Thinkpads Forum

The GB Ethernet port on my Advanced Dock (bought from here) seems to be bad , inoperative or disabled. I spent 4 hours moving a system from a WiFi setup into its (hopefully) permanent location. I never used the dock's LAN port, and just assumed it would be fine. The cable is fine; I removed my old T30 and its Dock II from the workplace and put it the T61 and the Adv dock. I also cleaned up a few years of dust, etc.

Not so. Got WiFi connected. IPconfig showed media disconnected, No green or amber lights at either end of the cable. I removed the T61 from the dock and plugged the cable into the T61's LAN port, the lights come on and it connects! I could just do that and ignore the port on the dock, but the dock Disables the T61's built in port when docked!!!

So:

Is there any to test the port (further from what I've done)?
Any way to turn on or enable the Advanced Dock's LAN port?
Any way to change the Ethernet interface in the dock? What ASM or FRU P/N would I need to look for.

The WiFi is too far away in this den / office and I need the LAN speeds. If I can't fix the Dock's port, I guess its time for a new dock.
Thanks in advance.

further testing shows that my wife's T61 8897 cannot connect via the ethernet in my dock and my T61 8898 does connect via ethernet in her dock.

This proves that there is Definitely something wrong with the advanced dock itself.

Is there a hardware manual for this thing? I have the "users manual" no help at all.

My understanding is that the ethernet port in the dock is simply a pass-through connection. There should be no "electronics" to speak of that will get in the way.

Suggest taking a good look at the docking port connector in the dock and also the RJ45 connector to see if the pins are out of alignment or missing.

If you need another one, I have such a (2504) dock for sale: http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=121713

Ray, it Is just a pass thru. Maybe I can find the bent / broken wire if its external, I don't feel like opening it unless i really have to...

RBS: I need a 2503 with the extra Ultrabay, but thank you.

There are a dozen or so on fleabay. More on amazon, but amazon is ludicrous on its pricing.

The RJ45 looks ok.

There are lots of missing pins on the dock to computer connector, but that might be deliberate. I'll have to check against my wife's dock.

I can't get it apart to check the insides, because I don't have a %&$&$*@#($% T8 Torx bit!!!???!!! I have a T6 and lots of T10, but apparently in my mass of tools, no T8. I could have sworn I had one with my computer repair kits, but no... I guess I'll have to get one. It was only used to get the old HDDs apart and I must have never taken one apart. Why couldn't IBM just use regular Philips head screws.

To see the Gigabit speed confirmed for 2503 and 2504, see this: http://www.manualslib.com/manual/258109 ... e=4#manual
Scroll down to EthErnEt paSSthrough.

RBS, I have a a spare 2504 somewhere around here (probably in the 2503's box). The speed of the LAN port is not the issue. I need the extra ultrabay that comes with the big full size 2503 dock.