Mac-Comcast-Internet connection diagnostic?
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From: AES on 17 Jul 2010 18:37 I normally connect to the Internet via a Comcast residential service with the following physical devices in the chain: MacBook (10.4.11) --- Airport Extreme base station ==== Comcast-provided modem (a Motorola "Surfboard") +++ (outside world) where --- is an Airport WiFI link; === is Cat 45 Ethernet cable; and +++ is a Comcast cable coming from the street. We also have Comcast VOIP service for 4 or 5 telephone lines which I believe connected into the +++ cable somewhere upstream from the Comcast modem. All of this work great the majority of the time, but there have been two service outages during the past month when Internet and phone service went down for 4 to 8 hours. In the most recent case, the phone came back up after a few hours, but the Internet connectivity remained out for several more hours. The JPEGs at <http://www.stanford.edu/~siegman/Comcast1.jpg> and <http://www.stanford.edu/~siegman/Comcast2.jpg> show what I see at different times, using the Network pane in the Mac's System Preferences as a way of attempting to diagnose whether the outage means something is wrong in my local settings or hardware, or Comcast is really down. I'd appreciate any tutoring on what these are telling me -- notably, what and where is the "ISP" element in this chain, which seems to remain green all during these outages? My naive understanding is that ISP means and "Internet Service Provider" -- presumably, some computer located out in a Comcast building somewhere. So, are these lights telling me that I'm in fact communicating OK all the way to this Comcast computer, over the Comcast cable -- but that this computer is somehow unable to handle my traffic or link me onward to the Internet itself? Any educational assistance appreciated.
From: David Kaye on 17 Jul 2010 18:53 AES <siegman(a)stanford.edu> wrote: >All of this work great the majority of the time, but there have been two >service outages during the past month when Internet and phone service >went down for 4 to 8 hours. In the most recent case, the phone came >back up after a few hours, but the Internet connectivity remained out >for several more hours. About 50% of Internet access troubles can be fixed by unplugging (not turning off but unplugging) the power from the router, waiting 30 seconds, then plugging the power back in. Another 25% of Comcast problems can be fixed by phoning Comcast from the phone number registered with them for your Comcast service. A few levels down in voicemail hell is a provision for rebooting the connection from THEIR end. The voicemail explains it thoroughly. (I've instinctively called Comcast on my cell phone rather than on the client's phone, and thus accidentally rebooted my home service instead of my client's. So, just remember to use the phone number associated with your Comcast service, even if it's the Comcast bundled phone service.)
From: Barry Margolin on 18 Jul 2010 00:21 In article <siegman-9BFF1F.15371317072010(a)sciid-srv02.med.tufts.edu>, AES <siegman(a)stanford.edu> wrote: > I normally connect to the Internet via a Comcast residential service > with the following physical devices in the chain: > > MacBook (10.4.11) --- Airport Extreme base station ==== > Comcast-provided modem (a Motorola "Surfboard") +++ (outside world) > > where --- is an Airport WiFI link; === is Cat 45 Ethernet cable; and +++ > is a Comcast cable coming from the street. We also have Comcast VOIP > service for 4 or 5 telephone lines which I believe connected into the > +++ cable somewhere upstream from the Comcast modem. > > All of this work great the majority of the time, but there have been two > service outages during the past month when Internet and phone service > went down for 4 to 8 hours. In the most recent case, the phone came > back up after a few hours, but the Internet connectivity remained out > for several more hours. > > The JPEGs at <http://www.stanford.edu/~siegman/Comcast1.jpg> > and <http://www.stanford.edu/~siegman/Comcast2.jpg> show what I see at > different times, using the Network pane in the Mac's System Preferences > as a way of attempting to diagnose whether the outage means something is > wrong in my local settings or hardware, or Comcast is really down. The Mac can only tell whether its WiFi connection to the AEBS is up. You can go to 192.168.100.1 to see the status of the modem. If you can get to this address, then the Mac and AEBS are fine. -- Barry Margolin, barmar(a)alum.mit.edu Arlington, MA *** PLEASE post questions in newsgroups, not directly to me *** *** PLEASE don't copy me on replies, I'll read them in the group ***
From: AES on 18 Jul 2010 11:46 In article <barmar-F56611.00213018072010(a)62-183-169-81.bb.dnainternet.fi>, Barry Margolin <barmar(a)alum.mit.edu> wrote: > > The Mac can only tell whether its WiFi connection to the AEBS is up. > > You can go to 192.168.100.1 to see the status of the modem. If you can > get to this address, then the Mac and AEBS are fine. > Barry, I don't know what you mean by "The Mac can only tell whether its WiFi connection to the AEBS is up". Sitting at the Mac keyboard, I can open System Prefs, Network pane, and with a few steps (like clicking on an "Assist me" button), bring up a window titled "Network Diagnostics". Down the left column of that window, which is headed "Network Status", are 6 colored indicators (they look very much like radio buttons, but aren't) that can turn green, yellow, or red, and that are labeled from top to bottom as "Airport", "Airport Settings", Network Settings", "ISP", "Internet", and "Server". At the minute I have 6 greens, and all is well. When Comcast is down, I get 4 greens and the final two are yellow or red. Sure seems to me my Mac (or at least my Mac + AEBS combo) is able to tell me, via the final two (or three) of those lights something about the status of stuff that's physically located miles from my desk. In any case, I'd like to learn: 1) Where or what is the "Network Diagnostics" software that creates this window labeled "Network Diagnostics"? (Cmd-clicking on its title doesn't take me anywhere, and I don't find any app or utility with that name on my HD; is it some internal part of the Network prefs panel?) 2) What do those colored light mean? (esp. the three bottom ones). 3) Where else can I go for info on this? (besides the Genius Bar at the local Apple Store).
From: Steve Fenwick on 18 Jul 2010 14:14
In article <siegman-651FCA.08462618072010(a)bmedcfsc-srv02.tufts.ad.tufts.edu>, AES <siegman(a)stanford.edu> wrote: > In article > <barmar-F56611.00213018072010(a)62-183-169-81.bb.dnainternet.fi>, > Barry Margolin <barmar(a)alum.mit.edu> wrote: > > > > > The Mac can only tell whether its WiFi connection to the AEBS is up. > > > > You can go to 192.168.100.1 to see the status of the modem. If you can > > get to this address, then the Mac and AEBS are fine. > > > > Barry, I don't know what you mean by "The Mac can only tell whether its > WiFi connection to the AEBS is up". > > Sitting at the Mac keyboard, I can open System Prefs, Network pane, and > with a few steps (like clicking on an "Assist me" button), bring up a > window titled "Network Diagnostics". > > Down the left column of that window, which is headed "Network Status", > are 6 colored indicators (they look very much like radio buttons, but > aren't) that can turn green, yellow, or red, and that are labeled from > top to bottom as "Airport", "Airport Settings", Network Settings", > "ISP", "Internet", and "Server". > > At the minute I have 6 greens, and all is well. When Comcast is down, I > get 4 greens and the final two are yellow or red. Sure seems to me my > Mac (or at least my Mac + AEBS combo) is able to tell me, via the final > two (or three) of those lights something about the status of stuff > that's physically located miles from my desk. > > In any case, I'd like to learn: > > 1) Where or what is the "Network Diagnostics" software that creates > this window labeled "Network Diagnostics"? (Cmd-clicking on its title > doesn't take me anywhere, and I don't find any app or utility with that > name on my HD; is it some internal part of the Network prefs panel?) > /System/Library/CoreServices. See <http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/One-click_Access_to_Network_Diagn ostics/> for information on finding it and adding it to your dock. > 2) What do those colored light mean? (esp. the three bottom ones). > > 3) Where else can I go for info on this? (besides the Genius Bar at the > local Apple Store). Good question. Have you tried <www.apple.com/support>? Steve -- steve <at> w0x0f <dot> com "Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, sidecar in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!" |