Release and renew an Internet address
The directions for releasing and renewing your DHCP-assigned Internet address differ depending on whether you are using classic Mac OS or Mac OS X.
There are two methods which apply to both classic Mac OS and Mac OS X; either one may work.
- Put your computer to sleep, and then wake it back up. (Under some conditions, you will get the previous IP address again.)
- Restart your computer.
If you would like to try to release and renew your IP address without restarting your computer, there are several methods specific to the different operating systems, outlined below.
Release and renew DHCP information in classic Mac OS
With Mac OS 8.6 and later, DHCP-assigned information is saved between reboots. Restarting your computer may not release old DHCP information and renew it with a fresh set from the RIT DHCP server, but it is generally the most sure-fire way to release and renew an Internet address. If your computer was set up with the RIT standard disk image, you can toggle between network configurations using the Location Manager. This will sometimes release and renew your Internet address without requiring a reboot.
- Quit any open Internet-based programs, such as Web browsers and e-mail programs.
- Open the Location Manager control panel. It is found in the "Control Panels" submenu of the Apple menu.
"Location Manager control panel, RIT Ethernet" - Change to the "RIT DialIP" item with the "Current location" pop-up menu. This changes to the settings for the RIT dial-in Internet service -- temporarily.
- Change back to the "RIT Ethernet" location in the "Current location" pop-up menu. This changes back to the Ethernet settings for the RIT campus network.
- Quit the Location Manager control panel. The "Quit" command is found in the File menu.
- Select the TCP/IP control panel from the Apple menu's "Control Panels" sub-menu. The TCP/IP control panel window appears on your screen.
- Change from "Ethernet" to "PPP" in the "Connect via" pop-up menu. The "Configure using" pop-up menu should automatically change to "PPP server" when you do this.
- Quit the TCP/IP control panel and save the changes to the current configuration when prompted.
- Re-launch the TCP/IP control panel.
- Select "Ethernet" from the "Connect via" pop-up menu.
- Choose "DHCP server" from the "Configure using" pop-up menu.
- Quit the TCP/IP control panel and save the changes.
Release and renew DHCP information in Mac OS X
- Open the System Preferences application. System Preferences is normally found in the Dock, and is also accessible from the Apple menu.
- Click on the Network control panel icon in the System Preferences window. The Network settings will appear in the same window.
- Select the network interface you want to work with from the "Show" pop-up menu. Generally, you will select "Built-in Ethernet" or an AirPort wireless connection.
- Change the "Configure" pop-up menu to "Manually" instead of "Using DHCP."
- Click on the "Apply Now" button.
- Change the "Configure" pop-up menu back to "Using DHCP," which is always the appropriate selection for Ethernet and wireless connections on the RIT campus network.
- Click on the "Apply Now" button again. Your computer will request a network address from RIT's DHCP server; the new address should appear in a few moments.
- Close the System Preferences application.
