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Nadreoh
Associate II
December 3, 2020
Solved

Ethernet configuration of MAC address

  • December 3, 2020
  • 3 replies
  • 4253 views

Hi everyone,

I'm configuring the Ethernet MAC address over CubeMX for a NUCLEO-F746ZG target. Default address is 00-80-e1-00-00-00 which identifies ST manufacturers.

I was wondering if I can freely manipulate the other 24 bits for an industrial purpose? I guess that as long as my board is connected on a private Network with guarantee that there won't be any MAC address conflict, then it is fine. But there is some risks if not (I tried to configure 2 boards on same network with same MAC, my router seemed confused) ...

Possible solution is then to buy IEEE my own manufacturer ID, or buy a component that already offers an unique MAC identifier.

Can somebody tell me if I'm right or not? Is there any other solution?

Nadreoh

This topic has been closed for replies.
Best answer by Piranha

> I was wondering if I can freely manipulate the other 24 bits for an industrial purpose?

No, because otherwise I could put the same address on my devices... That's why it is not allowed.

> I guess that as long as my board is connected on a private Network

As KnarfB pointed out, for that purpose there are LAA, which are guaranteed to not collide with any UAA.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MAC_address#Universal_vs._local

3 replies

KnarfB
Super User
December 5, 2020

There are locally administered MAC addresses (LAA). You cannot use other OUIs https://standards.ieee.org/faqs/regauth.html#10

Piranha
PiranhaBest answer
Principal III
December 5, 2020

> I was wondering if I can freely manipulate the other 24 bits for an industrial purpose?

No, because otherwise I could put the same address on my devices... That's why it is not allowed.

> I guess that as long as my board is connected on a private Network

As KnarfB pointed out, for that purpose there are LAA, which are guaranteed to not collide with any UAA.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MAC_address#Universal_vs._local

Nadreoh
NadreohAuthor
Associate II
December 7, 2020

Thanks a lot for your clarifications !

I didn't had this information about LAA vs UAA.