netgear adsl modem/router fails on mini, works on mbpro

Brian Schott · 08-20-2012, 10:29 AM

I cannot install my net gear DM111PSPv2 modem/router using the ethernet cable from my 2011 mini running Lion, but it installs correctly from the laptop running Snow Leopard. Does this mean the mini has a bad port or bad OS or something else?

DeltaMac · 08-20-2012, 12:47 PM

No, you can't assume the port is bad.
Try this:
If your modem is working on the laptop (with Snow Leopard), then disconnect from that laptop, and connect to the mini.
Now - the modem is set to connect to only one device (you might not have realized that) - so, restart the modem! Do that by disconnecting power, then plug back in. It will then detect the change in hardware (it's a different computer!), and should immediately connect after the restart completes. Then, to connect to the laptop, do the same task (including the modem power-cycle).

Well, that's a little inconvenient to do that every time you change from one to the other - and you can't connect to both! The reason is - your modem, although it has a router function, is NOT a multi-port router. And, I think you might like to have a wireless connection, and the net gear also doesn't have that. It will only "see" whatever computer is connected first to the modem. If you change to another computer, then you have to restart the modem each time.
So, add a wireless router to your setup, which almost always have several ethernet connections (making that a hub or switch), and you have wireless as an option.
And - you'll be able to use internet on any computer, or other device (such as a smart TV) that could use an internet connection. All that without needing to restart the modem every time you switch connections, or add a different computer.

Brian Schott · 08-20-2012, 02:30 PM

DeltaMac,

Thanks.

I already have a wireless belkin 54g and have it working. So the (possibly bad) ethernet port is only a problem when I have a dsl failure and have to reconfigure the modem. For some reason I can't reconfigure and reconnect from the mini on my desktop and have to go get my honey's laptop. That is not too inconvenient, but while my mini is still in warrantee I would like to take it to the apple store for an ethernet port repair. But I don't want to bother with the apple store trip if there is another explanation/fix for the problem.

DeltaMac · 08-20-2012, 04:17 PM

Well, then a modem restart, while connected to your mini should get it working, and you then should be able to configure your modem.

You can do a quick check of the ethernet port on the mini.
Plug a patch cable from the _Belkin_ to your mini, then check in the mini's System Preferences, then take a look at the Ethernet port, in your Network prefs. Should show a legitimate IP address, which will not be blank, and also not beginning with 169 (which would likely show a notice that the IP address is a self-assigned one.)
What do you get as an IP address for the Ethernet settings in your Network pane?

Unplug the Ethernet patch cable, and the IP address should disappear. Plug it back in, and the IP should come up again.
If the IP is good (valid) with an ethernet cable plugged in to the belkin, then your mini ethernet port is good.

Brian Schott · 08-20-2012, 04:54 PM

The IP address for the ethernet is 192.168.2.9 when it is plugged in and is totally blank when the patch cable is taken out. Which sounds like the cable and port are fine, right?

I had seen long threads that made me wonder about netgear adsl modems like this one
http://hintsforums.macworld.com/showthread.php?t=140815 which make me wonder about netgear, and there was another early mini thread that mentions the ethernet port http://hintsforums.macworld.com/show...t=mini+netgear. So I began to wonder if the problem is not the ethernet cable.

Thanks, again.

DeltaMac · 08-20-2012, 07:17 PM

Yes, sounds like the mini ethernet port (and the belkin) are working OK.
Does it work for what you need, if you restart (power cycle) the net gear, after you hook up the mini to that net gear?

Brian Schott · 08-21-2012, 03:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeltaMac


	Yes, sounds like the mini ethernet port (and the belkin) are working OK. Does it work for what you need, if you restart (power cycle) the net gear, after you hook up the mini to that net gear?

No it does not work for what I need. After I hook up the mini to the netgear
and restart the netgear, the mini cannot reconfigure the netgear. Only the laptop can reconfigure the netgear. The mini cannot seem to even find the netgear at 192.168.0.1, but the laptop does fine. Is it at all relevant that the mini is a server?

Btw, it is so annoyingly complicated to reconfigure the netgear, that I really do not want to try it again unless there is a really new theory.

Thanks,

DeltaMac · 08-21-2012, 09:17 AM

Server, eh?
Do you have major differences in the network settings on the mini?

I'll ask this a different way: When you plug the ethernet cable in to the Belkin from your mini - are you connected to the network/internet? Launch Safari, and check on a couple of sites that web pages load without problem. Be sure to try a page that you don't often use. CNN.com should show today's date, for example.

Brian Schott · 08-22-2012, 02:03 PM

When I plug the ethernet cable in to the Belkin from my mini - I am connected to the network/internet (even after I turn off wifi on the mini <grin>). I wonder if I have been forgetting to turn of wifi when I try to reconfigure the modem from the mini. I don't think so, but that would be just like me.

I am barely mobile today because my back has given way to my crawling around, first reconfiguring, and later experiment with same. So I am not able to go thru more experiments now. Let's just let it be for now, b/c I am getting my internet service. Thanks for all your effective help.

08-20-2012, 10:29 AM	#1
Brian Schott Triple-A Player Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 86	netgear adsl modem/router fails on mini, works on mbpro I cannot install my net gear DM111PSPv2 modem/router using the ethernet cable from my 2011 mini running Lion, but it installs correctly from the laptop running Snow Leopard. Does this mean the mini has a bad port or bad OS or something else?

08-20-2012, 02:30 PM	#3
Brian Schott Triple-A Player Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 86	DeltaMac, Thanks. I already have a wireless belkin 54g and have it working. So the (possibly bad) ethernet port is only a problem when I have a dsl failure and have to reconfigure the modem. For some reason I can't reconfigure and reconnect from the mini on my desktop and have to go get my honey's laptop. That is not too inconvenient, but while my mini is still in warrantee I would like to take it to the apple store for an ethernet port repair. But I don't want to bother with the apple store trip if there is another explanation/fix for the problem. Last edited by Brian Schott; 08-20-2012 at 02:31 PM. Reason: clarification

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes	Rate This Thread
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode	Rate This Thread:

08-20-2012, 12:47 PM	#2
DeltaMac League Commissioner Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 7,959	No, you can't assume the port is bad. Try this: If your modem is working on the laptop (with Snow Leopard), then disconnect from that laptop, and connect to the mini. Now - the modem is set to connect to only one device (you might not have realized that) - so, restart the modem! Do that by disconnecting power, then plug back in. It will then detect the change in hardware (it's a different computer!), and should immediately connect after the restart completes. Then, to connect to the laptop, do the same task (including the modem power-cycle). Well, that's a little inconvenient to do that every time you change from one to the other - and you can't connect to both! The reason is - your modem, although it has a router function, is NOT a multi-port router. And, I think you might like to have a wireless connection, and the net gear also doesn't have that. It will only "see" whatever computer is connected first to the modem. If you change to another computer, then you have to restart the modem each time. So, add a wireless router to your setup, which almost always have several ethernet connections (making that a hub or switch), and you have wireless as an option. And - you'll be able to use internet on any computer, or other device (such as a smart TV) that could use an internet connection. All that without needing to restart the modem every time you switch connections, or add a different computer.

08-20-2012, 04:17 PM	#4
DeltaMac League Commissioner Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 7,959	Well, then a modem restart, while connected to your mini should get it working, and you then should be able to configure your modem. You can do a quick check of the ethernet port on the mini. Plug a patch cable from the _Belkin_ to your mini, then check in the mini's System Preferences, then take a look at the Ethernet port, in your Network prefs. Should show a legitimate IP address, which will not be blank, and also not beginning with 169 (which would likely show a notice that the IP address is a self-assigned one.) What do you get as an IP address for the Ethernet settings in your Network pane? Unplug the Ethernet patch cable, and the IP address should disappear. Plug it back in, and the IP should come up again. If the IP is good (valid) with an ethernet cable plugged in to the belkin, then your mini ethernet port is good.

08-20-2012, 04:54 PM	#5
Brian Schott Triple-A Player Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 86	The IP address for the ethernet is 192.168.2.9 when it is plugged in and is totally blank when the patch cable is taken out. Which sounds like the cable and port are fine, right? I had seen long threads that made me wonder about netgear adsl modems like this one http://hintsforums.macworld.com/showthread.php?t=140815 which make me wonder about netgear, and there was another early mini thread that mentions the ethernet port http://hintsforums.macworld.com/show...t=mini+netgear. So I began to wonder if the problem is not the ethernet cable. Thanks, again.

08-20-2012, 07:17 PM	#6
DeltaMac League Commissioner Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 7,959	Yes, sounds like the mini ethernet port (and the belkin) are working OK. Does it work for what you need, if you restart (power cycle) the net gear, after you hook up the mini to that net gear?

08-21-2012, 09:17 AM	#8
DeltaMac League Commissioner Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 7,959	Server, eh? Do you have major differences in the network settings on the mini? I'll ask this a different way: When you plug the ethernet cable in to the Belkin from your mini - are you connected to the network/internet? Launch Safari, and check on a couple of sites that web pages load without problem. Be sure to try a page that you don't often use. CNN.com should show today's date, for example.

08-22-2012, 02:03 PM	#9
Brian Schott Triple-A Player Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 86	When I plug the ethernet cable in to the Belkin from my mini - I am connected to the network/internet (even after I turn off wifi on the mini <grin>). I wonder if I have been forgetting to turn of wifi when I try to reconfigure the modem from the mini. I don't think so, but that would be just like me. I am barely mobile today because my back has given way to my crawling around, first reconfiguring, and later experiment with same. So I am not able to go thru more experiments now. Let's just let it be for now, b/c I am getting my internet service. Thanks for all your effective help.