What's Actually Involved In Provisioning A Cable Modem?

What's Actually Involved In Provisioning A Cable Modem?

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Subject Author Date
What's Actually Involved In Provisioning A Cable Modem? Agent_C 04-14-2006
Posted by Agent_C on April 16, 2006, 12:46 pm
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>Elmo Wrote: "DOCSIS is DOCSIS.
>
>I've called my cable company a couple times as I've switched out cable
>modems, and all they ask for is the MAC address. Period. They don't
>care about brand name or model number.
>
>DOCSIS is DOCSIS, period."
>
>Well, sort of. Yes, there are minimum standard things that all DOCSIS
>ceritified modems have to do. And, yes, most cable companies have a
>generic provisioning file that can be used by any modem. However, there
>are a whole slew of vendor-specific options that can be implemented
>(anyone remember the RCA DCM105 e-mail light? It could be activiated by
>the .cm file and an SNMP trap). Most of the time, it has to do with
>port blocking and snmp traps, but just about anything can be done and
>labeled "vendor specific." We once had a problem that only affected 1
>brand of modem, because someone at corporate added a bunch of blocked
>ports to the config files and all 2000+ of this model decided to quit
>working one Saturday morning. The modems in question could only handle
>blocking a few ports, so they just locked up.
>
>The other big problem is when there is a firmware upgrade. This is a
>flag set in the .cm file telling the modem that a new version is
>available, and the release ID. The ID is compared to the firmware in
>the modem, and if they don't match, the modem will retrieve the new
>file. If you got the wrong type of modem, even a different make from
>the same vendor, you stand a very high likelyhood of trashing your
>modem.
>
>Now, there are a few other ways to determine the manufacturer of a
>cablemodem. One is to use the MAC address
>(http://coffer.com/mac_find/). Theoretically, one could determine the
>manufacturer and product by decoding the assigned MAC address and
>passing that info on to the provisioning system.
>
>It is also possible to read the make and model number from an SNMP
>browser, and pass it along to the provisioning system. While this would
>be very cool, it would require another server to be maintained, and
>there is the very real possibility of having a MIB report back an OEM
>instead of the real manufacturer (I recall this happening with Zyxel
>modem/routers, which reported a totally different modem and would have
>made them useless as a modem/router had we provisioned them using the
>other modem's config).
>
>But, why bother? It is much more accurate and reliable to get a human
>in the loop to read off the model number on the box and get it to the
>billing system, which then will pass it on to the provisioning system.
>
>Agent_C Wrote: "The reason I'm asking, is that I'm planning to
>replace the RCA modem
>Roadrunner provided with a Linksys WCG200."
>
>I can't speak for TW Roadrunner, but with Comcast, this modem will not
>work without Comcast's firmware (which is not available unless you go
>with the home networking option). The reason is because the retail
>version of the software will not pass on a second DHCP request for the
>router, and will attempt to route using the CM's internal address. They
>do say " While Comcast will support this modem's connectivity to the
>Internet, please direct any issues with the router or wireless Internet
>functionality to the vendor." It will provision, but that's all you'll
>be able to do (at least as of last summer). Again, this is on Comcast's
>network. You should really check with TW before you buy it, unless you
>know you can return it.


Thanks, that was extremely helpful.

A_C

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Posted by $Bill on April 14, 2006, 3:23 pm
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Agent_C wrote:

> Does the head-end see anything other than the MAC?
>
> The reason I’m asking, is that I’m planning to replace the RCA modem
> Roadrunner provided with a Linksys WCG200.
>
> I was thinking of simply cloning the MAC from the RCA and swapping the
> units. No mus, no fuss, and RR doesn’t have to get involved.
>
> Anybody know if this will work or not?

I don't know specifically what RR does when provisioning a modem.

It could be as simple as plugging the new modem in and supplying
your info to a web page. Or you may have to actually call them.

I would plug the new modem and and see what happens. If it's not
obvious that it's being provisioned, make a call and/or put the
old modem back until you can.

Posted by Jimbo on April 14, 2006, 3:58 pm
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As far as I am aware, you cannot clone the RF MAC on the cable modem as you
would with your router's LAN MAC to make it appear to be that of your NIC.
Should just be able to have the cable co. put your new modem on your account
and provision it as opposed to the one they issued you.

--
Jimbo

> Does the head-end see anything other than the MAC?
>
> The reason I'm asking, is that I'm planning to replace the RCA modem
> Roadrunner provided with a Linksys WCG200.
>
> I was thinking of simply cloning the MAC from the RCA and swapping the
> units. No mus, no fuss, and RR doesn't have to get involved.
>
> Anybody know if this will work or not?
>
> Thanks,
>
> A_C



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