GNU MAC Changer
===============

GNU MAC Changer makes it easier to view and change the MAC address of a
network interface.

 - Web site: https://www.gnu.org/software/macchanger
 - Repository: https://github.com/alobbs/macchanger
 - Updates: byte@jvmlab.org

Build and install it with the usual GNU autotools sequence:

    ./autogen.sh
    make
    make check
    make install

`make install` installs the program, the vendor lists, and the man page.
It uses /usr/local unless configure was given another --prefix. The Info
manual source is doc/macchanger.texi; build it separately with makeinfo
if that tool is installed.

Changing an address needs permission to configure the interface, usually
root. If the driver refuses the change while the interface is running,
macchanger brings it down, changes the address, and restores the previous
administrative state. It then reads the address back and exits with an
error when the driver did not apply the new value.

A fully random address (`-r`) is unicast and has the locally administered
bit set, which is how IEEE 802 marks an address that was not assigned by
the manufacturer. `--bia` clears that bit. The random bytes come from the
kernel. `--another` keeps the same kind of interface: a wireless device,
detected from sysfs, gets another wireless vendor. `-A` takes any vendor.

NetworkManager may put the permanent address back when it activates a
connection. To keep a chosen address, set that connection's cloned MAC
address, or arrange for NetworkManager not to manage the device.

The vendor list is regenerated from the IEEE registry with:

    python3 tools/IEEE_OUI.py

All the best,
Alvaro Lopez Ortega <alvaro@alobbs.com>
Updates: byte@jvmlab.org