Q. Is it possible, in any way, to change my MAC address? If so, how would I do this?
A. First, it helps to know just what a MAC (Media Access Control) address is.
This is a numeric identifier built into a network interface card, or NIC. It's used to identify devices on a network. Each card has a unique MAC address, and networks (including the Internet) can use this for authentication and verification of any PC or router attached to it.
Some broadband Internet providers offering DSL or cable-modem access will use the MAC address of your computer to authenticate your service. If you were to change the computer you have connected to your cable modem or DSL service, you may have to call up your provider's tech support and give them the MAC address of the NIC in the new piece of hardware.
Because hardware routers have the equivalent of a network card in order to connect to your cable modem, you would have to do the same thing if you're installing a router. So far this does not appear to be true of Road Runner here in Houston.
However, some providers have started to recognize the MAC addresses of popular routers and disconnect service if a router is detected. Fortunately, most of the popular DSL/cable routers include the capability to either set the router's MAC address to anything you want, or copy it from a computer connected to the router.
You can find your computer's MAC address by using the winipcfg command in Windows 95, 98 or ME (Start, Run, winipcfg); the ipconfig /all command in Windows NT and 2000 (Start, Run, CMD, then ipconfig /all); and the Info Button on the TCP/IP Control Panel on a Macintosh.
Look for "Adapter Address," "MAC address," "Hardware Address," or a string of six pairs of digits and letters, such as: 00-02-A4-03-43-60.
Some network cards have the ability to change the MAC address through software. If your card and driver support this feature, you can change the MAC address under Windows 2000 by doing the following:
• Use Control Panel and double-click Network and Dial-up Connections or Start/Settings/Network and Dial-up Connections.
• Right-click the connection that uses the network card and press Properties.
• Press the Configure button.
• Select the Advanced tab.
• Select Locally Administered Address.
• Enter the new MAC address value.
In all likelihood my Houston readers should not need to change their MAC address, but you never know if this will come in handy down the road.
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