Just spent half an hour fixing this one. My laptop was assigned a 169.154.*.* address and I could not ping even my gateway server via IP. I checked the network cable and lights on the hub and the docking station, changed the cable and used the built-in network card on the laptop itself. I tried a whois on the strange IP I was getting assigned:
NetRange: 169.254.0.0 - 169.254.255.255 CIDR: 169.254.0.0/16 NetName: LINKLOCAL NetHandle: NET-169-254-0-0-1 Parent: NET-169-0-0-0-0 NetType: IANA Special Use NameServer: BLACKHOLE-1.IANA.ORG NameServer: BLACKHOLE-2.IANA.ORG Comment: Please see RFC 3330 for additional information. RegDate: 1998-01-27 Updated: 2002-10-14
RFC 3330 has the following to say:
169.254.0.0/16 - This is the "link local" block. It is allocated for communication between hosts on a single link. Hosts obtain these addresses by auto-configuration, such as when a DHCP server may not be found.
After trying various registry fixes I realised the awful truth: my DHCP server’s network cabled was unplugged!
I wish to know why you have set yourself up as a new network client on my router. I do not wish you to be there neither was my permission asked.
I believe that your presence on my system is illegal and I intend to further research that aspect.
Brian’s comment above and subsquent email presented me with a little mystery. You can see the solution (I think) at http://bluebones.net/news/default.asp?action=view_story&story_id=125