Dear Tom,
In message 20211116141855.GD24579@bill-the-cat you wrote:
So, to quote lib/Kconfig: config NET_RANDOM_ETHADDR bool "Random ethaddr if unset" help Selecting this will allow the Ethernet interface to function even when the ethaddr variable for that interface is unset. A new MAC address will be generated on every boot and it will not be added to the environment.
This description is at least incomplete, because it makes no difference between the persistent copy of the environment and it's in-memory copy. For network to function, I think the MAC address must be stored in the in-memory copy of the environment.
We need either a re-spin or follow-up as we're changing the documented behavior. And as I mentioned in the other thread related on-going thread, perhaps "ethmacskip" should play a role in preserving existing behavior?
We have way too many ways to do the same thing - nearly, just a little different :-(
Best regards,
Wolfgang Denk