topic Re: Laptop won`t connect via ethernet cable. in Tech Help - Software/Hardware etc

Laptop won`t connect via ethernet cable.

shutter — Tue, 14 Mar 2023 14:08:31 GMT

Two Laptop.... both running Linux Mint 21.2 Vera - Mate edition

Asus Laptop. connects to the internet via Ethernet and also via WIFI.

Router is upstairs, and connection to it, is via Power Plug adapters. (and new ethernet cables ) Works really good..On the Asus..

Toshiba 12inch Satellite Pro will not connect via the (same) ethernet cable but will connect via WIFI.

I have been through the BIOS settings to make sure that LAN is enabled ( has always been, as far as I know ! ) .

I have disabled WIFI but kept Networking enabled

Icon shows "broken" connection and Ethernet Network "disconnected"

I have copied the same information from the Asus to the Toshiba on the "Editing Wired Connections" page.

on the Connection Information page.....

Using the same Interface name for the router

The same Hardware address.

On the IPV4 section Using the same IP address

Same Broadcast Address

Same subnet mask

Same Default Route

Same Primare DNS

I have changed the Main board, on which the LAN socket is, for two others,

( all have same problem) .

Any suggestions to solve the above problem would be appreciated.

Thank You.

Re: Laptop won`t connect via ethernet cable.

MisterW — Tue, 14 Mar 2023 15:01:51 GMT

@shutter run '

sudo lspci -v

from a terminal window

Look for the ethernet controller and see if its loaded a driver

Re: Laptop won`t connect via ethernet cable.

shutter — Tue, 14 Mar 2023 15:11:16 GMT

@MisterW Thankyou.

Here is a photo of the Network and Ethernet sections

Re: Laptop won`t connect via ethernet cable.

MisterW — Tue, 14 Mar 2023 16:00:08 GMT

There's conflicting information out there as to whether r8169 is the correct driver for that nic or whether it should be r8101 see https://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?t=385186 for example.

I think you need to do some research

Re: Laptop won`t connect via ethernet cable.

shutter — Tue, 14 Mar 2023 18:14:26 GMT

OK... @MisterW Thanks for the linky and your time. Much appreciated. Sending you a P.M.

Re: Laptop won`t connect via ethernet cable.

shutter — Wed, 15 Mar 2023 08:05:23 GMT

@MisterW

After some several attempts to follow the bits and pieces of the linky`s ( and your advice in PM`s).. I have had some PARTIAL SUCCESS.

The 8101 driver is now installed... and the socket accepts that a cable is inserted, and the driver seems to be searching for something. as where the connection icon is on the (bottom task area) panel, the two plugs have been replaced by a curly swirly icon, indicating that it is searching, Also there is a pop up message saying requesting ethernet address

After about 1 minute or so, it stops for a second only, and shows the two plugs, then disappears and resumes searching. Also, a message appears at the top of the screen saying "Disconnected".

Is there a way to manually enter an ethernet address for "Wired Connection 1".

Re: Laptop won`t connect via ethernet cable.

MisterW — Wed, 15 Mar 2023 08:46:59 GMT

Yes, select Edit connections from the network menu and change the wired connection from DHCP to static ip

But I would be concerned that there's still an underlying problem as it isn't getting an address via dhcp?

Re: Laptop won`t connect via ethernet cable.

shutter — Wed, 15 Mar 2023 09:00:31 GMT

OK thanks... I`ll give that a try. and report back

Re: Laptop won`t connect via ethernet cable.

Anonymous — Wed, 15 Mar 2023 09:17:29 GMT

Just a thought, but have you tried running Mint in Live mode, (I think it is called?), where you boot from an installation DVD or USB drive, but don't click the "Install" icon on the "Live" desktop?

That might give a view on if your existing install has become corrupted.

I did that a few years ago when I had similarly baffling issues - Cinnamon is my desktop of choice though! 😀

Re: Laptop won`t connect via ethernet cable.

shutter — Wed, 15 Mar 2023 09:36:17 GMT

@Anonymous Thanks for your input... I have been using Mint for a long time... and never had this problem UNTIL I got this Toshiba Satellite Pro 12 inch, to replace a 10 inch laptop. ( which had no problems running mint or wired connection! )

I don`t think the install of mint is corrupted, as it was run from the same Live USB as for the main ASUS laptop. Both installs were from a new download and done within 24 hours of each other.

MisterW has pointed at the driver, and from the linky he provided, it seems it`s been a bit of a problem with others.

@MisterW I have done a MANUAL insert of the IP address

I put 255.255.255.0 in the Net Mask Column,....but it has changed to 24 for some reason! don`t know if I am doing the right thing.

Wondering about three things now.

1. The driver on the Toshiba ( with the problem) is showing as the "new" driver r8101 but the driver on the ASUS is showing < iwlwifi >

2. in the above pic there is a small box at the bottom which says "Require IPV4 addressing for this connection to complete"

would this be the "something else" that you mentioned? regarding not being found by DHCP.

3. with the Manual insert the message showing on the icon as connected, is as follows

But I get a message Server Not Found...when I try to search with Google.

Also.. despite the message saying it is Active. ... If I click on the "bold type" Wired Connection 1 in the listings I get a quick flash of the "connected" and then the "disconnected" mesages at top right corner of the screen...

so it appears that, although the "line" is "active".. there is still the problem of actually connecting to the internet via the router.

Re: Laptop won`t connect via ethernet cable.

MisterW — Wed, 15 Mar 2023 09:42:42 GMT

Looks like neither the r8101 or the r8169 driver really like that nic.

I suspect you're stuck with just wireless on that laptop

Nb the iwlwifi you refer on the asus is for the wireless card not the wired one

Re: Laptop won`t connect via ethernet cable.

Dan_the_Van — Wed, 15 Mar 2023 09:47:38 GMT

@shutter

You can not use the same IP Address as the wifi network it must be unique, try something else like 192.168.1.50 which is below the DHCP assignment range.

24 bit mask is 255.255.255.0

Dan

Re: Laptop won`t connect via ethernet cable.

MisterW — Wed, 15 Mar 2023 09:56:31 GMT

@Dan_the_Van good point. I had assumed that @shutter knew what he was doing with assigning static addresses

Re: Laptop won`t connect via ethernet cable.

Anonymous — Wed, 15 Mar 2023 10:03:18 GMT

Also, shouldn't the "Gateway" be 192.168.1.254 - ie the router's IP address? (It says 192.168.1.1 in that picture)

Re: Laptop won`t connect via ethernet cable.

shutter — Wed, 15 Mar 2023 10:12:58 GMT

@MisterW Hmm !... no... not really. just trying to follow instructions.... and hope I don`t make mistakes along the way !.

@Dan_the_Van Have deleted the previous address... and inserted 192.198.1.50 which remains RED also the 192.168.1.1 ( router) remains RED.. is this correct... or is it telling you (me) something else... as I can`t "Save" the entry (greyed out)

@Anonymous Changed to .254 and still RED and still no "save"

Correction to above.... error on the 192.168.1.1 insert (Missed out a dot ! ) now it is correct and showing GREEN

Also error in the first one... ( was two dot ! ) must get these glasses fixed

Connection/Disconnection problem as detailed in previous remains the same.

Re: Laptop won`t connect via ethernet cable.

Dan_the_Van — Wed, 15 Mar 2023 10:15:17 GMT

@shutter

Please ignore @Anonymous last input, all TP-Link device use 192.168.1.1 for the router. default gateway and dns

If the IP Address entry is red there is something wrong with it.

Edit: So in a cli for command ip add what do you see?

Re: Laptop won`t connect via ethernet cable.

shutter — Wed, 15 Mar 2023 10:23:23 GMT

@Dan_the_Van ok... Thanks... have done an edit to my response !.. mucho mistakes !.

here is the result of ip add

Interestingly..... I did a reboot, prior to the above.... and on start up, got the message "you are now connected to Wired Connection 1... ( as would be expected)

but when I tried to browser search fo Plusnet.... got the Server Not Found message ... and clicking on the listings "wired connection 1" resulted in the connected/disconnected as before.

Going out now for an hour or more.... so will continue after lunch 13:00 ish.

Thanks to all for the help and input... I really do appreciate it . Thank You.

Re: Laptop won`t connect via ethernet cable.

Dan_the_Van — Wed, 15 Mar 2023 10:27:34 GMT

@shutter

netstat -r in a cli will detail the default gateway.

Can you ping anything on your network, like your laptop or the TP-Link router?

I am off out now, so going offline until much later.

Dan.

Re: Laptop won`t connect via ethernet cable.

shutter — Wed, 15 Mar 2023 13:32:51 GMT

OK @Dan_the_Van back online on main ASUS again.... Toshiba is also running but still not properly connected. so I have to copy things from and to.

here is the result of your request for netstat -r

Interesting to see 192.168.1.0

As an experiment.. I changed the previous manual from .50 to .0 to see if that would make a permanent connection on the wired connection...but, alas, no. still the same, instant connected/disconnected messages

Rebooted after changing the manual setting... now CWCOM is showing my IP address as 192.168.1.102 ( on the Toshiba) (Showing 192.168.1.111 on the ASUS)

Haven`t got a clue how to "ping" anything ! or anyone ! .

The router is showing as enp3s0 for the Toshiba.....but is showing as enp3s0f1 for the ASUS

Re: Laptop won`t connect via ethernet cable.

Anonymous — Wed, 15 Mar 2023 13:24:10 GMT

@shutter

"Haven`t got a clue how to "ping" anything ! or anyone ! ."

In the Linux Mint Terminal, type ping (space) then the IP address of the device that you want to "ping", then return.

For example this is what I see when I ping my Plusnet Hub2: (It keeps going until you close the Terminal).