Q: Apple Products and MAC Filters
So,
I am NOT an Apple user. Ever. I believe literacy is important and therefore despise picture navigation. If you can't type the commands or know why it works the way it does, maybe you shouldn't be using the device. I control the system at a system level, and will never allow some programmer at HeadQuarters to determine how something should be done. Thus I prefer Linux and Windows PC, because there I make the rules, there are no limits, and I can do it all from a command prompt.
But I have to manage a network that supports people using iPhones, iMacs, iPads, and AppleTV.
Now, I know (so don't give me crap about it) that MAC filtering is an "unnecessary step" to wireless security. Totally agreed. But what it does is force everyone who uses my network to inform me who and what device is on it. If it was just the AES Key, that can be told and shared between people and I would never know. So I use the key PLUS MAC Filtering so that everyone who connects to my network has to tell me about it.
But, AppleTV, iPads, iPhones all suck so hard, they never connect and work with my network. Linux, Android, and WIndows - never fail. They always work - FIRST TIME. So what do I have to do to get the Apple products to see AND CONNECT to my network? I put the MAC address into the "Allowed" list on the router, and reboot the routher. I provide the WPA2 key and yet they never connect. It's like Apple products are network challenged. If it isn't some simple scheme they won't work.
These are simple LinkSys/Cisco E3500 and E4200 home router toasters, that you simply enter in the "allowed MAC addresses" and give the user the key and everything works...
EXCEPT FOR APPLE PRODUCTS.
Any idea why? (I have my opinions but as you can probably guess they're biased, so I'd rather hear from the Apple experts how to get a MAC filtered access point to recognize Apple Products)
Thanks
Jaeden "Sifo Dyas" al'Raec Ruiner
Posted on Aug 23, 2016 7:29 PM