The example of Ethernet NIC MAC address is 00:0a:95:9d:68:16. Moreover, the Address Resolution Protocol (ARP), which is a communication protocol of the Network Layer, is used to discover a MAC address associated with an IP address.

So, a MAC address is sometimes also called a link-layer address. MAC addresses participate in networking and are used by the Media Access Control Protocol, the sub-layer of the Data Link Layer of the OSI reference model. It stores the address most often in read-only memory, and other mechanisms depending on the manufacturer.īecause of this reason, the MAC address is sometimes called a burned-in address (BIA), physical address, or networking hardware address. MAC address is often assigned to your Network Interface Card (NIC) by the device manufacturer, and it is hard-coded on your NIC. The network interface card (NIC), added to your computer, has a MAC address.Ī MAC (Media Access Control) address acts as a unique identifier assigned to your Network Interface Card (NIC) for communication in a network. The NIC work is to turn data into an electrical signal that can be transmitted over the network.

NIC’s other name is a network adapter, LAN adapter, Ethernet card, or physical network interface. A hardware address identifies the hardware connected in a network and is typically known as Network Interface Card or NIC.Ī Network Interface Card is a hardware component, typically a circuit, board, or chip, which is the necessary equipment needed for your computer to connect to a network.

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