Mac OS X 10.5.8 gets wrong IP address from wireless router

Question

My Mac OS X system is mostly getting the wrong ip address from any router. It gets an IP address starting with 169.254.59.233, when it should be getting a good, old 192.168.1.5 or something.

Does anyone know what could be the cause? I've got the feeling it happens after the laptop goes into stand-by mode.

I also see this message: "Airport has a self assigned IP address and may not be able to connect to the internet."

I've read people think it's because the router isn't handing out ip addresses, but it works just fine on any Linux or Windows laptop.

Solution 1

The IP address 169.254.59.233 is not being provided by your router but is being created by your computer in an attempt to communicate with your router's DHCP server - and failing. You should check the wireless connection to make sure it's actually attaching to the network and the authentication details are correct.

Solution 2

The routers are not the problem. The problem is your Mac. Run a software update. Since you say this issue occurs only sometimes, this leads me to believe its not your network settings (which should take effect all the time).

Most likely you need a driver update. If all your drivers are up to date and the problem continues I suggest you try a reformat. If it still doesn't work replace the wireless network card.

Solution 3

Please check the list of preferred networks and delete network names you do not use. To do this, open System Preferences... >>Network Select your Airport name, click Advanced... at bottom right, use the '-' to delete unneeded preferred networks.

Comments

[Pitto]

Sounds like your dhcp client (if you say the error occurs with ANY router) has problems when getting out of the stand-by. (webopedia.com/TERM/A/APIPA.html) If you renew your dhcp address when you get back from stand-by everything works?

[skerit]

That theory does sound familiar, strange enough I have to renew 10-15 times before I get a correct IP.

[skerit]

Indeed, but the mac says the connection is OK. I even disable airport, re-enable it and it still doesn't get an ip address from the router. Lots of people think it has to do with the mac coming out of standby.