Media Access Control (MAC) Addressing
The MAC address is the unique serial number burned into each network adapter that differentiates the network card from all others, just as your house number is unique on your street and identifies your home from all others. To be a part of any network, you must have an address so that others can reach you. Two types of addresses are found in a network: the logical (OSI model Layer 3, network) and the physical (OSI model Layer 2, data link). For this discussion of LAN environments, the physical address (also known as the Media Access Control [MAC] address) is relevant.
A MAC address is the physical address of the device. It is 48 bits (6 bytes) long and is made up of two parts: the organizational unique identifier ...
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