To get the hardware address you need to dig down through the network layers. If you look at the OSI 7 network model (used on all systems), you will see that PHP really operates on layers 6 & 7. The hardware address (MAC Address) is down on layer 2, the data link layer. The layered model is designed to assure compatibility and ease of implementation. Meaning, each layer does what it is supposed to and doesn't care how the other layers accomplish their job. I highly doubt that PHP would be permitted to dig down into the network stack when it's not running as root. I'm not sure what you mean by "universities and broadband isp do 'this'". If you are referring to limiting bandwidth, this should be, and usually is, done on the router level. ISP's want to limit use of their network bandwidth, not their server bandwidth.
Limiting use of an application is normally done through a user login. Wouldn't you want to limit the user not a specific computer? Besides, it's easy enough to override the hardware address of a network card or even use a different one. Easier than IP spoofing. On Thursday, September 5, 2002, at 09:45 PM, Tyler Longren wrote: > using exec() or system() will only be able to execute commands on the > machine php is installed on. I sometimes wonder how universities and > broadband isp's do this. I'd be interested in seeing how it works. > > Sorry, I'm not much help anymore. > > tyler > > On Fri, 6 Sep 2002 01:24:07 +0200 > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > >> Hi, >> >> The best way I think is to use exec() or system() to ask that to the >> system. May be someone knows something better too. >> >> -- >> >> Nicos - CHAILLAN Nicolas >> [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> www.WorldAKT.com - Hébergement de sites Internet >> >> "Chris Cook" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> a écrit dans le message de news: >> [EMAIL PROTECTED] >>> Hello all, >>> >>> I am working on a LAN application and am interested in obtaining the >> user's >>> network card address to limit usage of the program. Is there a way >>> to do this in PHP? >>> >>> I am on a network that uses DHCP so using the IP address probably >>> wont >> work >>> and I am also worried about IP spoofing. >>> >>> Thanks for any help you can provide, >>> Chris >>> >>> >>> _________________________________________________________________ >>> Send and receive Hotmail on your mobile device: >>> http://mobile.msn.com >>> >> >> >> >> -- >> PHP General Mailing List (http://www.php.net/) >> To unsubscribe, visit: http://www.php.net/unsub.php >> > > -- > PHP General Mailing List (http://www.php.net/) > To unsubscribe, visit: http://www.php.net/unsub.php > > -- Brent Baisley Systems Architect Landover Associates, Inc. Search & Advisory Services for Advanced Technology Environments p: 212.759.6400/800.759.0577 -- PHP General Mailing List (http://www.php.net/) To unsubscribe, visit: http://www.php.net/unsub.php
