Random MAC Address Generator

spidey07

No Lifer
Aug 4, 2000
65,469
5
76
yeah, i wrote one in college.

I'll give you the source code if you give me one good reason why you need it.
 

LordFortius

Senior member
Mar 11, 2001
358
0
0
Well, I have a network set up with a cable modem, using a router. The router gets its global IP from a DHCP server, but for some reason the IP never actually changes unless I do something to the router, like change its MAC address. So, I figure if I just had a MAC address generator I could change my IP address whenever I needed to, like if my node becomes overcrowded. I also figure its a good idea to change it once in a while just for security's sake.
 

DnetMHZ

Diamond Member
Apr 10, 2001
9,826
1
81
OK, I see what your getting at.. The thing is though certain MAC address ranges are reserved by manufacturers (if you notice all cards from 1 maker have similar MACs) network gurus correct me if I'm wrong but throwing random macs out onto the net is just not a very good practice.

DnetMHZ
 

spidey07

No Lifer
Aug 4, 2000
65,469
5
76
but if it is the router MAC you are concerned with then any program for a PC to change source macs would be useless. you'd need to rewrite the code on the router to do that.

and yes, generating mac addresses is a very bad idea.
 

Garion

Platinum Member
Apr 23, 2001
2,329
6
81
Well, it's really not THAT bad of an idea, but generally frowned upon. You'd have to get someone on your same cable segment with the same MAC address to have a problem. If you have to do it, pick some OUI (Organizational Unique Identifier, the first three sets of numbers in the MAC) that's not used anymore or isn't used for accessable gear. Take, for example, A BMW AutoGroup NIC - 00-01-A9. No, I'm not kidding. Apparently BMW makes NIC's.

You can find the standards list at this link. Interesting read, and a VERY hand site if you're trying to track down a MAC to see what it is.

- G
 

n0cmonkey

Elite Member
Jun 10, 2001
42,936
1
0
I was thinking about this today as I tried to shred my tendons, ligaments, and whatever else keeps my poor body together (went to the gym :confused;). There was an article in a major newspaper recently about wireless network security. I got to thinking about how to secure wireless networks. One of the ways is to restrict by MAC address. This also apparently works on some wired switches. So I thought, how can I find a good MAC address? If I randomly came up with MAC addresses and tried to connect to the network using those.

That would be a lot of work though, to go through the stack of needles looking for the one needle you need... Ill stop there because I dont think this is the proper thread, or maybe even site, for this :p

I think the wierdest things at the wierdest times...
 

LordFortius

Senior member
Mar 11, 2001
358
0
0
Actually, changing the MAC address wouldn't be difficult. My router has a clone MAC feature so all I would have to do is go to its setup page and type in the new one.