error changing MAC address - ifconfig ethX hw ether xx:xx:xx

[jmsprof]

Cannot change MAC address on wireless card:
# ifconfig eth2 hw ether 00:05:6f:62:ea:b3

this is what i get:

SIOCSIFHWADDR: Input/output error

*****************
Am running Mandrake 10.1
kernel is 2.6.8 something
wireless card is netgear wg511 (prismGT chipset - prism54 driver)
wireless card is configured properly (at least it works)

To be precise:

i do:
# ifconfig eth2 down
# ifdown eth2

then

# ifconfig eth2
eth2 Link encap:Ethernet HWaddr 00:09:5B:C2:F08
BROADCAST MULTICAST MTU:1500 Metric:1
RX packets:78 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
TX packets:18 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
collisions:0 txqueuelen:1000
RX bytes:6056 (5.9 Kb) TX bytes:1212 (1.1 Kb)
Interrupt:9


# iwconfig eth2
eth2 NOT READY! ESSID:"BTVOYAGER-BE" Nickname:"achilles"
Mode:Managed Channel:6 Access Point: 00:00:00:00:00:00
Tx-Power=31 dBm Sensitivity=0/200
Retry min limit:0 RTS thr=0 B Fragment thr=0 B
Encryption key:off
Link Quality:177/0 Signal level:-79 dBm Noise level:-181 dBm
Rx invalid nwid:0 Rx invalid crypt:0 Rx invalid frag:0
Tx excessive retries:0 Invalid misc:0 Missed beacon:0

then

# ifconfig eth2 hw ether 00:05:6f:62:ea:b3
SIOCSIFHWADDR: Input/output error

Next, when I do:
# ifconfig eth2 up

everything is ok, but if I follow it with:

# ifup eth2

this is what is get:

grep: /etc/sysconfig/networking/default/ifcfg-*: No such file or directory
interface 'eth2' not found
Error for wireless request "Set NWID" (8B02) :
SET failed on device eth2 ; Operation not supported.

So, want to change MAC on eth2, but can't.
Have really done A LOT of google search, but without result.
Can anyone please help?
thx a lot!

[UgoDeschamps]

Are the driver installed properly?
If not, Here's a good tutorial

Otherwise This should help you get this resolved

Also remember NOT to double/ cross post

[sarumont]

Remember that you must be superuser to change anything with ifconfig.

[jmsprof]

thanks to both of you.

Still a problem.
Did download macchanger v1.5 and installed it. Then ran it from root, here is what I got:

# macchanger -s eth2
Current MAC: 00:09:5b:c2:f0:d8 [wireless] (Netgear MA701, MA401RA)

# macchanger --mac=00:05:6f:62:ea:b3 eth2
Current MAC: 00:09:5b:c2:f0:d8 [wireless] (Netgear MA701, MA401RA)
ERROR: Can't change MAC: interface up or not permission: Input/output error

obviously before running the commands above, I did run under root

# ifdown eth2

and

# ifconfig eth2 down


any more ideas?
thx


PS:

1) all the commands I gave were in superuser mode. but thanks anyway!

2) I believe the drivers for the card are properly installed. Al least Mandrake does recognize automotically my card (v 2.6.8 has got pcmcia support - the module loads automotically I believe).
But I did not patch the kernel.
Regarding the firmware, I got it from prsim54.org and copied it into
/usr/lib/hotplug/firmware/.
Anyway, the wireless card does work - i can ping any host properly, and for example I can also run kismet.

[Gnomer_]

Sorry, I don't know if this post is old or not. Either way, it still doesn't solve my problem. I'm having trouble with MAC changing, obviously.

I got it to work, that's not a problem. The MAC changes fine...But my internet won't go up.

I looked in my networking in Gnome, and it says my wlan0 is active, but when I go to google..Page cannot be found.

I've tried to do "dhclient" (Recommended by a friend), but no avail. If you could help me get this working, it's be great...

ifconfig wlan0 down

ifconfig wlan0 hw ether 00:00:00:00:00:01

ifconfig wlan0 up

[vastvet]

bla bla
MACADDR=xxxxxxxxxxxx safe file as root not as user. in the ethernetnic file

[oz]

Hi, vastvet, and welcome to the forums!

Not sure if you are replying to the current thread or are asking for assistance with a similar issue.

If it's the latter, please start a new thread of your own describing any problems that you are having since this thread is 4 years old already.

Sorry for any inconvenience.