Ethernet not functioning due to IP address clash
Ethernet not functioning due to IP address clash
In short, I have two computers that refuse to connect to the Ethernet network. I attempted to change their MAC addresses by assigning them the same value and connecting them together. At first, everything worked fine with just one device, but once the second was added, both failed to recognize the cable and reported it as disconnected even when plugged in. After restarting one of the machines, Windows displayed an IP address conflict error. I've tried commands like [ipconfig/renew] and [ipconfig/release], but Windows says the media device is disconnected. I’m really unsure how to resolve this and would appreciate any guidance—my Wi-Fi performance is terrible for gaming.
Modify the MAC address of one device. The DHCP server relies on this identifier to assign IP addresses correctly. If changing the MAC isn't possible, obtain an Ethernet card with a distinct MAC address.
I adjusted the MAC address on one of the devices, then restarted both machines. The issue remains unresolved. I’m not fully confident about the steps I took—specifically, the Ethernet settings were modified to hide the network address.
I’d hope but I lack the ability to reach the router. My ISP is a service for university housing. Would linking the PC to a restartable router solve the issue?
Are there any gadgets functioning in that wall drop? It seems to resemble a port-security concern, likely related to switch settings. There could be or might not be a timeout setting in minutes for that port. If traffic with a secure MAC address set on one safe port tries to reach another secure port within the same VLAN, it triggers the configured rule, turning off the interface and displaying errors like 'no cable.' It might be useful to file a report with them, noting that duplicate MACs caused the issue.
Check with your ISP or campus IT team first. Provide them with the wall jack details and mention the ports are set to err-disabled. If they reactivate it, you may also need to ease off any Mac configuration changes, as the ports likely have a maximum mac limit before being disabled.