Internet Sharing stuck on after 10.7.3 update

Question

I use Internet Sharing at work to create a local WiFi network (sharing the GigE connection) for my various iOS and tablet devices to connect through. After the 10.7.3 update, I cannot turn sharing off after I unplug the Ethernet cable. All the checkboxes in the system pref pane are cleared, but I am unable to join a WiFi network.

After I plug the Ethernet back in, I can then disable sharing, but only while it's plugged in.

As best I can guess, there might be some xinetd cruft laying around, but I haven't the slightest clue as to how to look for it or fix it. Any ideas?

Answer 1

I found a relatively simple solution not involving a system restart - just bring the WiFi interface down and then back up:

$ sudo ifconfig en0 down
$ sudo ifconfig en0 up

In my case en0 is the AirPort interface of my MacBook Air.

Note that turning the AirPort off and on again doesn't work, but bringing the interface down does the job.

Answer 2

I've had this problem regularly. The only way I can find to fix it is to turn off internet sharing, then reboot. It seems to hang once you've shared the Ethernet connection.

Answer 3

I have the issue intermittently, and so far the only simple way I have found to fix it is to plug into a wired connection, then turn sharing off. This usually fixes it. What is strange is that I have the problem often enough that I am now regularly checking to ensure that I have disabled sharing prior to leaving work, but I still have problems when waking the system from sleep after arriving at home. Something is getting stuck; even when sharing has been disabled, it often acts as if it is still active. I'm wondering if sharing needs to be disabled for a certain amount of time before the setting is cleared internally?