MAC address fiiltering?

[rswmike]

This hotspot is advertised on multiple sites to have MAC address filtering which is why we purchased in the first place, yet the administration panel only shows that the device is only capable of blocking MAC addresses as opposed to creating an access list with specifically white-listed devices. I am looked have scoured all the options on the administration panel and yet I am unable to find an option to allow us to do this. Has anyone found work around for this?

[John_Getzke]

Please confirm which specific Jetpack model you are referring to so we can review the User Manual for the available options.

[rswmike]

Hi John,

The Jetpack model is specified in the tag below my initial post, it is the MiFi 5510L.

Besides searching the administration panel, I have also referred to the device manual by Verizon to see if this option is available and there doesn't seem to be anything explicitly stated on how to do this filter MAC addresses aside from blocking the devices after they are connected to the MiFi device.

http://www.wirelesszone.com/cms/files/4948492715220f59dd475d.pdf

[vzw_customer_support · Accepted solution]

rswmike,

This is a great model wifi to use. But you are correct, there is no option for a whitelist, only the option to block MAC addresses. What is your reason for the whitelist? Are you worried about security?

SandyS_VZW
Follow us on Twitter @VZWSupport

[rswmike]

Hi Sandy,

I agree, the devices have worked great for our remote employees so far, however we have a strict rule against BYOD especially when it comes to using MiFi device. We noticed a couple users tethering personal devices excessively which has lead to overages on our company's shared data plan and instead of constantly reminding and perhaps reprimanding them, we in IT would like to just limit the MiFi access to company issued devices specifically instead of having to block these personal devices as we encounter them.

I am open to other suggestions if you have any.

[John_Getzke]

This sounds more like an HR/management issue than an IT issue.  If your employees are abusing your technology policies then that is none of ITs concern.  Educate your users on how to properly use the devices that you provide them and inform them on the consequences on failing to comply with your policy.  If you don't have a policy in place that covers data overages then now would be a good time to get one.

I support around 200 VZW jetpacks for many employees across the nation.  We do not have any kind of MAC filtering in place to try and whitelist our corporate devices and restrict usage.  Instead we have a policy that we make clear to our employees as soon as they receive the device.  Coincidentally we do not have any issues with data overages either.  Its simple, break the policy and risk the corresponding punishments accordingly.  You will have many fewer headaches managing a single BYOD policy than many individual whitelists and MAC addresses.

The first rule in your policy should be something along the lines of additional overages will be charged back to the employee or the employees account.  Then you let the employee or his manager deal with the costs of their data habits accordingly and stay out of it completely.  Most people are not going to be OK with eating data overages for very long and will learn to curb their habits or find a different way to meet their personal needs.

[rswmike]

John,

I do agree that this more of an HR/management issue, but being given the nature of IT, we are always expected to have a technical solution to everything.  I suppose they wanted to explore all different avenues of restricting access as it is much more pleasant to just block them off than having to writing them up and then disciplining them.

Regardless, I got the answer I needed. For those of you who stumbled upon this thread curious about the MAC Address Filtering capabilities of the MiFi 5510L as advertised... well now you know it truly isn't capable of it for the time being, rather its is just capable of MAC address blocking.

MiFi 5510L device works really well, its just a bummer that there isn't a way to create a MAC address ACL which previous versions of the MiFi devices , such as the 4510L. Kind of strange that newer versions of this device would lose this former capability.

MAC Filtering - Jetpack 4G LTE Mobile HotSpot MiFi 4510L

I suppose we can close out this thread.

[7e18n1]

You can block tethering in the Jetpack user interface > Jetpack Settings > Jetpack > Preferences > USB Mode: Charge Only.