Solving "Failed to configure ethernet dhcp"

Hey there,
So I have an Arduino Uno Rev3 and a Elecrow W5100 ethernet shield. The ethernet's connected to my router and the arduino to my mac. I tried to test the ethernet shield using the chat server code given to me in the arduino ide yet instead of a ip address, i get a "failed to configure ethernet dhcp".

Your help will be very much appreciated

Your help will be very much appreciated

Seeing your code would be a help, don't you think, as would a diagram of your wiring.

amber:
I tried to test the ethernet shield using the chat server code given to me in the arduino ide yet instead of a ip address, i get a "failed to configure ethernet dhcp".

I don't see that message in File->Examples->Ethernet->CharServer. Are you using a different "chat server code given to me in the arduino ide"? If so, what?
If you use the included example, did you change these lines to match your local network?

IPAddress ip(192, 168, 1, 177);
IPAddress myDns(192,168,1, 1);
IPAddress gateway(192, 168, 1, 1);
IPAddress subnet(255, 255, 0, 0);