RT-AC68u MAC ID's Have Changed After DDR Configuration Upgrade Tool

[Adamm]

You obviously do not have enough experience(years) to have come across this issue as it is documented on the internet well enough without simple explanations. I imagine that you are from a younger generation from me raised on wireless mostly. I could be wrong but I am not wrong about you being useless. Did you ever stop and think that I was asking everyone about the mechanism that could cause the MAC ID to change as well as if this MAC change could possible pose a security threat.. I could not answer your question because I did not know the answer to your question. Plus, your question was obviously designed to answer my question with another question, which is in this case a copout. You are truly not fit to be a very senior member.Thanks

I'm not sure what all this fus is about, if your that concerned that one of your routers interfaces mac changed can you not force it back via the NVRAM?

I know for instance that my N56U in bridge mode I can do this and affect my Modems mac-binded IP address (sticky ips).

Also insulting other members is not the way to go about getting support around here, 99% of us are just users like yourself who spend our free time helping where we can.

 

[RMerlin]

Folks, please leave the personal attacks outside of this forum, or I'll get my scissors and duct tape, and start cleaning this thread.

Thank you for your cooperation.

 

[ikoul]

This thread is pretty amusing; I like how quickly it got derailed.

When all is said and done though, does the MAC address really matter? It can't be used for any real type of security (because it's easily spoofed), and for the same reason it doesn't really matter if it changes or if it doesn't match up with what's printed on the hardware. The only thing you need to care about as far as your mac address is that it isn't the same as another device on your network (which could maybe break some routing-related stuff).

 

[yilee]

This thread is pretty amusing; I like how quickly it got derailed.

When all is said and done though, does the MAC address really matter? It can't be used for any real type of security (because it's easily spoofed), and for the same reason it doesn't really matter if it changes or if it doesn't match up with what's printed on the hardware. The only thing you need to care about as far as your mac address is that it isn't the same as another device on your network (which could maybe break some routing-related stuff).

Just got back to the party. Thanks for the input. At the beginning of this thread it would have been helpful if someone would have pointed that out to me concerning whether the MAC really matters, at least that would have lessened my security concerns and I would have concentrated only on how it might have happened. The ac68u is working perfect and very fast and stable as an AP under Zywall USG100. I am satisfied that everything is in order.

I have now read enough old internet articles to know that this sometimes happens during boot/DDR type firmware upgrades especially if it doesn't go smoothly in which case the upgrade still works but may knock out the MAC assigned by the Mfg. the Router(ASUS). The upgrade then recovers the failsafe MAC of the MFG. of the communications chip, which is still OK. I would only be concerned if the new failsafe MAC was from an unknown mfg. or a mfg. that didn't make sense as far as it's vendor origination, which would indicate that the communications chip used in the router was not the one purported to be used. In my case it was a Epigram/Broadcom MAC ID which would be correct. So, I'm done with this thread unless someone knows something about this that I'm missing. Thanks.

 

[jlake]

I don't think you have much to worry about. I think in an extremely rare case it could cause some IPv6 security concern if you were unaware that MAC address changed.....and it messed up your firewall, but I'm neither ipv6 nor security savvy enough to say that for sure.

Most people (consumers) probably wouldn't even be aware it changed.

 

[5mall5nail5]

1. Is it true that MAC ID's are supposed to be permanent and unique for each device?

No. It's not true. You can clone your MAC address. Every notice that feature? It's not a big deal - he is replying the way he is because it's like saying your WAN IP changed. Big deal.

 

[5mall5nail5]

Edit: After further investigation, I now realize the reason why no one has an answer for me. It's most likely that everyone using wireless are much younger than those using wired. I looked around and saw that the join date for the senior members in the wired networking area have been members for much longer. This makes sense. I am only now converting a new laptop to wireless with great results after dismal results back in 2008. I waited until now I thought the 802.11AC drivers and hardware matured enough and I was right, 802.11AC is the Cat's Meow. I suppose I could start this thread over again in the Wired Networking area where it's more likely that someone will have covered this issue in the past. Thanks.

LOL yep, you're right. New users are only used to wireless...

Man where do you come up with this stuff? I joined this forum but have been working in IT for 12 -13 years. I've gone and dropped CAT6 at every location in my house despite having 802.11ac, but I am new and thus I only know wireless. Too funny.

 

[Ronald Schwerer]

Jeez, what's with all the drama???? I had this problem today after reflashing my CFE. I verified that the correct MACs and WPS pin were in the CFE file, then tried writing CFE again and rebooted - no change,

Problem solved by:

1. backing-up settings
2. resetting NVRAM
3. restoring settings

Done. I'm not sure how serious a security issue this was since (I believe) my AP's MAC is not accessible from the WAN. Wireless clients would still need the SSID PSK. The other AC-68u I'm using for my router is OK and behind a firewall. BTW, it looks like the erroneous MAC s (00:90:4C:0F:F0:00 and 00:90:4C:11:40:00) appear to be a default if not set in the config.

 

[batman7]

Just got back to the party. Thanks for the input. At the beginning of this thread it would have been helpful if someone would have pointed that out to me concerning whether the MAC really matters, at least that would have lessened my security concerns and I would have concentrated only on how it might have happened. The ac68u is working perfect and very fast and stable as an AP under Zywall USG100. I am satisfied that everything is in order.

I have now read enough old internet articles to know that this sometimes happens during boot/DDR type firmware upgrades especially if it doesn't go smoothly in which case the upgrade still works but may knock out the MAC assigned by the Mfg. the Router(ASUS). The upgrade then recovers the failsafe MAC of the MFG. of the communications chip, which is still OK. I would only be concerned if the new failsafe MAC was from an unknown mfg. or a mfg. that didn't make sense as far as it's vendor origination, which would indicate that the communications chip used in the router was not the one purported to be used. In my case it was a Epigram/Broadcom MAC ID which would be correct. So, I'm done with this thread unless someone knows something about this that I'm missing. Thanks.

if you have done this update from a mesh router then it is possible to over write the mac partially with that of the mesh router. this is bug btw

 

[batman7]

if you have done this update from a mesh router then it is possible to over write the mac partially with that of the mesh router. this is bug btw

which bring up a point to back up each asus before you update but that is also a bug

 

[batman7]

if you have done this update from a mesh router then it is possible to over write the mac partially with that of the mesh router. this is bug btw

also its not over writting the phyiscal mac just some where in the config it thinks that its mac is someone elses mac

 

[batman7]

I don't think you have much to worry about. I think in an extremely rare case it could cause some IPv6 security concern if you were unaware that MAC address changed.....and it messed up your firewall, but I'm neither ipv6 nor security savvy enough to say that for sure.

Most people (consumers) probably wouldn't even be aware it changed.

well that and you should prolly upgrade to wifi6 now anyways