What's the difference between a MAC

address and IP address?

A MAC address and an IP address each identify network
devices, but they do the job at different levels. Explore the
differences between the two and learn why both are
necessary.
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By

 John Burke, Nemertes Research

 Chris Partsenidis, Firewall.cx

Every computer or device on the internet has two types of addresses: its physical address and
its internet address. The physical address -- which is also called a media access control, or
MAC, address -- identifies a device to other devices on the same local network. The internet
address -- or IP address -- identifies the device globally. A network packet needs both
addresses to get to its destination.

MAC address vs. IP address: What's the difference?

Both MAC addresses and IP addresses are meant to identify a network device, but in different
ways. Some of the main differences between a MAC address and an IP address include the
following:

 local identification vs. global identification;

 Layer 2 vs. Layer 3 operation;
 physical address vs. logical address;
 number of bits;
 address assignment and permanence; and
 address formatting.

A MAC address is responsible for local identification and an IP address for global
identification. This is the primary difference between a MAC address and IP address, and it
affects how they differ in their number of bits, address assignment and interactions. The
MAC address is only significant on the LAN to which a device is connected, and it is not
used or retained in the data stream once packets leave that network.
Any piece of internet software, such as a web browser, directs data to a destination on the
internet using the destination's IP address. That address is inserted into the data packets that
the network software stack sends out. People rarely use the address numbers directly, instead
using DNS names, which the application translates into the matching number.

Internet routers move the packets from the source network to the destination network and
then to the LAN on which the destination device is connected. That local network translates
the IP address to a MAC address, adds the MAC address to the data stream and sends the data
to the right device.

Comp
are the differences between a MAC address and IP address.

Another difference between a MAC address and IP address is the way the addresses are
assigned. An IP address is bound to a network device via software configurations, and
network administrators can change it at any time.

Local network switches maintain Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) tables that map IP
addresses to MAC addresses. When a router sends the switch a packet with a destination
specified by an IP address, it uses the ARP table to know which MAC address to attach to the
packet when it forwards the data to the device as Ethernet frames.

What is a MAC address?

Media access control refers to the piece of hardware that controls how data is pushed out onto
a network. In the OSI reference model for networking, the MAC is a Layer 2 -- or data link
layer -- device, and the MAC address is a Layer 2 address. In the current internet era, most
devices are connected physically with Ethernet cables or wirelessly with Wi-Fi. Both
methods use MAC addresses to identify a device on the network.

A MAC address is responsible for local identification and an IP address for global
identification.
A MAC address consists of 12 hexadecimal digits, usually grouped into six pairs separated
by hyphens. MAC addresses are available from 00-00-00-00-00-00 through FF-FF-FF-FF-
FF-FF. The first half of the number is typically used as a manufacturer ID, while the second
half is a device identifier. In nearly all enterprise network devices today, whether Wi-Fi or
Ethernet, this number is hardcoded into the device during the manufacturing process.

Each MAC address is unique to the network card installed on a device, but the number of
device-identifying bits is limited, which means manufacturers do reuse them. Each
manufacturer has about 1.68 million available addresses, so when it burns a device with a
MAC address ending in FF-FF-FF, it starts again at 00-00-00. This approach assumes it is
highly unlikely two devices with the same address will end up in the same local network
segment.

No two devices on a local network should ever have the same MAC address. If that does
happen, both devices will have communications problems because the local network will get
confused about which device should receive the packet. When a switch broadcasts a packet to
all ports in order to find the intended recipient, whichever device responds first will receive
the packet stream directed to it. If the device reboots, is taken away or shuts down, the other
node may then receive the packets.

What is an IP address?
IP controls how devices on the internet communicate and defines the behavior of internet
routers. It corresponds to Layer 3, the network layer, of the OSI reference model. The internet
was initially built around IP version 4 (IPv4) and is in transition to IPv6.

An IP address identifies a device on the global internet, acting as the device's logical address
to identify that network connection. An IPv4 address consists of 32 bits, usually written as
four decimal numbers, or a dotted quad. Possible values range from 000.000.000.000 through
255.255.255.255, although many possible addresses are disallowed or reserved for specific
purposes.

The address combines network identification and device identification data. The network
prefix is anywhere from eight to 31 bits, and the remainder identify the device on the
network. Steady, rapid growth in the number of internet-connected devices has led to the
looming exhaustion of the IPv4 address list, one of several reasons for the development of
IPv6.

An IPv6 address consists of 128 bits, with the first 64 reserved for network identification and
the second 64 dedicated to identifying a device on the network. The address is written as
eight sets of four hexadecimal digits separated by colons -- for example,
FEDC:BA98:7654:3210:0123:4567:89AB:CDEF. Happily, many conventions are available
to shorten an IPv6 address when writing it.

What is MAC Address?

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To communicate or transfer data from one computer to another, we need an address. In

computer networks, various types of addresses are introduced; each works at a different layer.
A MAC address, which stands for Media Access Control Address, is a physical address that
works at the Data Link Layer. In this article, we will discuss addressing a DLL, which is the
MAC Address.

So, go through the article if you are eager to learn what is MAC address and its components.

Table of Content

 What is MAC (Media Access Control) Address?

 Format of MAC Address
 Types of MAC Address
 Reason to have both IP and MAC addresses.
 Why should the MAC address be unique in the LAN network?
 How do I find the MAC Address?
 What is MAC Cloning?
 Characteristics of MAC Address
 Advantages of MAC Address
 Disadvantages of MAC Address

What is MAC (Media Access Control) Address?

MAC Addresses are unique 48-bit hardware numbers of a computer that are embedded into
a network card (known as a Network Interface Card) during manufacturing. The MAC
Address is also known as the Physical Address of a network device. In the IEEE 802
standard, the data link layer is divided into two sublayers:

1. Logical Link Control (LLC) Sublayer

2. Media Access Control (MAC) Sublayer

The MAC address is used by the Media Access Control (MAC) sublayer of the Data-Link
Layer. MAC Address is worldwide unique since millions of network devices exist and we
need to uniquely identify each.
Format of MAC Address
To understand what is MAC address is, it is very important that first you understand the
format of the MAC Address. So a MAC Address is a 12-digit hexadecimal number (6-bit
binary number), which is mostly represented by Colon-Hexadecimal notation.

The First 6 digits (say 00:40:96) of the MAC Address identify the manufacturer, called the
OUI (Organizational Unique Identifier). IEEE Registration Authority Committee assigns
these MAC prefixes to its registered vendors.

Here are some OUI of well-known manufacturers:

CC:46:D6 - Cisco
3C:5A:B4 - Google, Inc.
3C:D9:2B - Hewlett Packard
00:9A:CD - HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO.,LTD

The rightmost six digits represent Network Interface Controller, which is assigned by the
manufacturer.

As discussed above, the MAC address is represented by Colon-Hexadecimal notation. But

this is just a conversion, not mandatory. MAC address can be represented using any of the
following formats:
Note: Colon-Hexadecimal notation is used by Linux OS and Period-separated Hexadecimal
notation is used by Cisco Systems.

Types of MAC Address

1. Unicast: A Unicast-addressed frame is only sent out to the interface leading to a specific
NIC. If the LSB (least significant bit) of the first octet of an address is set to zero, the frame is
meant to reach only one receiving NIC. The MAC Address of the source machine is always
Unicast.

2. Multicast: The multicast address allows the source to send a frame to a group of devices.
In Layer-2 (Ethernet) Multicast address, the LSB (least significant bit) of the first octet of an
address is set to one. IEEE has allocated the address block 01-80-C2-xx-xx-xx (01-80-C2-00-
00-00 to 01-80-C2-FF-FF-FF) for group addresses for use by standard protocols.

3. Broadcast: Similar to Network Layer, Broadcast is also possible on the underlying

layer( Data Link Layer). Ethernet frames with ones in all bits of the destination address (FF-
FF-FF-FF-FF-FF) are referred to as the broadcast addresses. Frames that are destined with
MAC address FF-FF-FF-FF-FF-FF will reach every computer belonging to that LAN
segment.
Reason to Have Both IP and MAC Addresses.
The reason for having both IP and MAC addresses lies in the way the Internet works,
specifically in the structure of the OSI Model. This model is a conceptual framework that
describes how data is sent and received over a network. It’s divided into seven layers, each
performing specific functions.

 Layer 2 uses MAC addresses and is responsible for packet delivery from hop to hop.

 Layer 3 uses IP addresses and is responsible for packet delivery from end to end.

Layer 2 (Data Link Layer) uses a MAC (Media Access Control) address. These are
unique identifiers assigned to network interfaces for communications at the data link layer.
The primary function of MAC addresses is to manage how data is transported from one
network node to another on a direct, physical basis – this is also referred to as “hop to hop”
delivery.

On the other hand, Layer 3 ( Network Layer ) uses an IP (Internet Protocol) address.
These IP addresses are used to identify devices on a network and to route traffic between
networks. The IP addresses ensure that the data gets from its original source reaches its final
destination and it is also called “end-to-end” delivery of data.

When a computer sends data, it first wraps it in an IP header, which includes the source and
destination IP addresses. This IP header, along with the data, is then encapsulated in a MAC
header, which includes the source and destination MAC addresses for the current “hop” in the
path.

As the data travels from one router to the next, the MAC address header is stripped off and a
new one is generated for the next hop. However, the IP header, which was generated by the
original computer, remains intact until it reaches the final destination. This process illustrates
how the IP header manages the “end to end” delivery, while the MAC headers handle the
“hop to hop” delivery.

So, Both IP and MAC addresses are essential for the functioning of the Internet. While MAC
addresses facilitate the direct, physical transfer of data between network nodes, IP addresses
ensure that the data reaches its final destination.

Why Should the MAC Address Be Unique in the LAN

Network?
Consider a LAN (Local Area Network) as a large gathering where everyone is engaged in
conversations. Now, let’s suppose that there are two individuals at this gathering who
coincidentally share the same name. This scenario would inevitably create confusion, right?
If someone calls out that name, both individuals would respond, making it challenging to
discern the intended recipient of the message.

In a similar manner, within a network, each device possesses a distinct identifier referred to
as a MAC (Media Access Control) address. Think of it as a unique name assigned to the
device. When information is transmitted across the network, it is directed to a specific MAC
address, much like a letter being addressed to a specific individual.

However, if multiple devices within the same network were to have identical MAC
addresses, it would result in confusion and disrupt the network’s functioning. The network
would struggle to ascertain which device should receive the transmitted information. To
prevent this confusion and ensure the accurate delivery of information, it is vital for each
device on a network to possess a unique MAC address.

How Do I Find the MAC Address?

A MAC address is mostly used to configure a router for a network device or during
troubleshooting. The address of our computer device can be easily checked with any
operating device. All the Apple devices connected to our home network contain a unique
MAC address. Manufacturers may identify a MAC address by other names, such as the
physical address, hardware ID, wireless ID, and Wi-Fi address.

Following are the steps which help to find MAC addresses for different OS

MAC address on Windows

Here is the Step-by-Step guide to finding MAC addresses on Windows.

Command:

ipconfig /all

Step 1 – Press Window Start or Click on Windows Key.

Step 2 – In the search box, type cmd, and the command prompt will get open.
Step 3 – Click on cmd, the command prompt window will display,

Step 4 – In the command prompt type ipconfig/all command and then press enter.
Step 5 – As you will scroll down, each physical address is the MAC address of your device.

MAC Address on MacOS

Here is a step-by-step guide to finding MAC addresses on a Mac operating system.

Command for MAC Address in MacOS:

TCP/IP Control Panel

Step 1 – Click on System Settings.

Step 2 – In the system settings, click on the MAC network option.

Step 3 – Then go to the advanced settings.

Step 4 – Here you find your MAC address.

MAC Address on Unix/Linux

Here is a step-by-step guide to finding MAC addresses on a Unix/Linux operating system.

Command For MAC Address in Unix/Linux:

ifconfig -a
ip link list
ip address show

Note: LAN technologies like Token rings and Ethernet use MAC Addresses as their Physical
address but there are some networks (AppleTalk) that do not use MAC addresses. for further
details.

What is MAC Cloning?

Some ISPs use MAC addresses to assign an IP address to the gateway device. When a device
connects to the ISP, the DHCP server records the MAC address and then assigns an IP
address. Now the system will be identified through the MAC address. When the device gets
disconnected, it loses the IP address.

If the user wants to reconnect, the DHCP server checks if the device is connected before. If
so, then the server tries to assign the same IP address (in case the lease period has not
expired). In case the user changed the router, the user has to inform the ISP about the new
MAC address because the new MAC address is unknown to ISP, so the connection cannot be
established.

Or the other option is Cloning, user can simply clone the registered MAC address with ISP.
Now router keeps reporting the old MAC addresses to ISP and there will be no connection
issue.

Characteristics of MAC Address

The Media Access Control address (MAC address) is a unique identifier assigned to most
network adapters or network interface cards (NICs) by the manufacturer for identification and
use in the Media Access Control protocol sub-layer.

An Ethernet MAC address is a 48-bit binary value expressed as 12 hexadecimal digits (4 bits
per hexadecimal digit). MAC addresses are in a flat structure and thus they are not routable
on the Internet. Serial interfaces do not use MAC addresses. It does NOT contain a network
and host portion with the address. It is used to deliver the frame to the destination device.

 MAC addresses are used in LAN (Local Area Network) environments to identify devices and
allow communication between them.

 MAC addresses are burned into the hardware of a network interface card (NIC) and cannot
be changed, except in some rare cases where the manufacturer has provided a specific tool
to do so.

 The first 3 bytes of a MAC address represent the manufacturer ID, while the last 3 bytes
represent a unique identifier assigned by the manufacturer.

 MAC addresses are often used in conjunction with ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) to
resolve IP addresses to MAC addresses for communication on a LAN.
  Some operating systems, such as Windows and Linux, allow you to view the MAC address of
your network adapter through a command prompt or network settings.

Advantages of MAC Address

1. Uniqueness: Each MAC address is unique, which means that devices on the network can be
easily identified and managed.

2. Simplicity: MAC addresses are easy to configure and manage, and do not require any
additional network infrastructure.

3. Compatibility: MAC addresses are widely used and supported by a variety of networking
technologies and protocols, making them compatible with many different systems.

4. Security: MAC addresses can be used to restrict access to a network by only allowing devices
with authorized MAC addresses to connect.

5. Fault-tolerance: In case of hardware or software failure, a device can be easily replaced

without affecting the network, as long as the new device has the same MAC address as the
old one.

6. Multicasting: MAC addresses can be used for multicasting, allowing a single packet to be
sent to multiple devices at once.

7. Efficiency: MAC addresses allow for efficient communication on the network, as they enable
devices to quickly and easily identify and communicate with each other.

8. Lower network overhead: MAC addresses reduce network overhead by allowing devices to
communicate directly with each other without the need for additional routing or addressing.

9. Ease of troubleshooting: MAC addresses can be used to troubleshoot network issues by

identifying the source of problems and tracking network activity.

10. Flexibility: MAC addresses can be used to support a variety of network configurations and
topologies, including peer-to-peer, client-server, and hybrid models.

Disadvantages of MAC Address

1. Limited address space: MAC addresses are 48-bit numbers, which means that there is a
finite number of possible MAC addresses. This can lead to address conflicts if multiple
devices have the same MAC address.

2. Spoofing: MAC addresses can be easily spoofed, allowing unauthorized devices to gain
access to the network.

3. Inefficiency: MAC addresses are not hierarchical, which can make it difficult to efficiently
manage large networks.
 4. Static addressing: MAC addresses are typically assigned at the time of manufacture and
cannot be easily changed. This can be a disadvantage in situations where devices need to be
reconfigured or replaced.

5. Limited scope: MAC addresses are only used for identifying devices within a local network
segment, and cannot be used to identify devices outside of this segment.

6. Hardware-dependent: MAC addresses are tied to the network interface card (NIC) of a
device, which means that if the NIC fails or is replaced, the MAC address also changes.

7. Lack of encryption: MAC addresses are sent in plain text, which can make them vulnerable
to interception and eavesdropping.

8. No inherent security: While MAC filtering can be used to restrict access to a network, MAC
addresses themselves do not provide any inherent security features.

9. MAC address collisions: In rare cases, MAC addresses can collide, which can cause network
disruptions and make it difficult to identify and manage devices on the network.

FAQs on MAC Address

Q1. What is MAC address used for?

Answer

MAC address is used to identify devices in the same network. On the other hand, IP
Addresses also did the same thing but that is used to identify Device devices globally or
through its internet address.

Q2. Can we change MAC address?

Answer

No, MAC address is a permanent address of a device which is also hardcoded in the
Network Interface Card (NIC). However, many drivers allow the MAC address to be
changed.

Q3. What is my MAC address number?

Answer

To find the MAC address of any device, you can follow these general steps:

1. Open the Settings app on your device.

2. Navigate to the Network & Internet section.

3. Select Properties.
 4. Scroll down to the bottom of the page until you find the Physical Address (MAC).

For Further Details:- Check Here

Q4. Difference between MAC Address and IP Address?

Answer

The Difference points between MAC Address and IP Address

MAC Address IP Address

MAC Address stands for Media Access Control

IP Address stands for Internet Protocol Address.
Address.

IP Address is either a four-byte (IPv4) or a sixteen-

MAC Address is a six byte hexadecimal address.
byte (IPv6) address.

A device attached with MAC Address can retrieve A device attached with IP Address can retrieve by
by ARP protocol. RARP protocol.

NIC Card’s Manufacturer provides the MAC

Internet Service Provider provides IP Address.
Address.

For more Details :- Check Here

S.NO MAC Address IP Address

MAC Address stands for Media Access IP Address stands for Internet Protocol
1.
Control Address. Address.
MAC Address is a six byte hexadecimal IP Address is either a four-byte (IPv4) or a
2.
address. sixteen-byte (IPv6) address.
A device attached with MAC Address A device attached with IP Address can
3.
can retrieve by ARP protocol. retrieve by RARP protocol.
NIC Card’s Manufacturer provides the Internet Service Provider provides IP
4.
MAC Address. Address.
MAC Address is used to ensure the IP Address is the logical address of the
5.
physical address of a computer. computer.
MAC Address operates in the data link
6. IP Address operates in the network layer.
layer.
MAC Address helps in simply IP Address identifies the connection of the
7.
identifying the device. device on the network.
MAC Address of computer cannot be IP Address modifies with the time and
8.
changed with time and environment. environment.
MAC Addresses can’t be found easily
9. IP Addresses can be found by a third party.
by a third party.
10. It is a 48-bit address that contains 6 IPv4 uses 32-bit addresses in dotted
groups of 2 hexadecimal digits, notations, whereas IPv6 uses 128-bit
separated by either hyphens (-) or addresses in hexadecimal notations.
colons(.).
S.NO MAC Address IP Address

Example:
Example:
00:FF:FF:AB:BB:AA
IPv4 192.168.1.1
or
IPv6 FFFF:F200:3204:0B00
00-FF-FF-AB-BB-AA
No classes are used for MAC IPv4 uses A, B, C, D, and E classes for IP
11.
addressing. addressing.
In IP address multiple client devices can
12. MAC Address sharing is not allowed.
share the IP address.
MAC address help to solve IP address IP addresses never able to solve MAC
13.
issue. address issues.
MAC addresses can be used for The IP address can be used for broadcasting
14.
broadcasting. or multicasting.
15. MAC address is hardware oriented. IP address is software oriented.
While communication, Switch needs While communication, Router need IP
16.
MAC address to forward data. address to forward data.

Physical Address: MAC

Address

Vishal Sharma
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Published in

Firefox India

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4 min read
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Mar 28, 2020
--
A media access control address(MAC) is a unique identifier assigned
to a network interface controller for use within a network segment
as a network address in communications. This is commonly used in
most IEEE802 network technologies, including Ethernet, Wi-Fi and
Bluetooth. But how it can be our physical address. In our daily life
physical address mean your address, which is all about where you
come from, which place, region, area or so on. I would assume that
your physical address will be any place where you were present at
any given time. Just imagine at any moment when your friends
come to you and ask you, hi buddy, can give me your address and
you’ll be like yeah my home address is 3C-95–09–01-FE. Everyone’s
response at that moment would be like what we’re asking you where
you are physically present and you be like yeah it’s my MAC address
you have to just trace it. I think this is the future, in this current
period when privacy is our major concern and we know how
valuable it is nowadays. where Mozilla(Firefox) is the only which is
giving privacy and presenting our data. But along with that, we
should have basic knowledge about MAC address also
What is a MAC Address?

The MAC address is a specific attribute associated with an adapter to

a network. The MAC addresses are also known as physical addresses
or hardware addresses. We recognize an adapter that is unique on a
LAN. The MAC addresses are hexadecimal numbers (length 48 bits)
of 12 digits. MAC addresses are usually written in one of the
following formats, by convention:

MM:MM:MM:SS:SS:SS, MMMM-MMSS-SSSS
The first half of a MAC address (24 BITS) contains the adapter
fabricator’s ID number. Such identifiers are governed by a set of
Internet standards. The second half of a MAC address (24 MORE
BITS) reflects the serial number the supplier assigns to the adapter.
In the example, 00:A0:C9:14:C8:29 The prefix 00A0C9 indicates
the manufacturer is Intel Corporation.

Why MAC Addresses?

Recall that TCP/IP and other mainstream networking architectures

generally adopt the OSI model. In this model, network functionality
is subdivided into layers. MAC addresses function at the data link
layer (layer 2 in the OSI model). They allow computers to uniquely
identify themselves on a network at this relatively low level.

What are MAC addresses used for?

MAC addresses are the basics of low level which make your
ethernet-based network work. Every network card has a unique
MAC Address. Packets sent over the ethernet always come from a
MAC address and are sent to a MAC address. When a network
adapter receives a packet, then it compares the destination MAC
address of the packet to the MAC address of the adapter itself. If the
addresses suit, it handles the packet, otherwise it will be discarded.
Find a MAC address in Windows

In Windows 95, Windows 98 and Windows ME, MAC addresses are

shown on the winipcfg utility. The ipconfig utility (using the /all
option) can also be used in Windows NT and any newer versions of
Windows. Winipcfg and ipconfig are both capable of viewing
multiple MAC addresses. Next, one MAC address is shown for each
adapter to the network. Instead, for other network adapters, one or
more additional MAC addresses are shown.

Find a MAC address in Unix or Linux

The basic command used in Unix for finding a MAC address can
differ depending on the operating system’s “flavour.” The ifconfig -a
command returns MAC address in Linux, and some Unix versions.
For Unix and Linux, it is also possible to locate MAC addresses by
reading the message boot sequence, either on-screen as the device
boots or from the message file initialization. The boot message log
file is typically /var /log / messages, or /var / adm / messages.

A key element of computer networking is the MAC address. The

MAC addresses mark a device on the LAN in a unique way. MAC is
an important component needed for running network protocols
such as TCP / IP. Computer operating systems and broadband
routers support viewing and sometimes changing MAC addresses.
Some ISPs track their customers by MAC address. Changing a MAC
address can be necessary in some cases to keep an Internet
connection working. Changing MAC addresses may also increase
privacy in some situations, though MAC addresses do not reveal any
geographic or ISP location information like IP addresses do.

Maybe in future, our MAC address will be our new address