mac address assignment by manufacturer

MAC Address Vendor Lookup

A MAC address is known as the Ethernet hardware address, and it is comprised of 6-bytes. An unique MAC address is assigned to a Network Interface Card (NIC) to communicate with other devices in a network. IEEE is the authority managing MAC Addresses, and each hardware manufacturers must register with IEEE to allocate the MAC Prefix to be used by the vendor. By examining the first few bytes of the MAC Address, one can determine manufacturer of the NIC hardware.

Each byte of the MAC address is usually separated by a colon (:), but you may either use a colon or a dash (-) to separate the bytes.

MAC Vendor Examples

The first 3 or more bytes of the MAC address is assigned to a manufacturer, and the manufacturer arbitarily assigns additional bytes to uniquely assign NIC cards. Here is a few examples of MAC prefixes assigned to vendors.

What is a MAC Address and how is it assigned?

MAC address (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. This use is common in most IEEE 802 networking technologies, including Ethernet, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth.

A MAC address consists of a sequence of six pairs of hexadecimal digits separated by colons, such as "00:06:5B:11:22:33". This format is standardized by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).

The MAC address is used by the network protocol to identify a unique device on the network. It serves as the hardware address of the device and is used by the data link layer of the OSI Model. The MAC address is used to specify a destination in a network frame and to ensure that the data is sent to the correct device.

MAC addresses are assigned to vendors by the IEEE. The IEEE assigns MAC addresses from a unique block of addresses to vendors, who then include the MAC address in the firmware of each network interface controller (NIC) they produce. The MAC address is unique to each NIC, so each device that connects to a network has its own unique MAC address.

The assignment of MAC addresses to vendors is managed by the IEEE's Registration Authority, which is responsible for allocating blocks of MAC addresses to vendors and ensuring that the assignment process is managed fairly and efficiently.

The assignment of MAC addresses to vendors is based on a hierarchical structure, with the most significant bits of the MAC address identifying the vendor and the remaining bits specifying the specific device. This structure ensures that MAC addresses are globally unique and allows network administrators to determine the manufacturer of a device based on its MAC address.

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MAC Address Lookup

Sample MAC Address 40-A8-F0-4F-50-9E or OUI 40-A8-F0

Our MAC address lookup tool is designed with simplicity and user-friendliness, ensuring a seamless experience for users encountering networking problems. With its intuitive interface, users can effortlessly enter or copy-paste MAC address(es) and instantly retrieve valuable information.

Whether you need to troubleshoot connectivity issues, manage network inventory, or enhance security measures, our tool provides quick and reliable results.

Say goodbye to complex processes and hello to an efficient solution that assists you in addressing your networking challenges with ease.

About MAC Address Vendor Lookup

MAC Address Vendor Lookup is a powerful tool that enables users to identify the manufacturer or vendor of a network device by analyzing its MAC address. MAC (Media Access Control) addresses are unique identifiers assigned to network interfaces, such as Ethernet cards and Wi-Fi adapters.

The MAC Address Lookup provides a convenient and efficient way to gather information about the origin and manufacturer of a particular device. Users can quickly retrieve detailed information regarding the devices vendor by simply inputting a MAC address into the online lookup tool.

This tool leverages a comprehensive database that contains registered MAC addresses and their corresponding manufacturers, as assigned by the IEEE. The database is regularly updated to ensure accuracy and to accommodate new MAC addresses as they are assigned.

Real-Life Applications of Our MAC Lookup

Network troubleshooting, network security, vendor support & documentation, network optimization.

Whether you are a network administrator or a private user, MAC OUI lookup will assist you in diagnosing network connectivity problems. Identifying the manufacturer associated with a MAC address makes it possible to pinpoint the specific device causing issues and take the necessary troubleshooting measures.

Our tool enhances network security by enabling users to identify unauthorized network devices. By comparing MAC addresses to a list of authorized devices, you can detect potential security violations or unauthorized access attempts, enhancing your networks security.

Our MAC vendor lookup tool facilitates users in locating vendor-specific documentation and support. You can readily access firmware updates, configuration guidelines, and troubleshooting resources by identifying the devices manufacturer.

You can obtain insight into all sorts of devices on your network using our tool. This information is useful for network monitoring and traffic analysis, allowing you to optimize network resources, identify potential bottlenecks, and make well-informed decisions to enhance network performance overall.

Whether you are a network administrator, IT professional, or a curious user, the MAC Address Lookup provides valuable insights into the origin and manufacturer of network devices, enabling you to make informed decisions and maintain network security effectively.

How Does Our MAC Vendor Lookup Work?

Our MAC Vendor Lookup tool utilizes a vast database to retrieve information about a MAC address, including the original manufacturer, prefix, postfix, and country of origin. This tool is particularly useful for verifying the authenticity of a MAC address by comparing it with the OUI vendor database.

• Access the MAC Address Lookup tool.
• Input the MAC Address (40-A8-F0-4F-50-9E) or OUI (40-A8-F0) into the designated field to check its vendor. Or you can enter the vendor name (Hewlett Packard) to check its MAC address(es) range in detail.
• The tool scans the MAC Address Vendor Database to identify the MAC address and promptly presents details about the devices manufacturer.
• The information displayed includes the name of the company that originally manufactured the device and the associated prefix and postfix of the MAC address.
• Additionally, our tool provides information about the country where the device was manufactured, offering valuable insights into its origin.

Users can verify whether their device’s MAC address corresponds to its original vendor listed in the OUI vendor database by performing a lookup MAC Address. This process ensures the accuracy and legitimacy of the MAC address, aiding in network management, security, and device authentication.

Why Choose Our MAC Address Lookup Tool

• Accurate and Up-to-Date Database
• User-Friendly Interface
• Fast Response Time
• Multiple Input Formats
• API Availability
• Privacy and Security
• Mobile Friendly
• No Subscription Fees

Accurate and Up-To-Date Database:

This tool has an extensive and regularly updated database that contains information about MAC address assignments and associated vendors. This ensures accurate and reliable results.

User-Friendly Interface:

MAC address lookup tool provides a user-friendly interface that allows users to easily enter the MAC address and retrieve the vendor information without any complexity or technical knowledge requirements.

Fast Response Time:

MAC OUI lookup provides quick results, delivering vendor information promptly. Users will not have to wait an extended period to obtain the lookup results.

Multiple Input Formats:

It supports different input formats for MAC addresses, such as colons, hyphens, or plain hexadecimal values, to accommodate various conventions used by different systems. For Example, Binary format, (1001110101101100), Hexadecimal format, (4CCAB70A9D6C), and Colon delimited MAC address, (4C:CA: B7:0A:9D:6C).

API Availability:

An API (Application Programming Interface) is available for integration with other systems or applications, allowing developers to incorporate MAC address lookup functionality into their tools or software.

Privacy and Security:

We strictly prioritize user privacy and handle MAC addresses securely. They are not stored or misused MAC addresses users enter for vendor lookup purposes.

Mobile-Friendly

It also has a web-based interface that’s mobile-friendly and responsive, allowing users to perform MAC address lookups conveniently from their smartphones or tablets.

No Subscription Fees:

Identify the device by MAC Address online without paying a single penny—no need to pay for premium subscriptions when you can do it all for free.

How Can I Get a List of All MAC Addresses of a Vendor?

Frequently asked questions (faqs), what information can i get using the mac lookup tool.

A MAC address lookup can provide details about the manufacturer or vendor of a MAC address. This comprises information such as the company name, address, etc.

Is our tool for lookup MAC addresses free to use?

You can access it for free whenever you need to look up a MAC address. There’s no need for a premium subscription to use any of the features.

Is it legal to use a MAC address finder?

Yes, using a MAC address finder is legal. It can be used for network troubleshooting, inventory management, network security, and other practical applications.

Can I identify the device by MAC address online?

You can lookup MAC addresses for devices on any network as long as you can access the devices MAC address and our MAC address finder.

Can the MAC address be represented in binary format?

Typically, MAC addresses are represented in binary format. A MAC address has 48 bits (6 bytes) and is typically expressed as six pairs of hexadecimal integers separated by colons or hyphens. Each hexadecimal digit corresponds to 4 bits, giving a MAC address in 12 hexadecimal characters.

A MAC address such as "00:1A:2B:3C:4D:5E" can be represented in binary as follows: 00000000:00011010:00101011:00111100:01001101:01011110

Each pair of hexadecimal numerals corresponds to an 8-bit binary value in this representation. The binary format is beneficial for low-level network operations and calculations involving MAC addresses.

MAC address vendor lookup

Example 44:38:39:ff:ef:57

By a given MAC address/OUI/IAB, retrieve OUI vendor information, detect virtual machines, manufacturer, locations, read the information encoded in the MAC , and get our research's results regarding any MAC address, OUI, IAB, IEEE.

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Download an exhaustive MAC Address Vendor Database for your educational, business or enterprise needs.

Our database comes in the following forms: JSON, CSV, XML, Cisco vendorMacs.xml for maximum compatibility and fast integration into existing systems. The API version is also available.

MAC address vendor/manufacturer lookup tool

Mac address, general info.

A media access control address is a unique 48-bit identifier assigned to a network interface controller. It is used on data link layer (layer 2 of OSI model) of computer networking as a network address. MAC addresses are assigned by device manufacturers and usually includes manufacturer's 24-bit OUI (Organizationally Unique Identifier). Now they refers as EUI-48 identifiers.

Address details

48-bit address MAC address starts with 24-bit OUI, 28-bit OUI-28/MA-M or 36-bit OUI-36/MA-S identification numbers. IEEE 802 standard format for printing Extended Unique Identifiers (EUI-48) is six groups of two hexadecimal digits separated by hyphens.

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)

Location: piscataway, new jersey, united states of america.

IEEE is the world's largest technical professional organization dedicated to advancing technology for the benefit of humanity. IEEE Registration Authority deals with assigning unique identifiers to manufacturers. Obtaining registered identifiers is payable and cost depends on below block size:

• MAC Address Block Large (MA-L)
• MAC Address Block Medium (MA-M)
• MAC Address Block Small (MA-S)

Trivia Facts

Here are some interesting trivia facts about mac address lookup, vendor identification.

MAC address lookup can reveal the manufacturer or vendor of a network interface card (NIC) based on its MAC address. The first six characters of a MAC address, known as the OUI (Organizationally Unique Identifier), are assigned to specific manufacturers by the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers).

MAC addresses are intended to be globally unique identifiers for network interfaces. However, in practice, there have been instances of MAC address collisions, where two network interfaces have the same MAC address. Such occurrences are rare but can potentially cause network connectivity issues.

Permanent vs. Changeable

MAC addresses are typically hardcoded into network interface hardware and are considered permanent. However, some network interfaces, particularly in consumer devices like smartphones and laptops, allow users to change their MAC addresses through software settings. This process is known as MAC address spoofing.

Layer 2 Addressing

MAC addresses are used at the Data Link layer (Layer 2) of the OSI model for addressing devices within the same local network segment. They are crucial for facilitating communication between devices on the same network, such as Ethernet LANs.

ARP Protocol

Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) is used in IPv4 networks to map IP addresses to MAC addresses. When a device needs to communicate with another device on the same network, it uses ARP to determine the MAC address corresponding to the destination IP address.

MAC Address Filtering

MAC address lookup is often used in network security for MAC address filtering. Network administrators can configure routers and switches to only allow specific MAC addresses to access the network, thereby enhancing security by restricting access to authorized devices.

MAC Address Privacy Concerns

While MAC addresses are essential for network communication, they can also raise privacy concerns. Persistent tracking of MAC addresses in public Wi-Fi networks or other contexts can be used for surveillance or targeted advertising purposes, leading to debates around user privacy and data protection.

These trivia bits provide insights into the role, characteristics, and implications of MAC address lookup in networking and security contexts. Fascinating, isn’t it?

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• MAC Manufacturer Search

Search for manufacturer by MAC address:

Help / tutorial.

For a manufacturer search using a MAC address, at least the first 6 characters (24 bits or 3 bytes) of your MAC address are required. If also the smallest address ranges assigned by the IEEE are to be searched, the first 20 characters (80 bits) of your MAC address are required. You can enter your MAC address with or without separator ("-" or ":").

You can also search for the name of a manufacturer (at least 3 characters) and get a list of the MAC ranges assigned to the manufacturer. To search for a manufacturer, it is also possible to enter a part of the manufacturer name.

How do I find my MAC address?

The easiest way to get your Mac address under Microsoft Windows is to open the command line or Powershell and enter the command: ipconfig /all . The now displayed Physical Address is the MAC address of your network device. Alternatively, you can enter the name of a manufacturer in the search and receive a list of MAC ranges assigned to the manufacturer.

Under Linux or macOS open a console/terminal window and enter (Linux) " ip link" or (MacOS) " ifconfig /all" there. Here you will find your MAC address under "link/ether“, HWaddr or Hardware Address .

What is the MAC address and where does the data come from?

The MAC address is a 48-bit (12-character) identifier for network devices, which consists of the Organizationally Unique Identifier (OUI) and an individual identifier. The OUI is assigned by the IEEE to manufacturers of network devices and the individual identifier may only be assigned by the manufacturer to a single network device. In addition to the original OUI database, which uses a 6-character (24 bits) Organizationally Unique Identifier and an identically sized range for the individual identifier, there are now also other databases. For manufacturers who have a lower demand for MAC addresses, it has been possible since 2014-01-01 to register a smaller/cheaper block with MAC addresses. For this purpose, an MA-M block (for 4096 MAC addresses) or MA-S block (256 MAC addresses) is available. Prior to 01/01/2014, an Individual Address Block (IAB) was available for this purpose, although this database is no longer maintained by the IEEE. In addition to the MAC addresses for network devices, it is also possible to reserve a MAC block for applications that do not require a globally unique MAC identifier. Some smartphones use these MAC ranges to disguise the owner while searching for a known wifi network. These MAC ranges are listed under the name Company ID (CID). For more details on each vendor database, see the IEEE FAQ page .

Where do the data shown here come from?

The data displayed here are provided by the IEEE and have been prepared by us for the search function.

MAC Address Lookup

Identify device manufacturers via MAC address.

MAC Address Lookup is loading, please wait seconds...

Mac address lookup: find device vendor & manufacturer.

In the world of networking, understanding the origins of devices connected to your network is crucial. That's where a MAC Address Lookup tool becomes invaluable. This simple yet powerful tool is designed to help network administrators, IT professionals, and tech enthusiasts identify device manufacturers using just the MAC address.

What is a MAC Address?

A MAC (Media Access Control) address is a unique identifier assigned to network interfaces for communications on the physical network segment. This identifier is a crucial component for network management and security. To learn more about MAC addresses and their importance in networking, you can visit Wikipedia's MAC address page .

The Importance of MAC Address Lookup

Identifying the vendor and manufacturer of a device on your network can be vital for several reasons:

• Security : Knowing the device manufacturers on your network can help in identifying unauthorized devices.
• Network Management : Helps in managing and organizing networked devices by their manufacturers.
• Troubleshooting : Assists in diagnosing network issues related to specific devices.

For a deeper understanding of network security and management, consider checking out Network Security Essentials .

How to Use the MAC Address Lookup Tool

Our MAC Address Lookup tool is designed for simplicity and ease of use. Here’s how to utilize it effectively:

• Input MAC Address : Enter the MAC address of the device you're interested in. Our tool auto-detects the format, whether it's split by : or - .
• Discover Vendor and Manufacturer : After inputting the MAC address, the tool processes it and returns the device's vendor and manufacturer information.
• Copy Results : With a simple click of the 'copy' button, you can have the lookup result copied to your clipboard for further use.

Benefits of Using MAC Address Lookup

Utilizing a MAC Address Lookup tool offers several benefits:

• Efficiency : Quickly identifies device manufacturers without the need for manual lookup tables.
• Accuracy : Reduces the chances of errors associated with manual searches.
• Convenience : The ability to copy the results directly makes it easy to document and share the information.

For those interested in the technical aspects of MAC addresses and their structure, IEEE's official documentation is a great resource.

Tips for Effective MAC Address Lookup

To make the most out of the MAC Address Lookup tool, keep these tips in mind:

• Verify MAC Address : Ensure the MAC address is correct to avoid inaccurate results.
• Understand MAC Address Formats : Familiarize yourself with the different MAC address formats to input them correctly into the tool.
• Regular Use : Incorporate the tool into your regular network management routines for ongoing benefits.

The MAC Address Lookup tool is an essential asset for anyone involved in network management, security, or IT. It simplifies the process of identifying device vendors and manufacturers, making your network management tasks more straightforward and efficient.

Whether you're troubleshooting a network issue, auditing your network for security, or just satisfying your curiosity, our MAC Address Lookup tool is here to provide quick and accurate results.

To expand your knowledge on MAC addresses and networking, Cisco's networking basics can offer valuable insights.

Embrace the power of our MAC Address Lookup tool and bring efficiency and accuracy to your network management tasks. Start using it today and enhance your networking expertise!

MAC Address Lookup

Find the vendor name of a device by entering an OUI or a MAC address

Search for vendor name

Latest vendor created.

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Mac Address Information Lookup

• Several formats accepted: 00-1C-23-59-5A-92 , 001c23595a92 , 00:1C:23:59:5A:92
• Partial searches are accepted: 001c , 2359:92
• Uses several databases including NMAP, IEEE Official List, Wireshark Info , and more.
• Never know what else may show up ;)

MAC address

Notational conventions

Address details.

• 802.11 wireless networks
• IEEE 802.5 token ring
• most other IEEE 802 networks
• Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI)
• Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM), switched virtual connections only, as part of an NSAP address
• Fibre Channel and Serial Attached SCSI (as part of a World Wide Name )
• The ITU-T G.hn standard, which provides a way to create a high-speed (up to 1 gigabit/s) local area network using existing home wiring ( power lines , phone lines and coaxial cables ). The G.hn Application Protocol Convergence (APC) layer accepts Ethernet frames that use the MAC-48 format and encapsulates them into G.hn Medium Access Control Service Data Units (MSDUs).
• IPv6 (Modified EUI-64 as the least-significant 64 bits of a unicast network address or link-local address when stateless autoconfiguration is used)
• ZigBee / 802.15.4 / 6LoWPAN wireless personal-area networks
• Packets sent to the broadcast address , all one bits, are received by all stations on a local area network. In hexadecimal the broadcast address would be FF:FF:FF:FF:FF:FF . A broadcast frame is flooded and is forwarded to and accepted by all other nodes.
• Packets sent to a multicast address are received by all stations on a LAN that have been configured to receive packets sent to that address.
• Functional addresses identify one or more Token Ring NICs that provide a particular service, defined in IEEE 802.5 .

Individual address block

Mac address usage in hosts, mac address usage in switches, bit-reversed notation.

• Organizationally Unique Identifier
• Internet Protocol version 6
• Hot Standby Router Protocol or standard alternative VRRP Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol , which allows multiple routers to share one IP address and MAC address to provide router redundancy. The OpenBSD project has an open source alternative, the Common Address Redundancy Protocol ( CARP ). On Linux , iptables has a CLUSTERIP target.
• NSAP address , another endpoint addressing scheme.
• Sleep Proxy Service , which may 'take over' another device's MAC address during certain periods
• IEEE Std 802-2001 . The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE). 2002-02-07. p. 19. "The universal administration of LAN MAC addresses began with the Xerox Corporation administering Block Identifiers (Block IDs) for Ethernet addresses."
• "Guidelines for use of the 24-bit Organizationally Unique Identifiers (OUI)" . IEEE-SA.
• "Standard Group MAC Addresses: A Tutorial Guide" . IEEE-SA.
• "Guidelines for Fibre Channel Use of the Organizationally Unique Identifier (OUI)" . IEEE-SA.
• https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/MAC_Table
• "Network Interface Controller" . Wikipedia.
• "Guidelines for 64-bit Global Identifier (EUI-64)" . IEEE-SA.
• RFC 5342 "IANA Considerations and IETF Protocol Usage for IEEE 802 Parameters". IETF. September 2008.
• IEEE-RA. "What is an Individual Address Block?" .
• Configure MAB on Cisco

External links

• http://standards.ieee.org/regauth/oui/oui.txt
• http://www.cavebear.com/archive/cavebear/Ethernet/vendor.html
• http://anonsvn.wireshark.org/wireshark/trunk/manuf
• IEEE Registration Authority Tutorials
• IEEE Public OUI and Company_id Assignment lookup
• IEEE Public IAB list
• IEEE Public OUI list
• IANA Considerations and IETF Protocol Usage for IEEE 802 Parameters
• IANA list of Ethernet Numbers
• Wireshark 's OUI Lookup Tool and MAC address list

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MAC address assignment lookup

Why mac:vendor.

While there are a number of other MAC address lookup websites where one can lookup their MAC address most of them (at least the ones I looked at) have two major drawbacks; 1st most look only at MA-L list from IEEE for lookups, which means not all MAC addresses can be identified and 2nd lookup by vendor is not possible. Our website tries to overcome these limitations.

What is a MAC address?

A media access control address (MAC address) is a unique identifier assigned to a network interface controller (NIC) for use as a network address in communications within a network segment. This use is common in most IEEE 802 networking technologies, including Ethernet, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. Within the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) network model, MAC addresses are used in the medium access control protocol sublayer of the data link layer. As typically represented, MAC addresses are recognizable as six groups of two hexadecimal digits, separated by hyphens, colons, or without a separator. MAC addresses are primarily assigned by device manufacturers, and are therefore often referred to as the burned-in address, or as an Ethernet hardware address, hardware address, or physical address. Each address can be stored in hardware, such as the card's read-only memory, or by a firmware mechanism. Many network interfaces, however, support changing their MAC address. The address typically includes a manufacturer's organizationally unique identifier (OUI). MAC addresses are formed according to the principles of two numbering spaces based on Extended Unique Identifiers (EUI) managed by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE): EUI-48, which replaces the obsolete term MAC-48, and EUI-64. Network nodes with multiple network interfaces, such as routers and multilayer switches, must have a unique MAC address for each NIC in the same network. However, two NICs connected to two different networks can share the same MAC address. * source: wikipedia

Notational conventions

The standard (IEEE 802) format for printing EUI-48 addresses in human-friendly form is six groups of two hexadecimal digits, separated by hyphens (-) (e.g. 01-23-45-67-89-AB). Other conventions include six groups of two hexadecimal digits separated by colons (:) (e.g. 01:23:45:67:89:AB), and three groups of four hexadecimal digits separated by dots (.) (e.g. 0123.4567.89AB). * source: wikipedia

Source lists

Source of data is IEEE registry which is responsible for MAC address assignments and upkeeping of the registry. MA-L list consists of legacy and LARGE assignments, a large assignment is a 24bit assignment where first three bytes are assigned from IEEE and the last three bytes are to be assigned by the vendor (i.e. 11:22:33:xx:xx:xx). MA-M list consists of MEDIUM assignments, a medium assignment is a 28bit assignment where first three and a half bytes are assigned from IEEE and the last two and a half bytes are to be assigned by the vendor (i.e. 11:22:33:4x:xx:xx). MA-S list constsis of SMALL assignments, a small assignment is a 36bit assignment where first four and a half bytes are assigned from IEEE and the last byte and a half are to be assgined by the vendor (i.e. 11:22:33:44:5x:xx). More information in IEEE SA - Registration Authority page.

How-To Geek

What is a mac address, and how does it work.

You'd have a pretty hard time getting online without a MAC address.

Quick Links

What is a mac address, how does a mac address work, how are mac addresses used, how do i find my mac address.

If you've ever tried to identify devices on a network or search for a nearby Bluetooth device , chances are you've dealt with MAC addresses. But what are they exactly, and how are they different from IP addresses?

Multiple hardware and software elements work together every day to connect us to the internet and get data to our devices. Hardware devices like routers and cables transmit the data we need, while software like border gateway protocol (BGP) and internet protocol (IP) addresses direct those data packets to and from those devices. Without both working together, we couldn't get online.

One of those critical elements is the media access control (MAC) address. MAC addresses are associated with specific devices and assigned to them by the manufacturer.

Other names used for MAC addresses include:

• Networking hardware address
• Burned-in address (BIA)
• Physical address
• Ethernet hardware address (EHA)

Wi-Fi, Bluetooth , and Ethernet connections all use MAC addresses.

MAC addresses work with the card in your device that lets it connect wirelessly to the internet, called a Network Interface Controller (NIC). MAC addresses are used to identify which device is which on your local network so that data gets sent to your computer and not your roommate's smartphone.

MAC addresses are always a 12 digit hexadecimal number, with the numbers separated every two digits by a colon or hyphen. So a MAC address of 2c549188c9e3, for example, would be displayed 2C:54:91:88:C9:E3 or 2c-54-91-88-c9-e3.

Large network adapter manufacturers like Dell and Cisco will often code their identifiers, called their Organizationally Unique Identifier (OUI), into the MAC addresses of devices they make. They're always the first six digits. Dell's, for example, is 00-14-22.

Related: What Is a Network Adapter?

When data packets from the internet hit your router, that router needs to be able to send them to the right device on its network. It does this using MAC addresses, assigning a private IP address to each network-connected device based on that device's MAC address. This is different from the IP address your internet service provider (ISP) assigns you---that's your public IP address.

Your router tracks outbound data requests so that when the data comes back, it can attach the correct private IP to the data packets, then send them along to whichever device's MAC address matches that private IP.

Devices can have more than one MAC address because they get one for every place they can connect to the internet. If your laptop has an ethernet port and Wi-Fi , for example, it would have different MAC addresses for the Wi-Fi connection and the Ethernet connection. Bluetooth also uses its own MAC address.

Related: Wi-Fi vs. Ethernet: How Much Better Is a Wired Connection?

In addition to sending your data to the right place, your wireless router also uses MAC addresses to secure your connection by only accepting traffic from devices with MAC addresses that it recognizes. This is called MAC filtering.

Related: Internet Connection Not Working? 10 Troubleshooting Tips

MAC addresses can also be used by technicians to troubleshoot connection problems on a network . Because they're unique to each hardware device, it's easier to pinpoint which piece of hardware connected to the network is sending and receiving data by looking at the MAC address. From there, they can see which device is having trouble connecting.

If you need to find the MAC address for your device, you can usually do it by going into the settings menu. You can follow our guide to finding the MAC addresses on your Windows device , whether by the Settings app or by the command prompt.

It's also easy to find the MAC address on a Mac computer . In System Preferences, click the Network icon, select the interface you want to use, then click Advanced. You'll see the MAC address listed under the Hardware tab.

Many more devices, including smart TVs, game consoles, and smartphones have their own MAC addresses that you can find .

If you want to, it's also possible to change or "spoof" your MAC address .

Related: How to Permanently Change Your MAC Address on Linux

OUI Lookup Tool

The Wireshark OUI lookup tool provides an easy way to look up OUIs and other MAC address prefixes. It uses the Wireshark manufacturer database , which is a list of OUIs and MAC addresses compiled from a number of sources.

Directions : Type or paste in a list of OUIs, MAC addresses, or descriptions below. OUIs and MAC addresses may be colon-, hyphen-, or period-separated.

Examples : 0000.0c 08:00:20 00-00-0C-CC-CC-CC 00d9.d110.21f9 missouri

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To communicate or transfer data from one computer to another, we need an address. In computer networks, various types of addresses are introduced; each works at a different layer. A MAC address , which stands for Media Access Control Address, is a physical address that works at the Data Link Layer. In this article, we will discuss addressing a DLL, which is the MAC Address. 

So, go through the article if you are eager to learn what is MAC address and its components.

Table of Content

What is MAC (Media Access Control) Address?

Format of mac address, types of mac address.

• Reason to have both IP and MAC addresses.
• Why should the MAC address be unique in the LAN network?
• How do I find the MAC Address?

What is MAC Cloning?

Characteristics of mac address, advantages of mac address, disadvantages of mac address.

MAC Addresses are unique 48-bit hardware numbers of a computer that are embedded into a network card (known as a Network Interface Card ) during manufacturing. The MAC Address is also known as the Physical Address of a network device. In the IEEE 802 standard, the data link layer is divided into two sublayers:

• Logical Link Control (LLC) Sublayer
• Media Access Control (MAC) Sublayer

The MAC address is used by the Media Access Control (MAC) sublayer of the Data-Link Layer . MAC Address is worldwide unique since millions of network devices exist and we need to uniquely identify each. 

To understand what is MAC address is, it is very important that first you understand the format of the MAC Address. So a MAC Address is a 12-digit hexadecimal number (6-bit binary number), which is mostly represented by Colon-Hexadecimal notation.

The First 6 digits (say 00:40:96) of the MAC Address identify the manufacturer, called the OUI ( Organizational Unique Identifier ). IEEE Registration Authority Committee assigns these MAC prefixes to its registered vendors. 

Here are some OUI of well-known manufacturers:

The rightmost six digits represent Network Interface Controller , which is assigned by the manufacturer. 

As discussed above, the MAC address is represented by Colon-Hexadecimal notation. But this is just a conversion, not mandatory. MAC address can be represented using any of the following formats:

Note: Colon-Hexadecimal notation is used by Linux OS and Period-separated Hexadecimal notation is used by Cisco Systems .  

1. Unicast: A Unicast-addressed frame is only sent out to the interface leading to a specific NIC. If the LSB (least significant bit) of the first octet of an address is set to zero, the frame is meant to reach only one receiving NIC. The MAC Address of the source machine is always Unicast. 

2. Multicast: The multicast address allows the source to send a frame to a group of devices. In Layer-2 (Ethernet) Multicast address, the LSB (least significant bit) of the first octet of an address is set to one. IEEE has allocated the address block 01-80-C2-xx-xx-xx (01-80-C2-00-00-00 to 01-80-C2-FF-FF-FF) for group addresses for use by standard protocols. 

3. Broadcast:  Similar to Network Layer, Broadcast is also possible on the underlying layer( Data Link Layer). Ethernet frames with ones in all bits of the destination address (FF-FF-FF-FF-FF-FF) are referred to as the broadcast addresses. Frames that are destined with MAC address FF-FF-FF-FF-FF-FF will reach every computer belonging to that LAN segment. 

Reason to Have Both IP and MAC Addresses.

The reason for having both IP and MAC addresses lies in the way the Internet works, specifically in the structure of the OSI Model. This model is a conceptual framework that describes how data is sent and received over a network. It’s divided into seven layers, each performing specific functions.

• Layer 2  uses  MAC addresses  and is responsible for packet delivery from  hop to hop .
• Layer 3  uses  IP addresses  and is responsible for packet delivery from  end to end .

Layer 2 (Data Link Layer ) uses a MAC (Media Access Control) address . These are unique identifiers assigned to network interfaces for communications at the data link layer. The primary function of MAC addresses is to manage how data is transported from one network node to another on a direct, physical basis – this is also referred to as “hop to hop” delivery.

On the other hand, Layer 3 ( Network Layer ) uses an IP (Internet Protocol) address . These IP addresses are used to identify devices on a network and to route traffic between networks. The IP addresses ensure that the data gets from its original source reaches its final destination and it is also called “end-to-end” delivery of data.

When a computer sends data, it first wraps it in an IP header, which includes the source and destination IP addresses. This IP header, along with the data, is then encapsulated in a MAC header, which includes the source and destination MAC addresses for the current “hop” in the path.

As the data travels from one router to the next, the MAC address header is stripped off and a new one is generated for the next hop. However, the IP header, which was generated by the original computer, remains intact until it reaches the final destination. This process illustrates how the IP header manages the “end to end” delivery, while the MAC headers handle the “hop to hop” delivery.

So, Both IP and MAC addresses are essential for the functioning of the Internet. While MAC addresses facilitate the direct, physical transfer of data between network nodes, IP addresses ensure that the data reaches its final destination.

Why Should the MAC Address Be Unique in the LAN Network?

Consider a LAN ( Local Area Network ) as a large gathering where everyone is engaged in conversations. Now, let’s suppose that there are two individuals at this gathering who coincidentally share the same name. This scenario would inevitably create confusion, right? If someone calls out that name, both individuals would respond, making it challenging to discern the intended recipient of the message.

In a similar manner, within a network, each device possesses a distinct identifier referred to as a MAC (Media Access Control) address. Think of it as a unique name assigned to the device. When information is transmitted across the network, it is directed to a specific MAC address, much like a letter being addressed to a specific individual.

However, if multiple devices within the same network were to have identical MAC addresses, it would result in confusion and disrupt the network’s functioning. The network would struggle to ascertain which device should receive the transmitted information. To prevent this confusion and ensure the accurate delivery of information, it is vital for each device on a network to possess a unique MAC address.

How Do I Find the MAC Address?

A MAC address is mostly used to configure a router for a network device or during troubleshooting. The address of our computer device can be easily checked with any operating device. All the Apple devices connected to our home network contain a unique MAC address. Manufacturers may identify a MAC address by other names, such as the physical address, hardware ID, wireless ID, and Wi-Fi address.

Following are the steps which help to find MAC addresses for different OS

MAC address on Windows

Here is the Step-by-Step guide to finding MAC addresses on Windows.

Step 1 – Press  Window Start  or Click on Windows Key.

Step 3 – Click on cmd, the command prompt window will display,

Step 4 – In the command prompt type ipconfig/all command and then press enter.

Step 5 – As you will scroll down, each physical address is the MAC address of your device.

MAC Address on MacOS

Here is a step-by-step guide to finding MAC addresses on a Mac operating system.

Command for MAC Address in MacOS:

Step 1 – Click on System Settings.

Step 2 – In the system settings, click on the MAC network option.

Step 3 – Then go to the advanced settings.

Step 4 – Here you find your MAC address.

MAC Address on Unix/Linux

Here is a step-by-step guide to finding MAC addresses on a Unix/Linux operating system.

Command For MAC Address in Unix/Linux:

Note: LAN technologies like Token rings and Ethernet use MAC Addresses as their Physical address but there are some networks (AppleTalk) that do not use MAC addresses. for further details .

Some ISPs use MAC addresses to assign an IP address to the gateway device. When a device connects to the ISP, the DHCP server records the MAC address and then assigns an IP address. Now the system will be identified through the MAC address. When the device gets disconnected, it loses the IP address.

If the user wants to reconnect, the DHCP server checks if the device is connected before. If so, then the server tries to assign the same IP address (in case the lease period has not expired). In case the user changed the router, the user has to inform the ISP about the new MAC address because the new MAC address is unknown to ISP , so the connection cannot be established. 

Or the other option is Cloning , user can simply clone the registered MAC address with ISP. Now router keeps reporting the old MAC addresses to ISP and there will be no connection issue.

The Media Access Control address (MAC address) is a unique identifier assigned to most network adapters or network interface cards (NICs) by the manufacturer for identification and use in the Media Access Control protocol sub-layer.

An Ethernet MAC address is a 48-bit binary value expressed as 12 hexadecimal digits (4 bits per hexadecimal digit). MAC addresses are in a flat structure and thus they are not routable on the Internet. Serial interfaces do not use MAC addresses. It does NOT contain a network and host portion with the address. It is used to deliver the frame to the destination device.

• MAC addresses are used in LAN (Local Area Network) environments to identify devices and allow communication between them.
• MAC addresses are burned into the hardware of a network interface card (NIC) and cannot be changed, except in some rare cases where the manufacturer has provided a specific tool to do so.
• The first 3 bytes of a MAC address represent the manufacturer ID, while the last 3 bytes represent a unique identifier assigned by the manufacturer.
• MAC addresses are often used in conjunction with ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) to resolve IP addresses to MAC addresses for communication on a LAN.
• Some operating systems, such as Windows and Linux , allow you to view the MAC address of your network adapter through a command prompt or network settings.
• Uniqueness: Each MAC address is unique, which means that devices on the network can be easily identified and managed.
• Simplicity: MAC addresses are easy to configure and manage, and do not require any additional network infrastructure.
• Compatibility: MAC addresses are widely used and supported by a variety of networking technologies and protocols, making them compatible with many different systems.
• Security: MAC addresses can be used to restrict access to a network by only allowing devices with authorized MAC addresses to connect.
• Fault-tolerance: In case of hardware or software failure, a device can be easily replaced without affecting the network, as long as the new device has the same MAC address as the old one.
• Multicasting: MAC addresses can be used for multicasting, allowing a single packet to be sent to multiple devices at once.
• Efficiency: MAC addresses allow for efficient communication on the network, as they enable devices to quickly and easily identify and communicate with each other.
• Lower network overhead: MAC addresses reduce network overhead by allowing devices to communicate directly with each other without the need for additional routing or addressing.
• Ease of troubleshooting: MAC addresses can be used to troubleshoot network issues by identifying the source of problems and tracking network activity.
• Flexibility: MAC addresses can be used to support a variety of network configurations and topologies, including peer-to-peer, client-server, and hybrid models.
• Limited address space: MAC addresses are 48-bit numbers, which means that there is a finite number of possible MAC addresses. This can lead to address conflicts if multiple devices have the same MAC address.
• Spoofing: MAC addresses can be easily spoofed, allowing unauthorized devices to gain access to the network.
• Inefficiency: MAC addresses are not hierarchical, which can make it difficult to efficiently manage large networks.
• Static addressing: MAC addresses are typically assigned at the time of manufacture and cannot be easily changed. This can be a disadvantage in situations where devices need to be reconfigured or replaced.
• Limited scope: MAC addresses are only used for identifying devices within a local network segment, and cannot be used to identify devices outside of this segment.
• Hardware-dependent: MAC addresses are tied to the network interface card (NIC) of a device, which means that if the NIC fails or is replaced, the MAC address also changes.
• Lack of encryption: MAC addresses are sent in plain text, which can make them vulnerable to interception and eavesdropping.
• No inherent security: While MAC filtering can be used to restrict access to a network, MAC addresses themselves do not provide any inherent security features.
• MAC address collisions: In rare cases, MAC addresses can collide, which can cause network disruptions and make it difficult to identify and manage devices on the network.

FAQs on MAC Address

Q1. what is mac address used for.

MAC address is used to identify devices in the same network. On the other hand, IP Addresses also did the same thing but that is used to identify Device devices globally or through its internet address.

Q2. Can we change MAC address?

No , MAC address is a permanent address of a device which is also hardcoded in the Network Interface Card (NIC). However, many drivers allow the MAC address to be changed.

Q3. What is my MAC address number?

To find the MAC address of any device, you can follow these general steps: Open the Settings app on your device. Navigate to the Network & Internet section. Select Properties. Scroll down to the bottom of the page until you find the Physical Address (MAC). For Further Details:- Check Here

Q4. Difference between MAC Address and IP Address?

The Difference points between MAC Address and IP Address MAC Address IP Address MAC Address stands for Media Access Control Address. IP Address stands for Internet Protocol Address. MAC Address is a six byte hexadecimal address. IP Address is either a four-byte (IPv4) or a sixteen-byte (IPv6) address. A device attached with MAC Address can retrieve by ARP protocol. A device attached with IP Address can retrieve by RARP protocol. NIC  Card’s Manufacturer provides the MAC Address. Internet Service Provider provides IP Address. For more Details :- Check Here

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Simplifying MAC address management

Our company manufactures Ethernet devices. Are there any products that help simplify the bookkeeping necessary for Ethernet MAC address assignment?

Our company manufactures Ethernet devices. Are there any products that help simplify the bookkeeping necessary for Ethernet media access control address assignment? We purchased a block from IEEE and we’re looking for a way to keep track of which addresses have been assigned on the factory floor. We assumed this was a common issue with hardware manufacturers but cannot find anything created specifically for this job.

To make sure MAC addresses are unique, the first 24 bits of each address identify the network interface card’s (NIC) manufacturer.

The IEEE assigns manufacturers the numbers, called organizationally unique identifiers. The remaining bits of each MAC address act as a serial number, assigned to a NIC when it is made. I do not know of specific MAC address assignment management tools (can readers offer any tips?).

However, serial number assignment management is part of several manufacturing enterprise resource planning systems, so you might find a solution with these.

Although the sequential assignment of MAC addresses in real time across multiple manufacturing stations and facilities is nontrivial, the fundamental problem is to use identifiers in sequence. Review the production management system’s serial number management facilities to get started.

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Standards Group MAC Address

Standard group mac address.

For Standards Development Use Only

A Universally Administered Address Block has been allocated for the assignment of Group MAC Addresses for use in Standards.

The Standard Group MAC Address assignment is a universally administered address block for use in standards by standards developers . If you require MAC Addresses for your products, please refer to the information on purchasing and using an MA-L , MA-M or MA-S assignment to create MAC Addresses for your products.

Registration Fees

Application information.

• Complete and submit the Standard Group MAC Address Application (PDF) . Attach an explanatory statement detailing the intended use of the assignment. Applications expire after 30 days.
• Any questions regarding your application will be sent via email to the REQUESTOR.
• Applications are reviewed within 150 days. Additional clarification may be required by our review committee.
• Once approved, the application will be processed within 7 business days. Assignment details are sent to the REQUESTOR.

Related Standards

All MAC protocol data units contain addressing information that consists of two fields: the destination MAC address and the source MAC address. Both of these address fields are 48-bit fields; the structure and semantics of the address fields are defined in ISO/IEC 10039.

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Changing the MAC address of a hosted virtual machine

Article id: 324973, updated on:, issue/introduction.

This article provides steps to change the MAC address of a hosted virtual machine.

For an ESX/ESXi virtual machine, see Setting a static MAC address for a virtual NIC (219) .

For a Fusion virtual machine, see Setting a MAC address for a virtual machine in VMware Fusion (1003479) .

Environment

When a virtual machine is powered on, the VMware application automatically assigns it a MAC address. The software guarantees that virtual machines are assigned unique MAC addresses within a given host system. However, the software does not guarantee that a given virtual machine is assigned the same MAC address every time it is powered on. In addition, the VMware application does its best, but cannot guarantee, to automatically assign unique MAC addresses for virtual machines running on multiple host systems. A conflict may arise, for example, if the virtual network adapters on different physical servers share the same subnet and are assigned the same MAC address.

Avoiding MAC Address Changes

To avoid changes in the MAC address automatically assigned to a virtual machine, you must not move the virtual machine's configuration file. Moving it to a different host computer or even moving it to a different location on the same host computer changes the MAC address.

You also need to be sure not to change certain settings in the virtual machine's configuration files. If you never edit the configuration file by hand and do not remove the virtual Ethernet adapter, these settings remain untouched. If you do edit the configuration file by hand, be sure not to remove or change the options:

ethernetN.generatedAddress ethernetN.addressType ethernetN.generatedAddressOffset uuid.location uuid.bios ethernetN.present

In these options, N is the number of the virtual Ethernet adapter. For example, ethernet0 .

Note : To preserve a virtual Ethernet adapter's MAC address, you also must be careful not to remove the adapter. If you remove the adapter, then recreate it, the adapter may be assigned a new MAC address.

Manually Assigning a MAC Address

To guarantee that the same MAC address is assigned to a given virtual machine every time, even if the virtual machine is moved, or to guarantee a unique MAC address for each virtual machine within a networked environment, you can assign the address manually instead of allowing VMware Workstation to assign it automatically.

To assign the same, unique MAC address to any virtual machine manually, use a text editor to remove three lines from the configuration file and add one line. The configuration file has a .vmx extension at the end of the filename. On a Linux host, a virtual machine created with an earlier VMware product may have a configuration file with a .cfg extension.

• Open the virtual machine's .vmx configuration file with a text editor. For more information about editing a virtual machine's configuration file ( .vmx ), see Tips for editing a .vmx file (1714) .  
• Remove the three lines from the configuration file that begin with: ethernetN.generatedAddress ethernetN.addressType ethernetN.generatedAddressOffset  
• Add a new static MAC address line to the configuration file with help of the following entries: ethernetN.address = "00:50:56:XX:YY:ZZ" ethernetN.addressType = “static”  
• Save the configuration file.

In this example, XX must be a valid hexadecimal number between 00h and 3Fh , and YY and ZZ must be valid hexadecimal numbers between 00h and FFh . VMware Workstation and Fusion virtual machines do not support arbitrary MAC addresses, you must use this format.

As long as you choose a value for XX:YY:ZZ that is unique among your hard-coded addresses, conflicts between the automatically assigned MAC addresses and the manually assigned addresses should never occur.

To change the MAC address to a non-vmware address (in the case of a P2V where software on the PC is licensed against the original MAC address) add these lines to the .vmx :

ethernetN.addressType = “static” ethernetN.address = “

• Portuguese: Alterar o endereço MAC de uma máquina virtual hospedada (2016880)
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• 日本語： ホストされた仮想マシンの MAC アドレスの変更 (2078400)
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