MAC Address
MAC Address
A Media Access Control address is a unique identifier assigned to a network interface controller (NIC) for use as a network address in communications within a network segment, functional at Layer 2.
- Ethernet uses 48-bit hexadecimal MAC addresses
- First 24 bits is the Organizationally Unique Identifier (OUI), assigned to the manufacturer by the IEEE
- Last 24 bits are vender assigned
- Also known as a Burned In Address (BIA) when physically configured by the manufacturer
- Every burned in MAC address is unique
- Not logical (i.e., configured by software protocols on the device)
- MAC addresses can also be manually configured by an administrator
- Every burned in MAC address is unique