MULT ICAST> mtu 1500
ether 00:17:f2:ec:xx:xx
media: autoselect (<unknown type>) status: inactive
supported media: autoselect

I've made an assumption here, how many LAN ports do you have?
If it's 1 then use IFCONFIG eth0, else cycle the command through eth1, eth2 - increase the number for the number of LAN ports you have.

Just the one LAN port.

Thanks a lot.

devonps · 17-11-2008, 08:24

Ok,

A couple of more things to check/verify:

1. Are you using a normal network cable to connect to the router (i.e not a cross-over cable)?

2. Whilst connected via wireless to the router can you access the router's control panel at 192.168.1.1 (I think) and double check that the DHCP settings appear normal.

3. Have you tried assigning a static IP to your MAC and seeing if that allows you to connect to the internet using either a cable or wireless connection.

4. Do you have access to another router that you can try out?

5. Have you thought about returning your router - it may have a faulty WAN port, I've come across that before.

6. Can you log onto your modem and check that out, under the different connection scenarios. You should be able to search the forum for the IP address & password - I'm at work so can't really be looking up IP address's.

7. When you are connected via cable to your router is the LAN port on your MAC lighting up

7.1 Is the LAN port on your router lighting up as well?

Hopefully some of this will help,

Steve.

Graham M · 17-11-2008, 08:28

Ive removed your external IP from the post, while is isn't against forum rules, it is generally not a good idea!

Jak666 · 01-12-2008, 10:20

Hi.

After trying all the suggestions with no luck I plugged in an old Motorola router and that worked straight off.

Suggests there is a problem with the WAN port on the router, though the light is on.

Thanks for your help guys.