Troubleshoot macOS Ethernet connections in IUB or IUPUI campus housing

If you're having problems making a wired (Ethernet) connection to the Indiana University Bloomington or IUPUI network on a macOS computer in your campus housing residence, go through these steps. If you still have trouble, contact your campus Support Center.

  1. Make sure your network cable is firmly seated in the data jack and the network adapter. The connecters on network cables are much like those of a common telephone cord (although the network cable heads are slightly larger). To ensure that the plug is set firmly in the slot, insert the connector until you hear a slight snap.
  2. Ask your neighbors if they are having similar problems. Problems with the network as a whole will typically affect all or most users within an area.
  3. Make sure your cable is the correct type and is not defective.
    • IU Bloomington: To determine what type of Ethernet cable needed, see Ethernet cables for Bloomington residences.

      If your room uses a standard Ethernet cable, you will need to provide the cable yourself. If your room uses the proprietary IU Ethernet cable and it is not provided upon arrival, TCC is open for IU crossover cable pickups.

    • IUPUI: In Ball Residence Hall, the Campus Apartments on the Riverwalk, North Hall, and the Tower, use a standard Ethernet cable.

    If the cable is not working, test it on another network-connected computer. If, after switching cables, the other computer still connects to the network, the problem is not the cable. If the other computer is no longer able to access the network, then the cable is defective.

  4. Check your Ethernet settings:
    1. From the Apple menu, select System Preferences, then Network, then Ethernet, and then Advanced.
    2. Select the Hardware tab.
    3. Select Manually from the pull-down menu, and then make sure your settings are configured as follows:
      • Speed: 10baseT/UTP
      • Duplex: Half-duplex
      • MTU: Standard (1500)
  5. Check that you have correctly configured your computer's network settings.
  6. Make sure you have registered your device.
  7. If you're in a double or triple occupancy room, you should have more than one data jack; try another jack. If the computer can access the network on a different jack, then the previous data jack is the likely source of the problem. Contact your campus Support Center to report the problem.
  8. If you're using a software firewall, turn it off and see if you're then able to access the network.

    If needed, consult your documentation for instructions on how to use your firewall. If this does not solve the problem, make sure that you re-enable the firewall.

    If you are able to connect with the firewall disabled, contact the UITS Support Center. You should always keep the firewall on your computer enabled.

  9. Make sure your Ethernet port is active and given highest priority for connecting to the network. From the Apple menu, select System Preferences..., and then click Network. If Ethernet isn't at the top of the list in the "Network" window, click the gear icon at the bottom of the left pane, and then choose Set Service Order... from the menu. Drag Ethernet to the top of the list. If Ethernet is inactive, click the gear and from the menu, select Make Service Active. Click Apply.
  10. Check to see if you have a rogue DHCP server on your network. To do this, first find out if you're getting an IP address from the DHCP server; see Find your computer's IP address. For more, see About rogue DHCP servers on the IU network.
  11. Create a new network location and try making a connection again; see Connect in macOS from multiple locations via different network configurations.
  12. Reinstall your operating system software. Then try making a connection again.

    If you're still having trouble after completing these troubleshooting steps, you may want to take your computer to an authorized Mac repair store, particularly if you have materials saved to the computer. They can see if there is an issue with your network card.

This is document amid in the Knowledge Base.
Last modified on 2023-07-12 10:53:07.