What exactly is the significance of a MAC id? (DO NOT CUT AND PASTE FROM THE INTERNET PLEASE)?

Question

I'm curious....I'm not familiar exactly with mac ids.

There is another computer of a roommate that I was using to see what the problem was at first with our wireless broadcast SSID and why she couldn't connect to our network (before I reset the router)....Our SSID randomly disappeared.

Used her Windows machine. Shell - ipconfig. Tried release/renew. It told me Media Disconnect. Doesn't that have to do with the MAC address? If I reset the router, do you think she'll have the same problem?

If before I reset it, I disconnected someone from the network through the wireless network config page - will they be filtered out completely? Even after I reset it?

Its an old WRT54GC Linksys - Cisco. If I reset it, is EVERYTHING going to go back to default? Does anything stay the same?

Answer 1

no.  everything goes back to the factory settings.  I use the same router and I have very good service out of it.  

MAC address is a unique address that most service providers use in the broadband world. to identify the primary device used to access the internet at a subscribers location.  

You can go to this link to download the software and intructions to resolve this problem.

http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Satellite...

Answer 2

Mac ID is like a social security number for network devices.  no 2 network devices have the same Mac ID.  

and ALL network devices have a Mac ID,  that includes and not limited to ALL Bluetooth devices. all network cards (wired or wireless, so your computer may have 2 Mac ID, one for wired LAN card and one for wireless LAN card)  all routers etc.

You can find out your Mac id (address) also know as "Physical address" listed in DOS by go to Dos prompt and type "ipconfig/all" and hit enter.

MAC ID (aka Mac address/physical address) is assigned by the manufacture of the device and it is not changeable. And it is ALWAYS there REGARDLESS you are connected to a network or not.  Another word, if you don’t see a “Physical address listed” when you do a “Ipconfig/all” in command prompt.  Your network card is either damaged, disabled or not plug in correctly or driver is deleted.

SSID is very different, SSID is like call name for a radio station. Which can be changed by the user.  SSID can be hidden to hide your wireless network  SSID exists only for the wireless router.  It exists to help users find their “radio station” (their router) easier when there are more than 2 routers around.  So I can call my router Snoppy and my neighbor can call his Garfield.  

It is recommended to have your SSID hidden once you have all of your wireless devices setup and running.

One reason why you may have problems with connection is your security setting or “Mac address filter”   If you have somehow select a list in your router that only allow certain computer with specific Mac ID to use your internet access.  That is called “Mac address filtering”.  In this case, you will need to enter all the “Wireless Mac ID” into your router’s database’s allow listing.  Mac ID should look like “00-45-4A-3F-5D-B6”

For security settings, you will need to consult with your router manual as all of them are different.

Answer 3

OK, here's the deal.  A mac ID is the equipment specific ID that is used to be the pointer for a specified IP.  Basically, when that piece of equipment is connecting externally to the internet, there is an IP (either a static which never changes, like a comcast or other cable internet company would use or a DSL or dial up number given out from a pool of numbers specifically for people connecting in this manner, known as DHCP or dynamic host configuration protocol) which points to the MAC ID, also known as the "physical address".  

Now, the missing media connection simply implies that the system is not able to see a signal, that signal doesn't have to specifically be a mac address, since a hub or switch which doesn't do any real network translation can indicate a connection on the other end of a cat 5 cable, or in this case a missing signal from a wireless router.  In most cases, when you are using a wireless router and you get dropping signal, it's a result of a weak signal and interference.  Anything that has a moving engine, generates any kind of EM field or draws alot of power (refrigerators, washing machines and the like on the other side of a wall, also cell phones, cordless phones, high power halogen desk lights, microwaves, etc...)  can cause the signal between the wireless access point and the VERY weak signal given off in return by the wireless card on your laptop.  Try turning off all the stuff in the house and see if you can keep it up for a while that way.  If so, turn things on one at a time to see what it is that's doing this, and you can at least control it.  Secondly, try to move the access point around, and the same with the laptop.  Can the laptop connect in other places?  And it can get deeper from here, virus protection, firewalls and stuff like that blocking the connection.  Turn off all your programs and virus protection, see if you can see it then.  power cycle the router, make sure it's getting a good solid signal.  Log into the router and reset all the defaults you can and work from there.  Last Resort, do the reset, you can always reconfigure it, most routers have a default username and password of user:user or admin:admin so you can set everything back up.  Last, try a new router man, not that expensive!  Stick with the Cisco name. Good luck!

Answer 4

Yes, the Linksys will go back to default: 192.168.1.1, admin with no password. That is not a big deal unless you're using MAC filtering and then you will have to reenter all of the MAC stuff.

Media disconnect is a physical problem. My .02 is that most laptops have wired and wireless connections and the laptop is failing over to try the wired connection because it has no wireless.

If you have an ethernet cable, plug the laptop into the router and see if you can get connected that way. If that works, then it's the wireless.

Answer 5

The mac id is the identifying number on a network. Everything has a mac id so people know whats either sending out a signal or connecting to one.

In your case it sounds like the router is being dumb, poke a pin or pen and reset the router and set it back up. It doesn't matter if someone is connected or not, that won't change anything.

So just reset the router and set it back up and everyone should be fine.