[Tfug] HP/nForce MAC address set incorrectly

[Rich Smit]

Adrian wrote:
> Hmmm... interesting! Depending on wether the network is on card or is built-in 
> to the motherboard,
It's nForce3 so it's onboard.

> I would try screaming at HP ...
> ... might even get something good if you really try!!!
I don't fancy it. Have you ever tried this kind of thing? It took me a 
week to get a replacement PowerBook, and several hours-long phone calls. 
Got no work done in the meantime.

> HP might be able to issue a patch to properly program the network chip 
> EEPROM... though they would have to do something to generate a unique MAC for 
> each machine (hash of the machine serial number perhaps?)
3Com will have reserved addresses for these network interfaces. These 
will have been reserved for nVidia, and those in turn for HP. There'll 
be some kind of legit mapping between HP's serial number and the 
intended MAC address. A lookup table is all that's needed, but I bet 
they'd release it as a Windows-only program and encrypt the data so 
you'd have to guess if you're running Linux or *BSD -- or heck, Solaris.
> and have a way to actually write at programming voltage levels, which probably
> wasn;t built onto the actaul circuit board...
It is -- nForce allows it on Window$. I seem to recall more Linux 
drivers allowing this than Windows$ drivers.

I reckon the reason this hasn't caused massive problems for them is 
because it's intended as a home machine. They had those awful stickers 
all over saying what they are and what they can do. Probably just in 
case someone complains their toast takes forever to brown...

R.