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Thank you for your response! Yeah, not having a unique PHY ID is somewhat disappointing :) I am trying to avoid flashing the ID on the board because then I need to know a serial number of the board when programming it and I can't seem to find a way to query the board for it (it seem to be on the packaging label only). I think I will generate MAC based on host's unique board serial number (/sys/devices/virtual/dmi/id/board_serial) and PCI device identifier (i.e. in what slot it is in). Just wanted to make sure that there isn't a unique PHY ID that I can piggyback onto :)
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Where is the board serial number coming from? You'll have the same issue with that as a MAC, i.e., either can get erased.
In my designs, I use a serial EEPROM or MAX II UFM flash for the board serial number, manufacturing details etc. The MAC address is then constructed from the serial number.
Since this is a development board, you'll have to live within whatever constraints the original designers imposed on you. See if you can find out where they've stored the board serial number, and perhaps that'll give you an idea as to whether you should use it for the MAC, or store your MAC along with it.
Cheers,
Dave
Honored Contributor
