Read the forum guidelines
I wanted to know if Cox can see the Mac addresses in my network. I know they can see IP addresses, but are Mac addresses included? What if I use a VPN?
Bruce said:it sends a DHCP Request to the Provider, The Provider responds and assigns a public IP to the modem.
How this works is somewhat complex. See link below for a layout of the process.
www.thegeekstuff.com/.../
I understand modems and routers each have chipset and firmware but if Cox is to communicate directly with my router and my router allows me to set some huge MTU, will Cox comply with my choice?
I don't think Cox communicates directly with my router. Maybe they do...I obviously don't know. However, I wouldn't want them to. Just as I wouldn't want them communicating with a directly-connected laptop. I always thought the demarc was the modem but now it's extended to the router.
I wouldn't say it's "complex" but providers would do this differently.
Bruce, Cox communicates with your router. The WAN interface on your router provides a MAC address that your cable modem binds to allowing Cox to give you an IP address (typically static) for a period of time. You can spoof your router WAN MAC address, reboot your cable modem, and your modem will end up with a different IP address from Cox.
I suspect Cox learns a lot of information about a network they provide service to and not just the WAN interface MAC address.
OpenBSD said:Cox to give you an IP address (typically static) for a period of time.
Doesn't Cox Residential give out DHCP IP's?