Oops, hit the wrong reply to button. My apologies to Mr. Spoon. bob
---------- Forwarded Message ---------- Subject: Re: MAC Address and Ethx Date: Wed, 2 Jan 2002 08:05:19 -0500 From: Bob Underwood <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> On Monday 31 December 2001 18:49, Donald R. Spoon wrote: > Bob Underwood <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > I had a phone call from my Cable ISP the other day, stating that I should > > reconfigure my computer or risk losing connectivity. The web site they > > pointed me to is a windows site, basic config stuff. Later phone call to > > tech service (level one and level two) confirms they are going to start > > checking the MAC addy of the modem as opposed to my previous @home > > username, etc. Level one actually told me that my choices are to either > > find a new ISP or use windows. > > > > Is there a way to pass the modem MAC address along to the network in the > > ifconfig? If so, how would I do that? > > > > TIA > > > > Bob > > Bob, > > I think there may be a bit of over-reacting to the situation here > (including the level 1 and 2 tech support folks). I sounds like they > are upgrading their DHCP servers to assign your IP according to the MAC > address, which they probably should have been doing in the first place. > Maybe they have, and are just now starting to pay attention to it. > This allows them to easily monitor how many computers you have connected > to THEIR network and charge you accordingly. If you are using a NAT or > IPMasq setup, then all they ever should see is ONE computer connected. > I have been using Road Runner here for about a year and a half using an > IPMasq box for my home LAN, and this is the way they have done it since > I have been connected. About the only "problem" I have found (and it is > only a 'nit') is that if I connect to the Cable Modem with another NIC > in another computer, I have to power-down and power-up the Cable Modem > to get it to issue a new IP based on the new MAC address. This is quite > infrequent here... mainly for diagnotic purposes when working with their > Tech Support. A few more phone calls later, it turns out that all they wanted was to convert from a fixed ip to dynamic. Prior to asking here, I was not at all aware that dhcp uses the MAC address of the modem. Thanks to you and others for this info. <Snipped> > Finally, why not go to another ISP service? Is @home the only game > around? I have never personally used @home, but my perceptions from > reading lots of messages here and on other boards is that they DON'T > provide the level of service most other broadband services do. I am > quite happy with Road Runner, and they have never given me any guff > about running Linux here. I am certain there are other broadband > services too that will treat you better and work with you in a more > "user-friendly" manner to solve mutual problems. The only "gotcha" is > their availabilty in your area. In this area, the cable company is the only game around. With the impending demise of @home, it appears they are changing over to Road Runner. (A check of my zip code on the Road Runner page links to the local cable company. No DSL available either. Unfortunately, level 1 is contracted out to some call answering service who has absolutely no knowledge of computers (son's gf works for one such service who had a contract with ATT when they pulled out of @home) and level 2 is still handled by the @home people. Hopefully, the "new" service will be a bit better. > Hope this info helps. to solve mutual problems. The only "gotcha" is > their availabilty in your area. > > Hope this info helps. > > Cheers & Good Luck > -Don Spoon- Thanks to you and all who responded for this much needed lesson in IP protocols. Bob -------------------------------------------------------
