Detecting Cloning of Network Devices

An apparatus comprising:

• a network interface unit that is configured to provide communications with a plurality of gateway devices that are configured to discover network devices that are capable of providing service to subscribers or client devices in a network;
• and
• a controller that is configured to:
• store data associated with network devices that have registered for service, wherein the data indicates an identifier of a network device and one more identifiers of gateway devices through which a network device has been discovered and requested registration;
• and
• receive registration request messages associated with network devices seeking registration for service in the network, wherein each registration request message includes data comprising an identifier of the network device that is seeking registration that is derived from data stored within a memory of the network device, and an identifier of the gateway device from which the registration request message is received;
• evaluate registration request messages associated with network devices seeking registration for service from gateway devices in order to determine whether a network device identity has been cloned when its registration request message contains an identifier already being used by at least one other network device.

Logic encoded in one or more tangible media for execution and when executed operable to:

• store data associated with network devices that have registered for service in a network comprised of a plurality of network devices that are configured to provides service to a subscriber or to client devices in the network, wherein the network devices communicate through one of a plurality of gateway devices in order to register for service in the network;
• and
• receive registration request messages associated with network devices seeking registration for service in the network, wherein each registration request message includes data comprising an identifier of the network device that is seeking registration that is derived from data stored within a memory of the network device, and an identifier of the gateway device from which the registration request message is received;
• evaluate registration request messages associated with network devices seeking registration for service received from gateway devices in order to determine whether a network device identity has been cloned when its registration request message contains an identifier already being used by at least one other network device.