Would like to use MAC address filtering

[davec]

Hi! Tomorrow evening I will be helping my 78 year old Dad set up a wireless router. He purchased a Belkin Wireless G router F5D7230-4. We would like to set up MAC address filter. It seems fairly straightforward to do this once we find the MAC address. Where does one find the MAC address when using OS 9? I did STF but didn't find any information to help me. Thanks for any constructive help you can give us. Dave

[Jimmypoo]

what machine?

You can always look at the label for the address on the board. That's one way.

Also, the router should tell you in DHCP what is connected to it, doesn't it??

[TheCaber]

System Profiler
(About This Mac -> More Info)

Network Device(s). Should show the MAC address for the Ethernet interface or AirPort interface.

[Jimmypoo]

man... the things you forget when you don't launch certain things for a long time.

Funny.... I could tell you in Winduds off the top of my head... for the past 8 years.

[davec]

Thanks for the help! TheCaber, that sounds very similar to how I would find that information under OS X. Does it work the same way under OS 9? Thanks again for the help! I hope you have a great evening! Dave

[davec]

I just checked on my FrankenMac here at home...there doesn't appear to be a "more info" option under OS 9. There is IP address, name server address under "network overview". I'm not seeing a MAC address under OS 9. Where else should I look? Thanks for your help! Dave

[davec]

I have very little experience with networks and routers. I am hoping the Belkin set-up Wizard will be able to help with setting up MAC address filtering, but I just wanted to be prepared. Any other helpful advice is appreciated. Thanks! Dave

[jdc]

does he really need it enabled?

who would/could steal his signal?

and OS 9? no viruses, spam, etc, etc for it

try tabbed browsing in mozilla, its fast too

[C(-)ris]

I can't believe you are actually sugesting that he not use an access control. It is completely irresponsible to not lock your network from unauthorized access. What if someone drove by in their van and looked up kiddie porn using his connection? Guess who's door they would come knocking down? Think about all his financial or personal information that is on his machine. Do you want anyone to be able to drive by and have free reign on his network? I don't think so.

MAC filtering is IMO the easiest and safest way to go for locking down the network. You put your cards MAC in and that is the only one who can get on the wireless. The MAC address, as said before, is probably printed on the card. You may have to crack open the case to see what it is. On my Netgear router when you go to setup the MAC filtering it shows a list of computer names and their mac addresses that are currently connected. Just pick from that list, if your router supports it.

If he is concerned about people eaves dropping on his transmissions, I would also use a WEP key, the stronger the better.

[Speedy]

Apple System Profiler (probably under the Apple menu but otherwise in the Applications Folder or do a File menu -> Find) -> System profile tab -> Network Overview triangle -> Appletalk triangle -> Hardware Address. It will be in the form of xx.xx.xx.xx.xx.xx where x is a number or letter. He will need to copy it by hand as you cannot copy and paste info from the Profiler.

And MAC address filtering is a must given his proximity to other networks.