XP1,240
Lesson · 03

MAC Address

MAC (Media Access Control) Address is the physical address given by the manufacturer to each network device.

Duration
1min
Level
L1
Type
Lesson
Progress
3/ 5

01IP vs MAC

FeatureIP AddressMAC Address
Changes?YesNo*
Who assigns?DHCP/AdminManufacturer
Format192.168.1.1AA:BB:CC:DD:EE:FF
LayerLayer 3Layer 2

*Note: MAC address can be changed via software but is physically permanent.

02How Does It Work?

When you send a packet:

  1. IP address → Which network to go to?
  2. MAC address → Which device in that network?

Example: Shipping company first finds the city (IP), then the neighborhood and door number (MAC).

03Viewing MAC Address

Windows: getmac or ipconfig /all Mac: ifconfig | grep ether Linux: ip link show

04Summary

  • MAC = Physical address (recorded in hardware)
  • IP = Logical address (can change)
  • Both work together!