MAC Addresses Flashcards
MAC Addresses
Unique Identifier: A MAC (Media Access Control) address is a unique hardware identifier assigned to network interface cards (NICs) in devices like computers, smartphones, and routers, used for communication within a network.
48-bit Address: MAC addresses are 48-bit hexadecimal numbers, typically represented in six pairs of characters separated by colons or hyphens (e.g., 01:23:45:67:89:AB).
Manufacturer Assignment: The first 24 bits of a MAC address (called the Organizationally Unique Identifier, or OUI) are assigned to specific manufacturers, while the remaining 24 bits are assigned by the manufacturer to each individual NIC they produce.
Layer 2 Communication: MAC addresses operate at Layer 2 (the
Data Link Layer) of the OSI model, facilitating communication between devices on the same local network segment.
Static vs. Dynamic: While MAC addresses are typically static and permanently assigned to a NIC, they can be changed manually or programmatically using software (a process known as MAC spoofing) for various reasons, such as increased privacy or bypassing network restrictions.
