Dreambox DM500 MAC address generator utility

Here is another way

It is a software fix only and will not harm your box in any way.
it just runs a file at startup which changes the mac address.

If at anytime you want to go back to the original mac address
then just delete the file and reboot or install another image.

If this is the way Gemini are doing things now, you will need to do this
with every Gemini image from 4.3 and up, who knows, it maybe that
it is now part of the Dreambox CVS, and that every new image from any
Group will need this for full functionality

Anyway the instructions are as follows.

Easy Method

All you have to do is edit the mac address inside it in notepad,
then FTP it across to the dreambox to var/etc, changing attibutes to 755 then reboot.

Remember to edit the mac address in the file or else everyone downloading it
will have same mac adddress on their receiver.

Also Please remember to change the attributes to 755 (executable file) before rebooting your dreambox.
Otherwise it will hang at bootup and will have to be reflashed via null modem cable.

It must start with 00:09:34

The last three columns should either be numbers 0-9 or letters A-F
ie 0A:9F:CB

So the whole mac address would be similar to this 00:09:34:0A:9F:CB

To return to your original mac address just delete
the file and reboot, or install a different image.


Manual Method

Use DCC 2.95 to telnet to box.

you will see prompt as follows

root@dreambox:~>

type the following lines followed by enter obviously.
in the mac address i left the last three columns as xx:xx:xx
these should either be numbers 0-9 or letters A-F
ie 0A:9F:CB

So the whole mac address would be similar to this 00:09:34:0A:9F:CB


cd /var/etc
rm init
echo \#!/bin/sh **** init
echo ifconfig eth0 down **** init
echo ifconfig eth0 hw ether 00:09:34:xx:xx:xx **** init
echo ifconfig eth0 up **** init
chmod 755 init
reboot

Summary

Both these methods create a file in /var/etc called init which runs on every
reboot, and changes your mac address to one like an original dreambox .


But remember if you use mac address reservation in your router
to give your dreambox a constant ip address , you need to
change your settings there too.

To return to your original mac address just delete
the file and reboot, or install a different image