Can't resolve whilst offline error

[Tom-G-2010]

I setup a server running Ubuntu 24.04.1 LTS and installed Cockpit version 314-1.
I logged in got the "Loading Available Updates Failed" message and "Cannot refresh cache whilst offline"
I searched the documentation and several forums including this one. I found two related items and tried both but neither resolved the issue and both made matters worse.

First I found the fix on the cockpit project site FAQ that detailed a creating a placeholder file and fake network interface.
I did this and the result was that the network manager app would no longer start.
I found information about reinstalling and restarting it and did so but that did not resolve the issue

Second I found the install instructions on the cockpit site that said to use the backport to ensure I was installing the latest version. I did so.
I logged in and again got the "Loading Available Updates Failed" message and "Cannot refresh cache whilst offline"
I was hoping that with the new install the placeholder file and fake network interface fix I would be back in business. But, it did not work I was back to the network manager app no longer starting.

If I've missed a post somewhere with the answer I apologize, it wasn't for lack of searching and reading. A link to such a post would be greatly appreciated.

I'm a novice at best with all this and I don't know where to go from here. Any help or advice on how to troubleshoot this would be greatly appreciated.

thanks!
Tom G.

[fafnir1]

Hi Tom,
I ran into the same thing and applied the fix you mentioned from the FAQ. It looks like there are 3 steps. I tried the first step which didn't resolve the issue, skipped the second since it appears to be related to raspberry pi and then tried the 3rd step (which I will copy below) and that seems to have resolved the issue on my system. Ubuntu Server 24.10

3. Set up a “dummy” network interface:
   nmcli con add type dummy con-name fake ifname fake0 ip4 1.2.3.4/24 gw4 1.2.3.1