ubuntu xfce 23.10, macchanger and ip (cli applications from the repo)

I usually disregard the gui, because it sometimes shows the mac address as changed, but after testing with the cli, it turns out it hasn’t been changed.

2 commands I cannot get to work:

sudo ip link set dev network down

does nothing, I’m not even asked to write my password.

Baffled, because on an older ubuntu, this same command works.

sudo macchanger -r network

returns: [ERROR]: Could not change MAC!: interface up or insufficient permissions: Operation not supported

I, however, turned the network down with the gui

what am I doing wrong?

  • BestBouclettes
    4·
    9 months ago

    Do you happen to have NetworkManager ? I think it’s default on Ubuntu and that might be your problem. If you have it, nmcli connection set <device> down would turn off your device. I believe you can also change your mac address with it, but I don’t have the manual with me right now.

    Edit: NetworkManager can do randomised mac address Arch wiki link