After Upgrade to 3006.102.5: "Can't Add Zero Mac!"

[salieri]

Router: BE86U
Firmware Version: 3006.102.5

I've upgraded the firmware from the previous version and now I keep getting the message below. There's no other information or errors. Why is this happening? How can I troubleshoot and find out what's causing it? Thanks.

Log:

Aug 5 12:24:02 kernel: Can't add zero mac!
Aug 5 12:28:00 kernel: Can't add zero mac!
Aug 5 12:28:00 kernel: Can't add zero mac!
Aug 5 12:28:00 kernel: Can't add zero mac!
Aug 5 12:28:00 kernel: Can't add zero mac!
Aug 5 12:28:00 kernel: Can't add zero mac!
Aug 5 12:28:00 kernel: Can't add zero mac!
Aug 5 12:28:01 kernel: Can't add zero mac!
Aug 5 12:28:01 kernel: Can't add zero mac!
Aug 5 12:28:01 kernel: Can't add zero mac!
Aug 5 12:28:01 kernel: Can't add zero mac!
Aug 5 12:28:01 kernel: Can't add zero mac!
Aug 5 12:28:01 kernel: Can't add zero mac!
Aug 5 12:28:31 kernel: Can't add zero mac!
Aug 5 12:31:04 kernel: Can't add zero mac!
Aug 5 12:47:32 kernel: Can't add zero mac!
Aug 5 12:47:32 kernel: Can't add zero mac!
Aug 5 12:47:34 kernel: Can't add zero mac!
Aug 5 12:47:34 kernel: Can't add zero mac!
Aug 5 12:48:03 kernel: Can't add zero mac!
Aug 5 12:48:03 kernel: Can't add zero mac!
Aug 5 12:48:49 kernel: Can't add zero mac!
Aug 5 12:48:49 kernel: Can't add zero mac!

 

[RMerlin]

This message comes from the Trend Micro bwdpi engine, which often has that kind of annoying debug logging. Try turning down their EULA under System, then re-enable the specific TrendMicro feature that you want to use (like AiProtection).

 

[salieri]

This message comes from the Trend Micro bwdpi engine, which often has that kind of annoying debug logging. Try turning down their EULA under System, then re-enable the specific TrendMicro feature that you want to use (like AiProtection).

@RMerlin, thanks for your reply.

• I went ahead and withdrew from their EULA under Administrator → Policy.
• This disabled AiProtection.

You were right. Once AiProtection was off, the annoying message disappeared.

I re-enabled AiProtection and accepted the EULA again.

As soon as I turn on any single option (Malicious Sites Blocking, Two-Way IPS, Infected Device Prevention and Blocking), or any combination of them, the "Can't add zero mac!" message comes back.

From what I understand, this is a closed source application, so you have no direct control over it. Is this something we just have to live with until Trend Micro fixes it?

Thanks!

 

[RMerlin]

Is this something we just have to live with until Trend Micro fixes it?

Yes, unless it's something else in particular that triggers it for your setup, but there's no way to tell.

 

[Comoman]

I had the same issue with my BE88U. I made it go away by just reinstalling 102.5 again. I didn’t reset - just reinstalled.

So far these messages have gone away.

 

[salieri]

I had the same issue with my BE88U. I made it go away by just reinstalling 102.5 again. I didn’t reset - just reinstalled.

So far these messages have gone away.

Just reinstalled 102.5 and the messages went away for me too. Thank you!

 

[salieri]

Spoke too soon. This worked fine up until I had to reboot the router. After doing so, the "Can't add zero mac!" returned.

 

[oldgringo]

I see the same on my rtax86u. I found out that mac address for wl0.15_hwaddr is set to all zeros. I can update it manually with nvram set and commit, but after very short time it changes back to all zeros. I also see that wan0_hwaddr is set to a mac address of the same wl0.15, even when I use ethernet backhaul mode. I found it weird, is it correct?

 

[Dd852]

I have the BQ16 system - see the same. It seems to be something relatively new, as I hadn't seen it in the log before. I did report to ASUS tech support and got the rather unhelpful answer:
"This Kernel Log entry can have multiple possible causes:

1 - MAC filtering is detecting a hardware address that has format 00:00:00:00:00:00
2 - Firmware bug or minor error
3 - Security risk - an unknown device is trying to connect to the router."

I don't have (1) mac filtering on; I see no other evidence of (3); that leaves (2) as the most likely answer! It doesn't seem to affect operations at all.

 

[JGrana]

I have the BQ16 system - see the same. It seems to be something relatively new, as I hadn't seen it in the log before. I did report to ASUS tech support and got the rather unhelpful answer:
"This Kernel Log entry can have multiple possible causes:

1 - MAC filtering is detecting a hardware address that has format 00:00:00:00:00:00
2 - Firmware bug or minor error
3 - Security risk - an unknown device is trying to connect to the router."

I don't have (1) mac filtering on; I see no other evidence of (3); that leaves (2) as the most likely answer! It doesn't seem to affect operations at all.

Sounds like the response ChatGPT would give.

 

[Dd852]

I think I found it: there was an iot device - wired - that seemed to be struggling with DHCP. I gave it a fixed address and that seems to have solved the problem. This isn't the first device I've had that had a problem with the Asus DHCP lease implementation.

 

[visortgw]

I think I found it: there was an iot device - wired - that seemed to be struggling with DHCP. I gave it a fixed address and that seems to have solved the problem. This isn't the first device I've had that had a problem with the Asus DHCP lease implementation.

What specifically is the IoT device that you found as the culprit?

 

[Dd852]

What specifically is the IoT device that you found as the culprit?

I'm in the UK - it's a "Hive hub" which is the interface between a thermostat, the heating boiler (not that we need heat in August! but it still takes the data), and the supplier. What's worth noting is it's old in internet terms; the router also reports that it's a low speed interface into the LAN.

 

[salieri]

For what it's worth, after downgrading to 3006.102.4, I haven’t seen the issue anymore.

I also downgraded, because I'm experiencing this issue as well: Professional WiFi Settings Missing

Router = BE86U