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sysjno
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MAC address range???

I had ESXi 3.5 (downloaded from VMware) installed. I created several VMs, and each had a MAC address automatically generated. I reinstalled ESXi with the version downloaded from Dell and need to recreate my MAC addresses because the network I'm on binds IPs and MACs. But when I try to manually input the MAC addresses that were given to me by the first installation of VMware ( like 00:0c:29:dc:83:b2 ), I get an error telling me manually specified addresses must be in the 00:50:56 range! WTF?!?! I really need to fix this, as it's going to be a giant PITA to get my IPs remapped to new MACs.

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RParker
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I get an error telling me manually specified addresses must be in the 00:50:56 range!

uh that pretty much spells it out. The mac address range is different on VM Server than on ESX. They are different products, different ranges. And no you can't change this.

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RParker
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I get an error telling me manually specified addresses must be in the 00:50:56 range!

uh that pretty much spells it out. The mac address range is different on VM Server than on ESX. They are different products, different ranges. And no you can't change this.

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sysjno
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The 00:0c:29 addresses came from ESXi, not Server.

If this cannot be changed, this is beyond ridiculous. Manually specifying MAC addresses is a pretty important ability. To artificially limit it to some given range "just because" is stupid.

Christ Almighty, this is going to create a real mess for me. Thanks, VMware. This definitely encourages me to recommend spending a few tens of thousands of dollars to buy the full product.

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Dave_Mishchenko
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With any NIC (virtual or physical) you'll be set to using a specifc MAC range. ESX 3.0 brought in a change to the 00:50:56 range. You can override the MAC in the guest OS. Windows for example you bring up the properties of the virtual NIC and set the NetworkAddress field.

RParker
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The 00:0c:29 addresses came from ESXi, not Server.

Ah then perhaps it's Virtual Center assigning the MAC change then. I feel for you. You can't simply change the MAC information to match the server? Seems to me that would be much easier.

I bet there is a way on the appliance / switch whatever you are using to just copy / past MAC information and just replace. Yes it's still a PITA (as you so eloquently stated) but since the MAC range is static on VC / ESX what other choice do you have?

Why do you have to use a IP bound to a MAC in the first place?

sysjno
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I don't have access to the switch. When I request IP addresses, I need to provide a MAC and a hostname. Now, I have to assign new MACs to each VM and then request that my IPs get remapped to new MACs, and hope that it doesn't get screwed up or take forever.

Why, oh why, oh why did someone thing this was a useful "feature"? I can change MACs on physical hardware to anything. I can dummy up MACs in most OSes to anything. Why does VMware think it's a good idea to limit me to one tiny range???

If anyone from VMware happens to read this... this is a problem. Your restriction serves no useful purpose whatsoever, but it does create unnecessary problems for someone who's moving a VM from one ESXi server to another, for example, without using VMotion or something similar. If that's your intention... shame on you. Really.

At least I know about this problem now, and will manually create MACs for all new VMs in the future.

Thanks for the responses, folks!

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Dave_Mishchenko
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Any vender with a significant number of NIC has to change ranges eventually. With vmotion the MAC won't change and for a regular VM you can disable the autogenerated MACs (changes in the VMX but you still have to stick with the ESX range).

I can change MACs on physical hardware to anything

do you mean for any phincal NIC?

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JasonBarnes
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You can set a static MAC in the VM's network adapter but you must choose a MAC in the range specified on the page.

Thanks,

Jason Barnes

VPS-Hosting

www.vps-hosting.ca

ESX Server Hosting :: Server Co-Location :: Support Services

-------------------------- Thanks, Jason Barnes VPS-Hosting www.vps-hosting.ca ESX Server Hosting :: Server Co-Location :: Support Services
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