MAC Address problem in L-1000 Servers

[roobala]

Dear All,

We have 2 HP-9000, L-1000 Servers,
Both came along with one Ethernet/SE-SCSI PCI
Card.
When we started using both servers , the systems (Networking) were misbehaving ver badly.

Later we found both Server's ethernet cards were having the same MAC Address.

Now what needs to be done?, I saw there is a way to change the MAC address through SAM--->Network and Comm--->Network interface cards---->advanced options on the selected card configuration.


If I change one of the card's MAC address will there be any problem?, My servers will be connected to live Internet.Already in my LAN 20 more L-1000 Servers are there with Same configuration apart from these 2.


Any suggestion pls to solve...

Thanks in Advance,
Roobala

[Stefan Farrelly · Accepted solution]

There is no problem with changing the MAC address as long as you pick a new address which is not in use already. All HP MAC addresses are usually in the format;

080009XXYYZZ

so if you pick something radical it should not already be in use;

eg. 080009654321

[John Palmer]

Hi,

The LAN cards will have different physical MAC addresses. However, there are scripts in /etc/rc.config.d/netconf called hp.....conf that allow you to configure the LAN cards at system boot time. Different scripts are for different physical card types. They allow you to set speed etc and also to configure the MAC address.

If you have cloned one server from another then it's likely that the relevant setting is in place on both servers hence the duplicate MAC address.

As it's an L1000 server, I suggest that you check file hpsppci100conf and look for the line starting:-
HP_SPPCI100_STATION_ADDRESS[0]=

Regards,
John

[Paula J Frazer-Campbell]

Hi

Check both servers and remove the forced Mac address on each and that should solve your problem.


Paula

[roobala]

Hi Stefan,

Both systems MAC addresses were
0x001083FC5285

I changed one of the card's address
as 0x001083987654

Now both are working fine, Thanks

[roobala]

Hi Paula

I didn't get ur suggestion,

Hi Stefan,

One more doubt, I changed now, Incase the same MAC address exists in the world some where again it will be a problem,,, Is n't it?
As I told you all the servers are in internet , working 24*7*365,

Can U suggest anything for this?, Or Should I change the Card?

Regards,
Roobala

[John Palmer]

Check the config file in /etc/rc.config.d as I suggested earlier.

If you remove the forced address then the card will use it's physical address which is unique.

Regards
John

[Paula J Frazer-Campbell]

Hi
My suggetion was to remove the forced addresses and let the cards use their own unique addresses.

Paula

[Stefan Farrelly]

Remember everyone that not all new network cards have MAC addresses assigned. Weve had lots come through with no built in MAC address at all, we have to assign them ourselves. This is even more so for PC network cards, but some HP/HP compatible cards also.

Only solution is to pick a MAC address and try it. If in use, pick another and try again.....