Does Qubes OS 4.2.4 still require intervention to allow for Ethernet Mac address randomizing?
Is this post still relevant to 4.2.4 in 2025?
Any pointers would be most appreciated (before I break something).
Thanks in advance!
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Bump*
No ideas?
Anyone?
It is not Qubes OS specific at all, but depends on the Template used for your sys-net Qube.
AFAIK both the current Debian and Fedora templates using Network Manager which is randomising your WiFi MAC by default.
Hello Zrubi,
Thank you for your reply.
At the moment I use system default sys-net on 4.2.4 - whatever that is.
Andā¦ Conversely, this topic is Ethernet specific.
Does that inspire any other suggestions?
Ethernet settings are still depends on Network Manager defaults, which depends on the distribution itās provided.
And as I (and many other long time Qubes users) restoring my sys-net from backup, I have no idea whar are the current defaults.
But I believe only the WiFI is randomised, so if you need to randomize your Ethernet you have to set it manually.
And donāt get me wrong, but if you do have a new system, it is much simpler just to open the NM settings window and check what it sayā¦
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regarding that old thread you linkedā¦
I would not follow those instructions, as it suggenst interesting/obsoleted things, that would require a review/revrite.
Keep in mind that forum posts are created by community members, and there is no validation process around. Especially reviewing very old threads/guides are not what anybody would do for sure.
Use the official documentation as a guide:
I do appreciate you making the distinction, and certainly pulling me away from hours of hair-pulling without cause.
However, I am a little disappointed that the best I could get here was to - āREAD THE MANUALā
Surly that is a semi-nullification of the purpose of this forum?
Either way, the manual you kindly provided (that seemingly does not give me any positive indications from a āsearchā on this topic) is not so friendly to me, and is probably going to take me a very VERY long time to find the grail.
Certainly most of it is beyond the scope of my understanding, as it is for the most part written in āGeekā a language in which I am not fluent - I also donāt have the time for a trillion pages on Google that lead me to borking my install.
That is actually why I am here. To glean a little wisdom from those in the know, who can pass it on to one whom is currently not capable of finding the right answer before next Friday.
I remain hopeful someone can help.
In the mean time, I will work on translating the manual.
Thanks again!
And apparently in a brand new install of Qubes OS 4.2.4:
- sys-net is Fedora-41-xfce
Now I see where your frustration is comingā¦ and Iām really sorry about that.
I also noted, that this very old - and unofficial - guide is directly linked from the latest official docs. 
whcih also not really helps hereā¦
The team is just migrated the official documentation to this platform:
where one of the main goal was to be able to provide version specific documentation and guides. - it seems that goal is simply not reached yet.
As I did a (not so) quick search execrcise, I also have to admit that this topic is barely documented.
But I do believe that the Network Manager GUI interface (applet) should be self explanatory. If it is not, thatās another issueā¦
And I know itās not helping you too much, but this topic has zero Qubes OS relevance. And thatās can be the reason there are no mention about this in the official docs, and we (as a community) only has 1 old and possible outdated guide in this topic.
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Back to your specific āissueā:
If you just want your Ethernet MAC address to be random, you should set it accordingly in the Network Manager applet.
No other changes you need.
What the linked guide is talking about is a much more advanced use case, what you should simply ignore (for now at least)
Thanks!
Now for a ādumbā question (so I donāt balls thing up)ā¦
Where is the āNetwork Managerā applet that you speak of?
ohh well 
Tell me you have never used a Linux based desktop before, but you keen to have your Ethernet MAC reandomised as the first step!?
You should start with this guide anaway:
Where the User interface is described - which is a standard XFCE desktopā¦
In the system tray: the only not mentioned icon is the Network Manager from your sys-net.
(And it is not mentioned because it is not Qubes specific 
after the sound and before the Whonix icons:
If thatās missing, than you have some (fundamental) issue related your sys-net and/or the ethernet/Wifi devices on your machine.
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there is also a section describing and showing the network manager here:
LOLā¦
My bad!
My crappy NC trackpad wouldnāt right click (on that specific icon) unless I was in itās gutter.
That was the first place I went to originally, but no dialogue after several clicks.
(I assumed some kind of extra hardening principles were being enacted)
So no - I am not a complete IT virgin. It just looks like it to the experts.
Thank you for your patience!
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7 hours for one clickā¦
I would have my external trackpad plugged in - if it worked with Qubes.
Can that be done in two clicks I wonder?
Oh wellā¦ At least only one click again to disable IPv6!
WOW I am on a roll now 
Thanks again 
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