No internet connection from MacBook

[hughvane]

Early 2011 Macbook Pro, OS High Sierra.

Connection to router(s), but nothing beyond that.

The problem first occurred when away from home base, and connected - successfully for a couple of days - via wireless to a Belkin router. Then nothing. No amount of resets of Mac or Belkin had any effect. Chrome however would display Google and YouTube start pages, but nothing from the links.

On return home, MBk connected to home network - same problem.

Mini and HTC phone connect to the internet just fine, so the problem is peculiar to the MBkPro. SysPrefs tells me it's connected to (my) network, but I cannot get any links to work.

Fixit suggestions please.

 

[MacInWin]

A few diagnostic steps: What is the IP number you see under System Preferences, Network and select the interface? What color is the dot beside the interface in the left panel? What is the number beside "Router" in the window? What does it say in the Configure IPv4 window? (It should say "Using DHCP")

EDIT: Also, what is in the DNS Server list?

 

[Rod]

You might want to try clicking on your WiFi icon in the menu bar, go to Open Network Preferences and go to network name and create a new network with a new name. Like, Home 2 or similar. This is also a good opportunity to check if you are actually still connected to your home network as before although I'm guessing you already checked that.
I have found that sometimes creating a new network to the same old router fixes all manner of faults although the exact reason is unclear. If this works you can delete the old network as they are easy to create as you will see.

 

[hughvane]

What is the IP number you see under System Preferences, Network and select the interface? What color is the dot beside the interface in the left panel? What is the number beside "Router" in the window? What does it say in the Configure IPv4 window? (It should say "Using DHCP") Also, what is in the DNS Server list?

IP# (assume = address) is 192.168.1.4
Green dot
Router# is 192.168.1.1
Using DCHP, connection automatic
DNS (two of) both are 192.168.1.1

 

[hughvane]

You might want to try clicking on your WiFi icon in the menu bar, go to Open Network Preferences and go to network name and create a new network with a new name. Like, Home 2 or similar. This is also a good opportunity to check if you are actually still connected to your home network as before although I'm guessing you already checked that.
I have found that sometimes creating a new network to the same old router fixes all manner of faults although the exact reason is unclear. If this works you can delete the old network as they are easy to create as you will see.

Thanks for your input. I have a sneaking suspicion that changing the network name will throw the other devices using the network into disarray, so I'll hold off doing what you suggest in the meantime, at least. Yes, I have check the connection, and all devices bar the MBk are working without problems.

 

[MacInWin]

Hmmm, that should work. You have an IP from the router, the router is your DNS server, which will work as long as your ISP provides DNS services. You can back them up by going to System Preferences/Network, pick the interface and then Advanced/DNS and click the "+" to add DNS 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 to the list. Those are Google's DNS servers and are pretty good.

 

[krs]

Hmmm, that should work. You have an IP from the router, the router is your DNS server, which will work as long as your ISP provides DNS services. You can back them up by going to System Preferences/Network, pick the interface and then Advanced/DNS and click the "+" to add DNS 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 to the list. Those are Google's DNS servers and are pretty good.

Jake - quick side question.
Is there any benefit in using the DNS services provided by the ISP over the google DNS servers?
People in Canada tend to change ISP's often trying to get a better deal on the service and I can just see someone switching to a small ISP that doesn't provide DNS service and then wondering "What happened to my Internet"

 

[MacInWin]

Is there any benefit in using the DNS services provided by the ISP over the google DNS servers?

Not really. Almost all (probably all, but there may be an outlier somewhere) provide DNS service. Actually, if you don't have DNS, the Internet doesn't work, so there may be no way an ISP can avoid providing a service. Technically, if you enter a valid DNS server address in the System Preferences, you might get away without a server from the ISP, but again, I've never heard of that, ever. Once you get a working DNS, if it doesn't have the information to resolve the URL, it's supposed to pass the request up the line. So theoretically, any DNS service will work. Google's services have huge lists of URL/IP addresses, and they stay updated frequently which is why they work well.

 

[Rod]

Sorry my bad, what I was talking about was the Location name. For example mine is currently "Automatic" but I can call it anything I like. It will still be connecting to the same network (modem) you will just be creating a new connection. The network wizard will step you through the process and if it makes no difference you can just delete it.


Sent from my iPhone using Mac-Forums

 

[krs]

Not really. Almost all (probably all, but there may be an outlier somewhere) provide DNS service. Actually, if you don't have DNS, the Internet doesn't work, so there may be no way an ISP can avoid providing a service. Technically, if you enter a valid DNS server address in the System Preferences, you might get away without a server from the ISP, but again, I've never heard of that, ever. Once you get a working DNS, if it doesn't have the information to resolve the URL, it's supposed to pass the request up the line. So theoretically, any DNS service will work. Google's services have huge lists of URL/IP addresses, and they stay updated frequently which is why they work well.

Thanks Jake,
I always used the google DNS servers with my previous ISP's, but I just checked the DNS setting on my Mac now and it shows the router address.
But my current ISP is Bell Canada, so I suppose that makes sense.
Back to the OP question and feedback from him if adding the google DNS servers resolved the issue.

 

[Raz0rEdge]

Does the MBP work on a different network? Say a coffee shop or somewhere else? You need to figure out if it's your network and MBP combo that's not working or if the MBP is just not working at all. Your network is working for a couple of devices, so that at least means your network should be fine.

 

[hughvane]

Thanks Jake,
I always used the google DNS servers with my previous ISP's, but I just checked the DNS setting on my Mac now and it shows the router address.
But my current ISP is Bell Canada, so I suppose that makes sense.
Back to the OP question and feedback from him if adding the google DNS servers resolved the issue.

Update
1. No connection problem continued until .....
dah dah!
2. Those DNS digits were added in the order provided, ie. the quad 8 is first on the list. Connection reestablished. Thank you MacInWin.

Coincidentally, adding those numbers deleted the previous 192.168.x.x, so one of them was reinserted. I don't know which DNS the MBk is now using.

 

[MacInWin]

It is probably using whatever is first in the DNS list in System Preferences/Network/<interface>/Advanced. 99% of the time the top one gets the job done.

 

[hughvane]

I was talking about was the Location name. For example mine is currently "Automatic" but I can call it anything I like. It will still be connecting to the same network (modem) you will just be creating a new connection. The network wizard will step you through the process and if it makes no difference you can just delete it.

Thanks again, see updated info. I shall keep the renaming idea in mind, because I'm still baffled by why the connection dropout occurred after working just fine for a couple of days. The only extra factor *may* have been overnight shutdown and then reboot.

 

[MacInWin]

What typically happens is that if you go away from your home network and connect to a "foreign" one, the router is the first DNS Resolver used. If your home address is, for example 192.168.x.x, then 192.168.1.1 is the default DNS resolver. If you visit a foreign network using some other subnet, say 10.0.x.x, then the default resolver gets set to 10.0.x.1. When you get home, it should go back to 192.168.1.1, but if it doesn't, you are stuck with no resolver at all. Adding Google's DNS to complement whatever else goes on should fix it so you can move from network to network and even if the automatic DNS from the ISPs doesn't work, you still have the Google DNS resolvers as a fall back.

That is a very simplified explanation but should help.