Harmonic Inc.
RPD MAC address stored in node

Abstract:

Approaches for, and articles of manufacturer that embody, dynamic assignment of a MAC address. A remote PHY node may comprise a non-volatile memory and a network element that comprises a CPU. For example, the network element may be a remote PHY device, an Ethernet switch, a Remote MACPHY Device (RMD), a Passive Optical Network (PON) Optical Line Terminal (OLT), a Passive Optical Network (PON) Optical Network Unit (ONU), or a Wi-Fi hot spot router. A communication link exists between the CPU of the network element and the non-volatile memory of the remote PHY node. A module on the network element causes the network element to retrieve, across the communication link, a MAC address from the non-volatile memory of the remote PHY node and adopt the MAC address to identify itself any time that the network element reboots.