David Hollis wrote:
I think trying to determine location via Layer 2 means is going to be a
big mistake.
Perhaps you are correct.
Networks tend to be very amorphous these days and nodeVery valid point. Floating between wireless access point on same network and all included.
location is very non-physical.
The workstation should not care at allYes but the reason someone raised the MAC address issue was a bandwidth concern. For instance you can reach my server from the internet via cellphone infrared internet access (or dialup, public coffeshop) but i wouldnt want to sync from there most of the time. Especially if my work was more sensitive (financial, etc).
WHERE it is, it's more of a question of "can I get to where I need to?"
If contact can be made to the "home directory backup server", it is able
to sync.
MAC address should play no part in this. Do you really want all of theI dont really have a problem with eternally spoofing the router address but you convinced me that it isnt necessary or a good reference point to judge ability/willingness to sync. Perhaps what we really want is this:
client systems to stop backing up because you had to change an interface
card in the router? Do you want to have to keep the same MAC address on
that route forever so that you don't have to change every client in the
org that may connect on that subnet?
1. Assume can reach sync server
2. If we are on a acknowledged MAC sync up without asking.
3. If we aren't test bandwidth and assess amount to transfer then present user with a nice throbber (with size of transfer, avg speed and time expected) that allows him/her to decide or perhaps set a rule to decide (e.g. under 5 mins sync auto).
Regardless you have raised a good point that MAC addresses are NOT the determining factor in our willingness/desire to sync. Instead bandwidth, expected time on connection and perhaps the security of the connection really determine it. In either case administrators could write rule that prohibit outside syncing if desired (via MAC rules) and normal users could benefit from increased portability. Sound better?
-- Michael Favia michael at insitesinc dot com Insites Incorporated http://michael.insitesinc.com
