Ethernet network failure while MacBook Pro sleeps
I recently bought a Microsoft USB-C Travel Hub to provide an Ethernet port on a MacBook Pro. When the MacBook Pro is idle and then goes into sleep mode, other computers connected to the same shared Ethernet switch loose their Ethernet network connectivity.
The networking issue on the other computers is immediately resolved by:
- Disconnecting the Microsoft USB-C Travel Hub or its Ethernet cable while the MacBook Pro is still in sleep mode
- Waking the MacBook Pro from sleep
Other attempts to resolve the problem:
- Disable Power Nap in the power settings for macOS (no effect)
- Change Ethernet cable used on the MacBook Pro (no effect)
- Change USB-C Travel Hub to USB-C ports on opposite side of the MacBook Pro (no effect)
- Change the Ethernet connection to a different port on the Ethernet switch (no effect)
- Disable IPv6 on the MacBook Pro Ethernet connection (no effect)
System
- MacBook Pro 16,1 running macOS 10.15.7 Catalina
- Microsoft USB-C Travel Hub
- TP-Link 1 Gb desktop switch TL-SG108
- Various Ethernet Cat6 cables
Other computers normally connected to same Ethernet switch
- Mac Mini 2018 with macOS 10.15.7
- Lenovo T480 with Windows 10
Both of these computers lose Ethernet connectivity when the MacBook Pro goes into sleep mode.
Any advice on what else to try with the MacBook Pro before returning the Microsoft USB-C Travel Hub? For example:
- Adjust obscure sleep settings on macOS Catalina?
- Upgrade from macOS Catalina to macOS 11, once it finally becomes stable?
My fallback options:
- Disable sleep altogether on the MacBook Pro
- Try a different USB-C or USB Ethernet adapter, and return the Microsoft Travel Hub
- Try a different Ethernet switch
- Give up on Ethernet on the MacBook Pro, and go back to WiFi
Other posts reporting similar behavior with sleep mode and network disruption:
- https://superuser.com/questions/1594339/router-internet-connection-drops-when-my-mac-goes-sleep-mode
- https://superuser.com/questions/1534505/macos-on-macbook-pro-2018-floods-network-while-in-sleep-mode
- https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/os-x-flooding-network-with-packets-with-in-sleep.211418/
- https://www.404techsupport.com/2014/07/08/intel-nic-driver-bug-floods-the-network/
- https://www.isc.upenn.edu/how-to/intel-i2xx825xx-network-card-network-flooding-issue-fix
MacBook
