Linpus Linux Lite Problem

I just got a brand new Acer Aspire one with linpus linux lite on it. At my college, you have to register the computer with IT to get on the internet. When i register, my MAC Address is used by a stupid IPhone...So i need to get a new MAC Address. Can anyone help me get a new one?

 

Open command line:

ifconfig [interface name] hw ether [new MAC address]

 

when i do a file search in the file system for IFCONFIG nothing comes up

 

Why are you searching the filesystem?

 

I found a document called IFCFG, but when i edit it and try to save it says Cannot open file to save. This is actually the first linux ive ever used, so i need the most basic instructions possible. Sorry.

 

Try these tutorials:

http://linuxhelp.blogspot.com/2005/09/how-to-change-mac-address-of-your.html

http://www.irongeek.com/i.php?page=security/changemac

 

Ok, I understand what i have to do, but i dont know where or how to enter this stuff

 

You need to open a shell for entering commands; Konsole for KDE desktops and Terminal for GNOME environments. I'm not sure about Linpus, you'll have to do a bit of digging.

 

ok, i have a terminal. I just type stuff in, then what?

 

Type commands in (specified in guides), then press enter.

 

Do i have to save it somehow or with a certain name?

 

no, open the terminal and type what bog told you to type in the first post; it will change your mac address to whatever you put in.

also if this is your first time ever with linux, i dont think linpus would be a place to start... it looks like it targets small handheld devices instead of actual computers... you should look at mint or ubuntu to start

 

Well its just what came on the Aspire one that i got. When i try and put in those codes, it says that it cant do it...

 

Am i getting permission denied because im not running this in root? How do i do that?

 

To run as root, precede commands with "sudo". For example,

sudo apt-get update

 

Yeah it wont work. I got the commands entering correctly, it even says the MAC that i typed in when i give the command

ifconfig eth0 |grep HWaddr

But it doesnt actually change it.

 

Have you tried the ath0 device? Also, what is the error that it spits out?

 

yeah i have. I used eth0 and ath0. It doesnt actually produce an error. It appears to work fine, although the physical address remains the same. I have no idea why its not working.

 

I don't think I can help you beyond the links I basically threw at you, but you can PM a guy who has helped me out in the past; his username is Pitabred.

 

Thanks. 10 chars

 

just so you know this command doesnt change anything; ifconfig will output your ethernet and wireless card setups, and grep is a search command. so it searches the ifconfig output for "HWaddr", and thus printing out your mac address.

//edit oh sorry i understand what you mean now... so you changed the mac address and it says you changed it but you still cant connect?

 

From the ifconfig manpage:

Code:

hw class address
              Set the hardware address of this interface, if the device driver
              supports  this  operation.   The keyword must be followed by the
              name of the hardware class and the printable ASCII equivalent of
              the  hardware  address.   Hardware  classes  currently supported
              include ether (Ethernet), ax25 (AMPR AX.25), ARCnet  and  netrom
              (AMPR NET/ROM)

Some drivers don't support changing the MAC address of your card... it's entirely possible that the interface you're trying to change can't.

Also, make sure that the syntax you're using looks like this:

Code:

ifconfig eth1 hw ether 00:40:8C:6E:11:FF

What you probably want to do is make sure the first 3 groups match what you currently have so that the manufacturer code stays the same, might be important depending on what the network operator does, and then change the last three to anything you want as long as they only contain the numbers 0-9 and/or the letters A-F. For example, the 00:40:8C in the above string corresponds to Axis Communications AB.

 

yeah, that still doesnt work. Although im a little confused, because the mac address that my college is saying have doesnt match the HWaddr of my wifi card...

 

Ok... well, I'm not sure what to tell you. You need to tell them the MAC address you have on your wireless interface, and they should allow that one to connect. If they had a proper infrastructure, MAC filtering would be pointless, but that's another discussion...