Re: [PATCH] natsemi update 1/4 Use assigned MAC address

On Mon, 7 Jun 2004 14:46:54 -0700
Stephen Hemminger [off-list ref] wrote:

On Tue, 8 Jun 2004 07:12:52 +0930
Mark Smith
[off-list ref]
wrote:

quoted

Hi Manfred, Gary, Stephen,

<snip>

quoted

If an interface with an all zero's MAC address is added to a
bridge, running the Spanning Tree Protocol (STP), it will
always attempt to take over as the root bridge, unless STP
root bridge priorities are being used. This would disrupt
traffic on the attached LAN.

Actually, it won't let you add any interface to a bridge
without a valid ether address now (ie non-zero and not
multicast).

That's good, I first noticed this issue when I happened to add a
dummy interface into a bridge configuration, and found that its
zero MAC address ended up disrupting the spanning tree. 

I also have just noticed that the dummy interfaces now have
random MAC addresses as per the function you mentioned earlier.
Also good.

Regards,
Mark.

quoted

ps, please CC on any replies, I'm not subscribed to the list
yet.