In computer networking, the Media Access Control (MAC) Address is every bit as important as an IP address. Learn in this article how MAC addresses work and how to find the MAC addresses being used by a computer.
WHAT IS THE MAC ADDRESS?
The MAC address is a unique value associated with a network adapter. MAC addresses are also known as hardware addresses or physical addresses. They uniquely identify an adapter on a LAN(LOCAL AREA NETWORK).MAC Addresses are 12-digit hexadecimal numbers (48 bits in length). By convention, MAC addresses are usually written in one of the following formats like this(MM:MM:MM:SS:SS:SS)
The first half of a MAC address contains the ID number of the adapter manufacturer. These IDs are regulated by an Internet standards body (see sidebar). The second half of a MAC address represents the serial number assigned to the adapter by the manufacturer.
Exp :
00:A0:C9:14:C8:29
The prefix : 00A0C9
indicates the manufacturer is Intel Corporation.
WHY MAC ADDRESS IS IMPORTANT?
Recall that TCP/IP (TRANSMISSION CONTROL PROTOCOL/INTERNET PROTOCOL) and other mainstream networking architectures generally adopt the OSI model (OPEN SYSTEM INTERCONNECTION MODEL). In this model, network functionality is subdivided into layers. MAC Addresses function at the data link layer (is a layer 2 in the OSI model). They allow computers to uniquely identify themselves on a network at this relatively low level.
MAC ADDRESS VS IP ADDRESS
Whereas MAC Addressing works at the data link layer(LAYER 2) and IP Addressing functions at the network layer (LAYER 3). It is a slight oversimplification but one can think of IP Addressing as supporting the software implementation and MAC addresses as supporting the hardware implementation of the network stack. The MAC Address generally remains fixed and follows the network device but the IP Address changes as the network device moves from one network to another IP networks maintain a mapping between the IP Address of a device and its MAC Address. This mapping is known as the ARP cache or ARP table. ARP(the Address Resolution Protocol)supports the logic for obtaining this mapping and keeping the cache up to date. DHCP(DYNAMIC HOST CONFIGURATION PROTOCOL) also usually relies on MAC Addresses to manage the unique assignment of IP Addresses to devices.
*** How to Find the MAC Address of Your Computer
*** How to Find the MAC Address of Your Phone
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