What Is Ethernet Address?
Networked computers that can all communicate with each other and share an Internet connection operate through a complex connection of hardware, software and network protocols. Ethernet addresses serve an important function in computer networks by distinguishing the different computers on a network from each other.
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Function
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An Ethernet address is coded directly by the manufacturer into a piece of network hardware, such as a network interface card or a network port built directly into a motherboard. Ethernet addresses operate at the data-link layer of the Open Systems Interconnection Model, and provide each machine connected to a local area network with its own unique address, so the network can determine where to send data to. Ethernet addresses are also referred to as Media Access Control addresses or Burned In Addresses.
Features
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Ethernet addresses usually remain permanently fixed to the hardware they are coded into, whereas the Internet Protocol address of a computer will change periodically as the computer accesses the Internet. Local area networks work by connecting the Internet Protocol address of a computer to the Ethernet address of the computer's network card through a networking protocol called the Address Resolution Protocol.
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Types
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The most common type of Ethernet address is called a universally administered address, because it always stays the same. Ethernet addresses can be superseded and changed by a network administrator if the design of the network calls for address changing. An Ethernet address that has been changed by an administrator is referred to as a locally administered address.
Identification
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The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers has specified that Ethernet addresses be designated as 12 Hexadecimal digits broken down by hyphens or colons, to make the long string of letters and numbers easier to read. The first six digits of the address indicate the manufacturer of the device, while the final six digits are used to identify the device itself.
Considerations
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You can find your Ethernet address by removing the network card and checking the sticker on the side. If you cannot remove the network card, you can also find the address by accessing the command prompt on your computer and then typing either "winipcfg" or "ipconfig /all," depending on what operating system your computer is running.
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Resources
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