On Tue, Jun 29, 2010 at 1:40 PM, Saswata Banerjee & Associates < scrapo@saswatabanerjee.com> wrote:
HI Everyone,
I had installed a new wireless + ADSL router on my MTNL Triband line. It was not working since i installed it the log kept saying "username or password failed" The same user name and password was working on my existing dlink adsl router and all settings were copied from there.
Finally i went to the local telephone exchange. One of the technicians saw my router and tested it with his user name and password and it works. Then he said that MTNL is using a mac-address lock on all exchanges running on Alcatel hardware. A new router will work only if the mac-address bound in the exchange is removed. He did that and it started working immediately. He told me that this is a security feature that is there so that you can not use the user name and password of any other MTNL user for your internet connection. In case the mac is changed, your net connection will stop working and you will have to complain and they will immediately identify who is using your connection.
I had called belkins (the router company) helpdesk and they didnt know why it was not working I called MTNL help desk (1504) and they didnt know why it was not working. They didnt even know that such a thing is there. I dont think most of the MTNL tech staff would be knowing as he had to tell someone in the control room on phone and guide him how to remove the existing mac address.
So, next time it may need you to go to the exchange and get it done. I am not sure if this is a good thing or a bad thing, but i thought you guys may find this info useful sometime.
I believe this is what hathway also does. What i dont understand is, why cant they use the caller id feature to detect the phone number which has the DSL and authenticate based on that.