Description of problem:

I have MACADDR=xx:xx... in /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-eth0 to change my Ethernet to a specific chosen MAC address.  This works fine when "ifup eth0" ever runs, but it doesn't run, because I use NetworkManager.

I need a way to specify a desired MAC address for my Ethernet interface before NetworkManager tries using it for DHCP.  I want NetworkManager to do its normal stuff, but when it tries Ethernet, it needs to use a special MAC address.  So either there could just be some cleaner system way to have the MAC address changed at boot without /etc/init.d/network running.  But far better would be NetworkManager's connection configuration being able to set this option for a connection.  Then I'd set this option for my "Auto Ethernet" connection, and be quite happy.  It also seems like it might be quite useful for the wireless case, where one might very well like to automatically associate a known SSID with a specific MAC address that the access point for that SSID is known to require.

The current nm-applet interface has a slot called MAC in the Wired and Wireless tabes for a connection.  That is something else entirely, and it's quite nonobvious that it would be what it is instead of being exactly the feature I'd like.  The tool tip when you hover of the MAC entry box is clear enough, but it's not what I think most people would think just from the title "MAC address" on the box.

Version-Release number of selected component (if applicable):
NetworkManager-0.7.998-2.git20100106.fc12.x86_64

How reproducible:
100%

Steps to Reproduce:
1.want it
2.look for it
3.don't see it
  
Actual results:


Expected results:


Additional info: