Apparatus and method for MAC address override for ethernet adapters

1. A computer implemented method for running on a computing device that is disposed on a computer network in which data transfers between the computing device and the computer network, the computing device identifiable by a local MAC address, the computer implemented method comprising:

detecting an initialization sequence triggered by a network interface event when the computing device access the computer network via a network device;

detecting receipt, by the computing device, of a request to load a non-local Media Access Control (MAC) address associated with the network device into a local register storage located on the computing device;

intercepting the request;

substituting the local MAC address corresponding to the computing device for loading into the local register storage in place of the non-local MAC address in the intercepted request.

2. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1 , wherein the detecting an initialization sequence triggered by a network interlace event when the computing device accesses a network via a network device comprises:

detecting an initialization sequence triggered by a network interface event when the computing device accesses a network via a docking station.

3. The computer-implemented method according to claim 2 , wherein detecting receipt, by the computing device, of a request to load a non-local Media Access Control (MAC) address comprises:

detecting receipt, by the computing device, of a request to load a Network Interface Card (NIC) MAC Address uniquely identifying the docking station.

4. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1 , wherein detecting receipt, by the computing device, of a request to load a non-local Media Access Control (MAC) address associated with the network device into local register storage associated with the computing device further comprises: determining that the non-local MAC address fails to match the local MAC address.

5. A computing device that is identifiable on a computer network by a local MAC address, the computing device comprising:

a communications interface configured to access the computer network via a network device, the network device being associated with a non-local MAC address that is not local to the computing device;

a storage unit configured to store MAC addresses;

a processor;

a local MAC address override driver configured, in response to the communications interface receiving a request to load the non-local MAC address into the storage unit, to provide instructions to the processor to substitute the local MAC address identifying the computing device into the storage in place of the non-local MAC address associated with the network device.

6. The computing device according to claim 5 , wherein the network device comprises:

a docking station.

7. The computing device according to claim 6 , wherein the non-local MAC address comprises:

a Network Interface Card (NIC) MAC Address uniquely identifying the docking station on the computer network.

8. The computing device according to claim 5 , wherein the communications interface comprises:

an Ethernet interface including an Ethernet MAC and an Ethernet PHY.

9. The computing device according to claim 5 , wherein the local MAC address override driver provides further instructions to the processor to:

intercept the request before the non-local MAC address is loaded into the storage.

10. The computing device according to claim 9 , wherein the local MAC address override driver provides further instructions to the processor to:

determine whether the non-local MAC address fails to match the local MAC address.

11. A network node for accessing a computer network, the network node comprising:

a network device identifiable by a first MAC address;

a first computing device coupled to the computer network via the network device, the first computing device identifiable on the computer network by a first local MAC address, the first computing device including

a communications interface configured to access the computer network via the network device,

a first storage unit configured to store MAC addresses,

a processor, and

a MAC address override driver configured, in response to the communications interface receiving a request to load the first MAC address into the first storage unite to provide instructions to the processor to substitute the local first local MAC address identifying the first computing device into the first storage until in place of the first MAC address associated with the network device.

12. The network node according to claim 11 , wherein the network device comprises:

a docking station.

13. The network node according to claim 12 , wherein the docking station comprises:

a first engagement interface to receive the communications interface of the first computing device.

14. The network node according to claim 13 , further comprising:

a second computing device identifiable by a second local MAC address, the second device including

a second communications interface,

wherein the docking station includes a second engagement interface to receive the second communications interface of the second computing device.

15. The network node according to claim 14 , wherein the second computing device further comprises:

a second processor;

a second storage unit to store MAC addresses; and

a second MAC address override driver configured, in response to the second communications interface receiving a request to load the first MAC address into the second storage unit, to provide instructions to the processor to substitute the second local MAC address identifying the second computing device into the second storage unit in place of the first MAC address associated with the network device.