[Solved] MAC address conflict when using 3-port USB/1 port NIC device on Pi Zero

[goldberg]

Have been using a 3-port USB hub/1-port NIC connected to a Pi Zero, to provide a cabled ethernet port.
All was well when only one of these hubs was active on my internal network.

However, when a second Pi Zero + hub was added, there were strange problems on my network, with periods of either one or other of the Pi Zeros being inaccessible.

Have just discovered that these cheap USB hubs (manufactured in China and purchased from eBay) are all manufactured with the same MAC address on the NIC port.

My router's DHCP assigns an IP-address to a device according to its MAC address, therefore both Pi Zeros were getting the same IP-address.

It's OK to use one of these hubs on a network, but with certain routers, multiple hubs on the same network will probably cause problems.

There is no brand name on my hubs, just the text: 1PortUSB Network with 3PortUSB HUB

[goldberg]

The MAC address assigned to the NIC port of this and similar hubs is: 00:e0:4c:53:44:58

Google search reveals that other users have experienced this MAC address conflict on products purchased from eBay and Amazon.

[DougieLawson]

The MAC address assigned to the NIC port of this and similar hubs is: 00:e0:4c:53:44:58

Google search reveals that other users have experienced this MAC address conflict on products purchased from eBay and Amazon.

I had the same problem when I bought two cheapo, crappo, Chinese Bluetooth dongles and they both had the same MAC addr.