How to get all of the NIC MAC from Advanced Inventory on Node Explorer?

Purpose:

Part of the on-board NIC MAC  address couldn't be shown on Advantech Node Explorer, because of the Network stack was disabled by default.

This option is available in the Boot options under the BIOS settings. But users can only find it if the onboard LAN Boot ROM is enabled. This option is also to get the MAC address if enabled.

The MAC address of the new network card must be obtained after enabling the network stack protocol for it.

Note:

Enabling the "Network Stack" can have the following potential impacts:

1. PXE Boot Support: PXE is a protocol used for remote booting of operating systems over the network, allowing your computer to load the OS from a remote server. Enabling the network stack enables your computer to boot over the network, which can be useful for system deployment and maintenance.

2. Wake-on-LAN (WOL) Support: Enabling the network stack can allow your computer to automatically wake up when it receives specific network magic packets. This is particularly useful for remote management and waking up computers in power-saving modes.

3. Network Protocol Support: Network stacks typically support various network protocols, including TCP/IP, enabling your computer to engage in network communication.

4. MAC Address Display: Enabling the network stack might affect the display of the network controller's MAC address. This is because the network stack may actively participate in network communication.

In summary, enabling the network stack can bring additional network-related functionalities to your computer but may also introduce some complexity and potential security risks. Therefore, please ensure that you understand your specific requirements and carefully assess the impact on your system's operation before enabling it.

Target Audience:

For Advantech AE, RBU AE or outsourcing service engineer(s) with the following bits of knowledge:

• Linux physical network troubleshooting experience
• Concept of OSI layers
• Understand how to troubleshoot and solve the network issue

System Information:

Initial setting

1. The Network Stack option on BIOS

2. The NIC MAC info on the X86 system

# lshw -c network -businfo
Bus info Device Class Description
=======================================================
pci@0000:01:00.0 b01p0 network Intel Corporation
pci@0000:02:00.0 b02p0 network Intel Corporation
pci@0000:05:00.0 b05p0 network I350 Gigabit Network Connection
pci@0000:05:00.1 b05p1 network I350 Gigabit Network Connection
pci@0000:05:00.2 b05p2 network I350 Gigabit Network Connection
pci@0000:05:00.3 b05p3 network I350 Gigabit Network Connection
pci@0000:ec:00.0 becp0 network Ethernet Connection E822-L for SFP
pci@0000:ec:00.1 becp1 network Ethernet Connection E822-L for SFP
pci@0000:ec:00.2 becp2 network Ethernet Connection E822-L for SFP
pci@0000:ec:00.3 becp3 network Ethernet Connection E822-L for SFP
pci@0000:ec:00.4 becp4 network Ethernet Connection E822-L 1GbE
pci@0000:ec:00.5 becp5 network Ethernet Connection E822-L 1GbE
pci@0000:ec:00.6 becp6 network Ethernet Connection E822-L 1GbE
pci@0000:ec:00.7 becp7 network Ethernet Connection E822-L 1GbE
usb@1:3.4 usb0 network Ethernet interface
# lseth
[2023.08.29 06:32:24] [INFO] lseth g9 (2022-03-01 09:22:47)
OS:Linux 5.10.0-23-amd64 x86_64 2023-08-29 06:32:24
Detect System Ethernet Device Number :15
b01p0 0000:01:00.0 cc:82:7f:34:dd:aa xx.xx.xx.xx Unknown!
b02p0 0000:02:00.0 cc:82:7f:34:dd:ab xx.xx.xx.xx 100Mb/s
b05p0 0000:05:00.0 cc:82:7f:34:dd:ac xx.xx.xx.xx Unknown!
b05p1 0000:05:00.1 cc:82:7f:34:dd:ad xx.xx.xx.xx Unknown!
b05p2 0000:05:00.2 cc:82:7f:34:dd:ae xx.xx.xx.xx Unknown!
b05p3 0000:05:00.3 cc:82:7f:34:dd:af xx.xx.xx.xx Unknown!
becp0 0000:ec:00.0 cc:82:7f:34:dd:b0 xx.xx.xx.xx Unknown!
becp1 0000:ec:00.1 cc:82:7f:34:dd:b1 xx.xx.xx.xx Unknown!
becp2 0000:ec:00.2 cc:82:7f:34:dd:b2 xx.xx.xx.xx Unknown!
becp3 0000:ec:00.3 cc:82:7f:34:dd:b3 xx.xx.xx.xx Unknown!
becp4 0000:ec:00.4 cc:82:7f:34:dd:b4 xx.xx.xx.xx Unknown!
becp5 0000:ec:00.5 cc:82:7f:34:dd:b5 xx.xx.xx.xx Unknown!
becp6 0000:ec:00.6 cc:82:7f:34:dd:b6 xx.xx.xx.xx Unknown!
becp7 0000:ec:00.7 cc:82:7f:34:dd:b7 xx.xx.xx.xx Unknown!
usb0 usb-0000:00:1e.0-3.4 4e:ed:61:77:fd:bb xx.xx.xx.xx

3. NO NIC MAC info in NIC0, NIC1(i226), and NIC6 ~ NIC13(E822-SFP, 1G) on Node Explorer,

Network Stack enabled setting

4. Network Stack enabled and RedFish disabled on BIOS, then Save & Reset.

4. The switch for this feature will affect the boot time. When disabled, the BIOS POST time will be shorter, and when enabled, the BIOS POST time will be longer.

5. Check the NIC MAC info on Node Explorer after refresh. The MAC of i226 & E822 are available and consistent with output from the X86 system.