Advertisement
Vonage V-Portal User Guide
Ethernet Options
In a network, the MAC address is a unique 12-digit hexadecimal number that identifies a hardware interface.
Just as your social security number uniquely identifies you, a MAC address uniquely identifies a hardware
interface on a network. All hardware components in a network including routers, cards, printers, gaming
consoles and adapters have MAC addresses.
When you sign up for Internet service some ISPs register the MAC address of the device (computer or
router) you will be using and only let that particular device connect to the Internet service. This allows the
ISPs to know who is accessing their service. It also allows them to restrict access from devices that do not
have MAC addressed registered with the ISP.
If your ISP required you to register your MAC address and your Vonage device will be directly connected to
your modem, then you will need to perform 'MAC Cloning' or 'MAC Spoofing'. This will essentially copy the
MAC address you registered with the ISP onto the Vonage device, so you can avoid a call to your ISP to
change the registered MAC address to the Vonage V-Portal's MAC address. If your ISP does not require
you to register your MAC Address or you are installing your Vonage device behind your existing router, then
there is no need to clone or spoof your MAC address.
If you are still uncertain, you will need to contact your ISP to see if you are required to register your MAC
Address.
MAC Cloning vs. MAC Spoofing
MAC Cloning and MAC Spoofing are almost identical. MAC Cloning is a specialized form of MAC Spoofing.
Both MAC Spoofing and MAC Cloning copy a MAC address from a specific device onto the V-Portal.
In the case of MAC Cloning, it takes the MAC address of the computer that is viewing the V-Portal Web UI
(the computer that is plugged into the Ethernet port of your V-Portal) and automatically "clones" it onto your
V-Portal. This essentially copies the MAC address of your computer onto the V-Portal.
MAC Spoofing allows you to manually enter a MAC address to be used in place of the MAC address of the
V-Portal.
You can only enable one or the other. If MAC Spoofing is enabled, MAC Cloning will be disabled and vice-
versa.
If you cannot connect to the Internet, by default, your V-Portal will automatically try to perform MAC Cloning.
If you have not changed the default values, then there is nothing you need to do to perform MAC Cloning. If
the device that is registered with your ISP is directly connected to your Vonage V-Portal, and MAC Cloning
is enabled (the default) MAC Cloning will automatically be done and your connection to the Internet will be
established.
If the device you registered with your ISP is not available or not connected directly to the V-Portal, then you
will need to manually enter the registered MAC address and 'spoof' it onto the V-Portal.
To setup MAC Cloning or MAC Spoofing:
From the home page, click on the Advanced Setup tab. Click on the Ethernet Options sub-menu. The
Ethernet Options screen will be displayed.
View the Terms of Service by visiting the Vonage website at www.vonage.com/tos. Pay particular attention to
44
Section 11 which explains limitations on Warranty, Remedy and Liability.
Advertisement
