Arch Linux

Alidaco

Member

Registered: 2013-01-21

Posts: 8

Error when changing MAC address

I find myself unable to change the MAC address on my new laptop. Whenever I try to do so (either through the ip command or the macchanger command), I get an error stating that there are too many open files on the system. Any insight into the issue would be much appreciated, as google searches have turned up promising leads to similar situations, but without any resolution. I have, however, noticed a trend that the problem usually occours with broadcom wireless chips, though I don't know if that's coencidence.

The command:

sudo ip link set dev wlp2s0 address 2c:33:7a:f5:dc:7a

results in: RTNETLINK answers: Too many open files in system

While the command:

sudo macchanger -r wlp2s0

results in: [ERROR] Could not change MAC: interface up or insufficient permissions: Too many open files in system

Below, I'll post some relevant information regarding my system:
Laptop Model: Dell XPS 13 (2015 model)
Wireless Card: Dell DW1560 802.11ac adapter (Broadcom BCM4352)
Wireless Driver: Broadcom-wl-dkms (from AUR)

Thank you for your time! Looking forward to any help that you may be able to provide.

aaronjameslang

Member

Registered: 2015-08-10

Posts: 1

Re: Error when changing MAC address

I've got the same laptop, the same wireless card and the same problem. I'll try it with a wifi dongle instead, to see if we can localise it to the broadcom nic.

Alidaco

Member

Registered: 2013-01-21

Posts: 8

Re: Error when changing MAC address

That would be great! I've got a sneaking suspicion that it's the driver, but no way to confirm it. Thanks for the reply.

R00KIE

Forum Fellow

From: Between a computer and a chair

Registered: 2008-09-14

Posts: 4,734

Re: Error when changing MAC address

You have to make sure nothing else is using the wireless card, such as NetworkManager. Also make sure the interface is down before trying to change the mac address.

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R00KIE
Tm90aGluZyB0byBzZWUgaGVyZSwgbW92ZSBhbG9uZy4K

maxl

Member

Registered: 2016-04-17

Posts: 2

Re: Error when changing MAC address

Two different Laptops, one Operating System [Debian 9]
Trying to join eth0 &wlan0 into a 'Bonding' device:
first Laptop [with iwlwifi driver or so] does that fine;
the other [with a Broadcom BCM4365, wl driver] refuses with:RNETLINK answers:too many open files
So my bet would be the driver which btw comes up with two ..taints Kernel.. messages,
though running on its own , wlan0 works.
As of Sept 2018 no solution yet

V1del

Forum Moderator

Registered: 2012-10-16

Posts: 24,028

Re: Error when changing MAC address

Please don't necrobump a 3 year old thread with information on an operating system that has no relation to Arch.

https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Co … .2Aonly.2A
https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Co … bumping.22

Closing.

Last edited by V1del (2018-09-11 14:27:46)