/dev/zero

I’m now successfully connected to Martin’s WiFi network. This was not without some struggle.
He left me a nice note this morning giving me the SSID and WEP key so I could connect. However the signal doesn’t reach the guest room, due to the brick wall between the kitchen and the front end of the house. I took the laptop back to his bedroom where I picked up the signal but no matter how I entered the WEP key and other settings, it would not connect. I called Martin at work and he suddenly remembered the AP was MAC locked. Luckily his laptop with the AP management software was sitting right next to me on the couch, so I was able to get to the screen to add my MAC address.
Let’s take a moment to reflect on Microsoft. No, this is not going to be a “Linux user bashing Microsoft” moment. This has nothing to do with Linux. Linux has plenty of things in the 802.11 area that just blow.
To enter my MAC address in the ACL for the AP, I need to actually KNOW my MAC address. But here’s the catch: in XP, you can’t get to information window that tells you your MAC address unless you’re currently connected to a WiFi network…
This is sort of like the building security guard who won’t let you fetch your ID off your desk, because you don’t have an ID to get into the building.
Guard: “I’m sorry, I can’t let you in without an ID.”
Me: “But I left my ID on my desk.”
Guard: “I’m sorry, I can’t let you in without an ID.”
Me: “My ID is on my desk. I’ll go get it and show it to you.”
Guard: “I’m sorry, I can’t let you in without an ID.”
Me: “Well let me use your phone to call a coworker who can bring it up.”
Guard: “I’m sorry, you can’t use the phone without an ID.”
So I had to turn off MAC locking, so my computer could connect, so I XP would graciously allow me to get to the “details” window that gives me my MAC address, so I could enter it into the AP and turn MAC locking on again.
“BANG!”
Boss: “What was that???”
Me (wiping blood off my sleeve): “Sorry Boss, had to shoot the guard in the leg. He wouldn’t let me in. He should be back from the hospital in a month or two.”
Boss: “Well who’s watching the front door while he’s gone?”
Me: “Schlage.”