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I think I need an IP address expert?

A

anfield11

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Sep 13, 2007
262
1
Okay, I'll try and give as much information as I can here. This is happening on my iMac. I also have an iPhone 4S and an iPad 2. My network has a Time Capsule attached to it. All the software is updated to the latest and I've migrated to iCloud. My iPhone and iPad sync over wifi [a change I recently made from a wired sync]

I am getting the following message on my iMac:

"Another device on the network is using your computer’s IP address (192.xxx.2.12).

Try connecting again later. If you continue to have problems, change the IP address of this computer or the IP address of the other device. Contact the network administrator if you need more information."

If I reboot the iMac, the message still comes up. If I power off the iMac, router and Time Capsule it corrects and is fine until I leave the machine and it goes to sleep. When I wake it the message shows up again.

I've put the x's in the IP address in case of privacy, and the numbers x'd are all the same in the info provided? I thought each piece of equipment had an IP address that couldn't be changed....the message is suggesting otherwise.

The following is from System Information:


IPv4 Addresses: 192.xxx.2.12
IPv4:
Addresses: 192.xxx.2.12
Configuration Method: DHCP
Interface Name: en1
Network Signature: IPv4.Router=192.xxx.2.1;IPv4.RouterHardwareAddress=00:1f:b3:16:43:11
Router: 192.xxx.2.1
Subnet Masks: 255.255.255.0
IPv6:
Configuration Method: Automatic
DNS:
Domain Name: gateway.2wire.net
Server Addresses: 192.xxx.2.1
DHCP Server Responses:
Domain Name: gateway.2wire.net
Domain Name Servers: 192.xxx.2.1

Any help greatly appreciated
 
you have 2 computers running same IP. Are you using DHCP or manually configure IP addresses on time capsule?

Go through your devices and check which one of them is using static ip and not DHCP and u will find the culprit
 
miles01110 said:
Hardly matters. 192.168.x.x are generic IP addresses for private networks.

If you change the network settings from "Use DHCP" (or whatever) to "manual" and put in a different IP address (keeping the subnet mask and default gateway the same) the error should go away.
Click to expand...



LOL...so much for the privacy thing. Under network>TCP/IP it shows "using DHCP" IPv4 192.168.2.12 router 192.168.2.1 There is an IPv6 under that, that has no information in it. Not sure where to look for the Time Capsule IP?

----------
miles01110 said:
Hardly matters. 192.168.x.x are generic IP addresses for private networks.

If you change the network settings from "Use DHCP" (or whatever) to "manual" and put in a different IP address (keeping the subnet mask and default gateway the same) the error should go away.
Click to expand...



Should have also asked what the "default gateway" is.
 
kalex said:
you have 2 computers running same IP. Are you using DHCP or manually configure IP addresses on time capsule?

Go through your devices and check which one of them is using static ip and not DHCP and u will find the culprit
Click to expand...


I'm not sure where to find the IP address for the Time Capsule [I have looked].

When you say I have two computers using the same IP address, do you mean the iPhone and iPad as "computers?
 
time capsule is actually 192.168.2.1 and is acting as your DHCP server and router. you have another device on your network that is using 192.168.2.12 address. it could be your ipad,iphone or another device and its probably set as a static ip

PS - yes by computers i mean any device that has an ip address :)
 
kalex said:
time capsule is actually 192.168.2.1 and is acting as your DHCP server and router. you have another device on your network that is using 192.168.2.12 address. it could be your ipad,iphone or another device and its probably set as a static ip

PS - yes by computers i mean any device that has an ip address :)
Click to expand...

Thanks for responding again. Now to try and find out where the IP addresses on the iPhone and iPad are! :)

As an aside, I have an apartment in my house and I let my tenant have access to my network using my password.....is there any chance that she is the offender? That said, I've had this arrangement with a number of tenants and never had this problem.

----------
kalex said:
time capsule is actually 192.168.2.1 and is acting as your DHCP server and router. you have another device on your network that is using 192.168.2.12 address. it could be your ipad,iphone or another device and its probably set as a static ip

PS - yes by computers i mean any device that has an ip address :)
Click to expand...

Okay,

iMac 192.168.2.12
Router 192.168.2.1
iPad 192.168.2.10
iPhone 192.168.2.20
 
ah that makes sense. ok your devices are ok. Start talking to your tenants and see if u can figure out who is responsible. I bet you one of them set a static ip. or if you want an easier fix, assign a static ip to your imac and thats it.
make it something else

another option. shutdown your mac. install this app on your ipad http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ip-network-scanner-lite/id335517828?mt=8 and scan your network. see if another device is on it with ip of your imac
 
kalex said:
ah that makes sense. ok your devices are ok. Start talking to your tenants and see if u can figure out who is responsible. I bet you one of them set a static ip. or if you want an easier fix, assign a static ip to your imac and thats it.
make it something else
Click to expand...


Well, I just checked. She's not home and has a lap top that is with her...so not likely her. She also has an iPhone too, but I'm pretty sure she'll have that with her.

Thanks for all this help, but not being a computer genius [although not dumb] how do i assign a static ip to the iMac? Do I assign it a number...i.e. make one up?
 
actually another question. how is your imac connected to the network? is it wired or wireless?
 
kalex said:
actually another question. how is your imac connected to the network? is it wired or wireless?
Click to expand...

It's wireless.

I downloaded that app...how cool is that! It shows:

My router
iPad
iMac
Apple TV...forgot that one
HP Laserjet...forgot that one too! :)

Oddly, the iPhone isn'f showing.

They are all different IP's. Router is .1 iPad .10, would that be an issue? I haven't powered off the iMac though, but right now everything is working fine. Maybe if the message came up again then I should check the IP Network Scanner?

Thanks for all your help.
 
anfield11 said:
It's wireless.

I downloaded that app...how cool is that! It shows:

My router
iPad
iMac
Apple TV...forgot that one
HP Laserjet...forgot that one too! :)

They are all different IP's. Router is .1 iPad .10, would that be an issue? I haven't powered off the iMac though, but right now everything is working fine. Maybe if the message came up again then I should check the IP Network Scanner?

Thanks for all your help.
Click to expand...

they should be all different ips. each device has and only suppose to have 1 ip unless you are doing some sort of routing which you are not.
Time capsule is 192.168.2.1 and its your internet provider which means its a router. every computer connects through it to the internet.

If everything is working now then your culprit is your tenant as she is not home at the moment :)

See if u get an error when she is at home and as soon as u get an error disable wireless on your imac and scan again. see if anything is using .12 at that time.

also double check and make sure that there is no cable in ethernet port on your imac :)
 
kalex said:
actually another question. how is your imac connected to the network? is it wired or wireless?
Click to expand...

Ahhh, now I know why the iPhone isn't showing. The "Lite" version only shows 5 devices. But the IP is different.

----------
kalex said:
they should be all different ips. each device has and only suppose to have 1 ip unless you are doing some sort of routing which you are not.
Time capsule is 192.168.2.1 and its your internet provider which means its a router. every computer connects through it to the internet.

If everything is working now then your culprit is your tenant as she is not home at the moment :)

See if u get an error when she is at home and as soon as u get an error disable wireless on your imac and scan again. see if anything is using .12 at that time.

also double check and make sure that there is no cable in ethernet port on your imac :)
Click to expand...


No, no ethernet cable in the in the ethernet port.

Thanks very much, I should now be able to track the issue with that App you recommended. Thanks for your patience and help. Cheers
 
kalex said:
NP. let me know how it goes
Click to expand...

Will do.

I even upgraded the IP Scanner, as I have more than 5 devices....it's amazing how many you do have when you start to think about it.

Anyway, no issues for now, but usually had occurred when the iMac went to sleep.
 
anfield11 said:
Okay,

iMac 192.168.2.12
Router 192.168.2.1
iPad 192.168.2.10
iPhone 192.168.2.20
Click to expand...

That is one weird set of IP addresses. Are you sure you are using DHCP? I would have expected (unless you have a lot of devices you aren't telling us about) that the addresses would be roughly consecutive, e.g.

Router: 192.168.2.1
imac: 192.168.2.2
ipad: 192.168.2.3
iPhone: 192.168.2.4

etc
 
Not really. Depends on his dhcp scope and other devices that might have been registered before
 
kalex said:
Not really. Depends on his dhcp scope and other devices that might have been registered before
Click to expand...

Okay as a follow up to this.

The problem is still lingering even if sporadic. When I went to the bigger IP Scanner it allowed me to see everything and showed as follows:

ISP Modem. 192.168.2.1
iPad. 192.168.2.10
iMac. 192.168.2.12
Apple TV. 192.168.2.16
HP Laser. 192.168.2.17
IPhone 192.168.2.20
Time Capsule 192.168.2.21

When the problem arises their are no "foreign" devices.

In a recent check though, an odd thing happened. The IP's for the iMac and the Time Capsule were reversed. Is this the normal for IP'S to change, or an indication of the problem.

These issues have only arisen since downloading all the new software and the changing from an iPhone 4 to a 4S.

Any help appreciated.
 
Wait are u using time capsule as a router or are u using ISP modem as router? If u want PM me
 
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