Java error prevents WIFI Configuration

I'm running Mac OS X El Capitan and get the java error message "Unable to load Java Runtime Environment" when starting HexNetConfig [both available versions]. Also, I run a closed password protected wireless network that only allows access to wireless devices who's MAC SSID is approved.

If I understand the documentation correctly, HexNetConfig allows access to the HEX-NET device's MAC address/ID which should normally be printed on the outer case of a device.

The HEX-NET Device does not have its MAC address/ID printed on the device as most wireless device manufacturers do.

Without the MAC address/ID I cannot add the device to my secure closed network on which the network name is not broadcast. It seems that what you claim to be Apple's idiosyncratic way of developing software is really the implementation of best practices security. A MAC address/ID printed on the device allows network security to be maintained and avoids problems like this.

Is there a way to identify my HEX-NET devices MAC address/ID?

If I connect to the device in Access Point mode and go to the about page, I see:


VCDS-Mobile
Codebase: May 19 2016 - 18:01:00

Registered to:
xxxxxxx xxxxxxx
Anytown
NY
US

CodeBlock V0.4321
FW version: 0.244
Dataset: 10000045

LSN: xxx...
VSN: xxx...

VINs: Unlimited
Faultcodes Cleared: 0

Copyright (C) 2014 Ross-Tech, LLC
Author: Shaun McElhinney

Does either number translate into a MAC address/ID?

Try looking at the log on your router? That should have several entries showing that it blocked access to an unknown device with MAC hh:hh:hh:hh:hh. You can then add this MAC address to the allowed list.

This is how I granted my HEX-NET access to my similarly closed network that only allows known MAC addresses.

Are you using the latest version of the Java Config facility? It's on the first form of mine:

*Edit: Sorry, just re-read and you can't get the Java app to run.

Do you have Java installed on our Mac ??

If you have the newest java from Oracle installed, then sometimes you also need to install the Apple Java, which can be downloaded here: https://support.apple.com/kb/DL1572?locale=en_US

PetrolDave said:

Try looking at the log on your router? That should have several entries showing that it blocked access to an unknown device with MAC hh:hh:hh:hh:hh. You can then add this MAC address to the allowed list.

This is how I granted my HEX-NET access to my similarly closed network that only allows known MAC addresses.

Click to expand...

Another way would be to put the HN in AP mode, access it directly with your phone or other device, and use a utility such as FING that will show you the MAC address of everything on your network.

-Uwe-

rlarsen said:

Do you have Java installed on our Mac ??

If you have the newest java from Oracle installed, then sometimes you also need to install the Apple Java, which can be downloaded here: https://support.apple.com/kb/DL1572?locale=en_US

Click to expand...

There are also some command-line tricks for Mac OS, but since I don't "do" Mac OS myself, I'll defer to someone who's more familiar.

-Uwe-

PS/FWIW: We are dumping the Java approach and are working on native config utilities for both Windows and Mac.

Uwe said:

There are also some command-line tricks for Mac OS, but since I don't "do" Mac OS myself, I'll defer to someone who's more familiar.

-Uwe-

PS/FWIW: We are dumping the Java approach and are working on native config utilities for both Windows and Mac.

Click to expand...

Installing the Apple Java I'm linking to will setup java to work on the command line.

Otherwise you need to set it up your self - but then you need to be familiar with working in the Terminal.

Uwe said:

PS/FWIW: We are dumping the Java approach and are working on native config utilities for both Windows and Mac.

Click to expand...

My friends working in IT will approve.

golfi_vend said:

My friends working in IT will approve.

Click to expand...

Well, Java seemed like a good universal way to do this some years ago, but now both MS and Apple are making it as difficult as they can to get Java progs to run on their latest operating systems.

-Uwe-

Uwe said:

Well, Java seemed like a good universal way to do this some years ago, but now both MS and Apple are making it as difficult as they can to get Java progs to run on their latest operating systems.

-Uwe-

Click to expand...

You could include the Java Runtime Environment (JRE) in the App - then you don't need to relay on Java is already installed on Windows and/or Mac.

rlarsen said:

You could include the Java Runtime Environment (JRE) in the App - then you don't need to relay on Java is already installed on Windows and/or Mac.

Click to expand...

That's an an unacceptable (to me) amount of bloat in the installer for something that relatively few people need.

-Uwe-

Uwe said:

There are also some command-line tricks for Mac OS, but since I don't "do" Mac OS myself, I'll defer to someone who's more familiar.

Click to expand...

I'm a Mac novice (only got my MacBook Air in mid-June and had been 100% M$ beforehand) , all I did was download JRE for Mac from the Oracle website and install it.

Then the HEX-NET config utility just ran with no problems - and allowed me to update the BL version which Java on Windows 8.1 wouldn't allow me to do.

Yeah, it's not entirely clear why some people have problems and others don't. Maybe possible Oracle has implemented fixes for whatever Apple broke?

-Uwe-

PetrolDave,

Thank you for that piece of information. I'm just getting back to this thread that I started.

One of the problems I had with El Capitan was that the version of Java installed by the Apple online installation process broke my ability to use some critical applications, including my Adobe design apps, so I downgraded to the previous Java.

Uwe might be correct in stating that the direct from Java installer for Mac OS might have fixed my earlier issues and may address the issue my current version of Java has with HEX-NET Config.

Thanks to all of you that offered helpful advice about this issue.

I was reluctant to mess with having to deal with an issue that I had already resolved, but I think it is worth giving your suggestion a try.

PetrolDave said:

I'm a Mac novice (only got my MacBook Air in mid-June and had been 100% M$ beforehand) , all I did was download JRE for Mac from the Oracle website and install it.

Then the HEX-NET config utility just ran with no problems - and allowed me to update the BL version which Java on Windows 8.1 wouldn't allow me to do.

Click to expand...

For anyone who has been following this thread because they have had some difficulty with the Java application used to configure your HEX-NET, I want to report back on how I resolved the problem.

Thanks to PetrolDave, I decided to download the latest Mac OS X version of the Java SDK by Oracle which will install the latest Java Runtime Environment. I had some trepidation about doing this because the first release of Mac OS X entitled El Capitan broke Java functionality in some of my critical design applications and other applications that I use frequently.

So, I installed the software. Now HEX-NET Config works, and so far I have no problems with any of the applications I have been working with.

I've been using Macs over 25 years, but I have to say that one learns something new every day and this from a new Mac user. Thanks!!!