



FAQs on determining an Ethernet hardware address under OpenVMS 

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Background

	Determination of a unique identifier is a goal of many applications for 
	the purpose of enforcement of license management on systems. Since most 
	modern computers do not have a unique serial number other methods are 
	employed. 
	One common practice is to use the hardware address of ethernet devices 
	for this purpose. The advantage of this method is that most modern 
	computers have ethernet devices as either a standard or an optional 
	device. A disadvantages is that the license check will fail if the 
	ethernet device fails and is replaced. 
	Note that many computers may have multiple ethernet adapters. Licensing 
	applications will need to take this in to account. A common scenario 
	would be to issue a license coded to one ethernet hardware address. All 
	ethernet addresses would be polled at run time and a match of any of 
	these against the license would be accepted. 


Methods for obtaining the Ethernet hardware address(es)

	The ethernet hardware address can be accessed from several methods on 
	Digital Alpha systems. 
	From the Console prompt: 
	On some Digital platforms there is as Console Command to determine the 
	address from the console prompt. For example, on the DEC 3000 Model 500 
	use: 

	    >>> SHOW ETHERNET
	    

	From the OpenVMS Command Line 
	If DECnet Phase IV is running, the ethernet address of the network 
	device in use by DECnet may be found by using the following command: 

	    $ MCR NCP SHOW KNOWN LINE CHARACTERISTICS
	    

	From a C program running under OpenVMS  
	Use this program on either a VAX or Alpha platform. 


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Page last updated: "Jun 26 1996"
