Network Error Fix — Can’t Find Miner on Network Troubleshooting Guide

What This Error Means

The “Network Error” — also experienced as “Can’t find miner on network,” “No IP address assigned,” “Miner not showing in IP scanner,” or “Connection timed out” when accessing the miner web interface — means your ASIC miner is not properly connected to your local network or is not obtaining an IP address. Without network connectivity, you cannot access the miner’s web interface, configure mining pools, or monitor performance.

ASIC miners rely on Ethernet (wired) network connections to communicate with mining pools and to provide the web-based management interface. Unlike consumer devices, most ASIC miners do not have WiFi and require a direct Ethernet cable connection to your router or network switch.

Common Causes

• Loose or damaged Ethernet cable — The RJ45 cable is not fully clicked into the port, the cable is damaged, or the connector tab is broken. This is the most common cause and the easiest to fix.
• DHCP failure — The router’s DHCP server has not assigned an IP address to the miner, either because the DHCP pool is exhausted, the router is overloaded, or DHCP is disabled on the network.
• Wrong network subnet — The miner has a static IP configured that does not match your network’s subnet. For example, the miner is set to 192.168.1.x but your network uses 192.168.0.x.
• Damaged Ethernet port on the miner — The RJ45 jack on the miner’s control board is physically damaged, with bent pins or broken internal connections.
• Router or switch port failure — The specific port on your router or network switch that the miner is connected to has failed.
• Network congestion or VLAN issues — On more complex networks, the miner may be on an isolated VLAN or the network is experiencing congestion that prevents proper DHCP negotiation.

Step-by-Step Fix

Step 1: Check the Physical Connection

Verify the Ethernet cable is firmly plugged into both the miner and your router/switch. You should hear and feel the RJ45 connector click into place. Check the link lights on both ends — most Ethernet ports have a green or amber LED that lights up when a valid link is detected. If no link light appears on either end, the cable or port is the issue.

Step 2: Try a Different Ethernet Cable

Replace the Ethernet cable with a known-good cable. Cat5e or Cat6 cable is recommended. Avoid cables longer than 100 meters (328 feet). If the link lights appear with the new cable, the original cable was faulty.

Step 3: Try a Different Router/Switch Port

Move the Ethernet cable to a different port on your router or switch. If the miner connects on a different port, the original port on your networking equipment is faulty.

Step 4: Scan Your Network for the Miner

Use a network scanning tool to find the miner’s IP address. Recommended tools:

• Advanced IP Scanner (Windows) — free download, scans your entire subnet
• Angry IP Scanner (Windows/Mac/Linux) — cross-platform network scanner
• Fing (iOS/Android) — mobile network scanner app
• Router admin page — check your router’s connected devices list (usually at 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1)

Scan your entire subnet (e.g., 192.168.1.0/24). The miner will typically show up with a hostname like “Antminer” or the manufacturer name. Note: some miners take 2-3 minutes after power-on to complete network initialization.

Step 5: Reset Network Settings on the Miner

If the miner has a static IP that does not match your network, you need to reset it. Most Antminers have a small reset button on the control board (sometimes labeled “IP Reset” or “Reset”). Press and hold this button for 5-10 seconds while the miner is powered on. This resets the network configuration to DHCP (automatic IP assignment). After release, wait 2-3 minutes and scan your network again.

Step 6: Connect Directly to the Miner

If the miner still does not appear on your network, try a direct connection. Connect an Ethernet cable directly from your computer to the miner (no router in between). Set your computer’s network adapter to a static IP in the same subnet as the miner’s default (many Antminers default to 192.168.1.99). Try accessing 192.168.1.99 in your browser. This bypasses any router or DHCP issues.

Step 7: Verify DHCP Is Working

Log into your router admin panel and verify that DHCP is enabled and has available addresses in its pool. If your DHCP pool is full (common in setups with many IoT devices or multiple miners), expand the pool or assign a static IP reservation for the miner’s MAC address.

Advanced Diagnosis

If you can access the miner via SSH but not the web interface:

ssh root@[miner-ip]
ifconfig   # Check network interface status and IP assignment
ping 8.8.8.8   # Test internet connectivity
ping [your-pool-url]   # Test pool reachability
cat /etc/network/interfaces   # Check network configuration
route -n   # Check default gateway

MAC address check: If you know the miner’s MAC address (printed on a sticker on many models), you can filter your router’s DHCP log for that specific MAC to see if the miner has requested an address. If the MAC appears in the log but the miner is unreachable, there may be a firewall or routing issue on your network.

Ethernet port hardware test: Check the Ethernet port LEDs on the miner control board. A solid green link light and blinking amber activity light indicate a healthy Layer 1 and Layer 2 connection. If the green link light is absent, the issue is physical (cable, port, or controller chip on the control board).

When to Get Professional Help

Seek professional ASIC repair if:

• The Ethernet port on the miner control board is physically damaged (bent pins, no link light with multiple cables)
• The miner does not respond to a direct Ethernet connection with known-good cables — the Ethernet controller on the control board may be faulty
• Network issues appeared after a power surge or lightning event
• The control board needs Ethernet port replacement or controller chip repair

D-Central Technologies repairs Ethernet controllers and replaces damaged RJ45 ports on Antminer control boards. Submit a repair request here

Affected Models

Network connectivity issues can affect any ASIC miner. All Antminer models (S9 through S21), Whatsminer models, and other ASIC miners use Ethernet connections. Some newer models have both Ethernet and WiFi options, but Ethernet remains the primary and most reliable connection method for mining operations.

Related Error Codes

• Pool Connection Error / Stratum Failed — The miner has network but cannot reach the mining pool
• SD Card Error / Boot Failure — Firmware corruption can prevent network initialization
• Firmware Update Failed — Network issues during firmware updates can brick the network stack

Frequently Asked Questions

Why can I not find my miner’s IP address?

The most common reasons: (1) the Ethernet cable is not properly connected, (2) the miner has a static IP on a different subnet than your network, (3) the miner has not finished booting — wait 3-5 minutes after power on, or (4) the DHCP server has not assigned an address. Use a network scanner and also check your router’s connected devices list. If all else fails, try the IP reset button on the control board.

Can I use WiFi with my Antminer?

Most Antminer models do not have built-in WiFi. However, you can use a WiFi-to-Ethernet bridge (like a TP-Link WiFi extender in bridge mode) to provide wireless connectivity. This is not recommended for production mining due to WiFi’s inherent latency and reliability issues, but it works for temporary setups or testing.

My miner keeps losing its IP address — what can I do?

Assign a static IP address or a DHCP reservation for your miner. In your router admin panel, find the DHCP reservation section and map the miner’s MAC address to a fixed IP. This ensures the miner always gets the same address. Alternatively, configure a static IP directly in the miner’s web interface under Network Settings — but make sure to use an address outside your DHCP pool to avoid conflicts.

Do I need a managed switch for multiple miners?

For home mining setups with 2-10 miners, a quality unmanaged gigabit switch is sufficient. For larger deployments, a managed switch with VLAN support helps organize and isolate mining traffic. Ensure your switch and router can handle the bandwidth — while individual miners use minimal bandwidth (typically under 1 Mbps), many miners on a consumer-grade router can overwhelm its NAT table and connection tracking.