MAC address uses

[Shivkumar]

Hi,

"$arp -a" command shows mac address of the server.

I just want to know for what purpose we are
using MAC address in our day-to-day work.

Thanks,
Shiv

[A. Clay Stephenson · Accepted solution]

In most cases, you don't. A very common use is to match a software license key to a particular machine; the license daemon will often examine the MAC address of a specified lan card. The most common use of MAC addresses on a day-to-day basis is troubleshooting. For example, if you have duplicate IP addresses, often the only thing your can see using a traffic analyzer or sniffer is the MAC address. The first few hex digits of a MAC address will typically identify an equipment vendor so you will have some clue as to the manufacturer of the duplicate IP address hosts.

The MAC address is also used to allow dhcpd to assign static IP addresses based upon the MAC address and the subnet that the request originates from.

[Raj D.]

Shiv ,

also ,MAC address used in make_net_tape recovery configuration , and it maps the clients in terms of MAC address , and if you check in the ignite server under /var/opt/ingnite/clients/ you will find that the client names has been mapped to their respective mac addresses :
ex: hpuxsyb33 -> 0x0040EE1CE2CF.


Cheers,
Raj.

[Raj D.]

Shiv ,

You can use this command to find out MAC address of a system:

# echo " MAC Address of lan0 : `lanscan | grep lan0 | awk '{print $2}'` "


Also you can check the below link for more info

http://www.ncl.ac.uk/iss/network/mac.html

http://www.tech-faq.com/mac-address.shtml

http://www.embarcadero.com/downloads/how_to_obtain_your_mac_address.pdf



Cheers,
Raj.

[Michael Steele_2]

In the OSI model MAC address appear at level 2 and are the foundation of everything from level's 3 (ip addresses) and above. There use to be one unique MAC per NIC. In reality, although you don't know that you're using MAC's every day, you are. MAC's are a seamless transition between hardware and software network levels.

[Arunvijai_4]

Hi Shiv,

"mac address" is ubiquitous in present networking world. Without mac, you will not be able to browse internet or do something in network .. Here you can find more information,http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MAC_address

-Arun

[Raj D.]

Shiv (again),

From MAC address you can also come to know , which Comanies NIC CARD you are using in the system :

Check out, MAC Address decoder:
Here how it works :(just paste the 12 digit mac address, and check )

http://www.techzoom.net/mac/index.asp


Enjoy ,
Raj.

[Chauhan Amit]

Media Access Control address, a hardware address that uniquely identifies each node of a network. In IEEE 802 networks, the Data Link Control (DLC) layer of the OSI Reference Model is divided into two sublayers: the Logical Link Control (LLC) layer and the Media Access Control (MAC) layer. The MAC layer interfaces directly with the network medium. Consequently, each different type of network medium requires a different MAC layer.

Every network adapter has what's called a Media Access Control address (usually shortened to MAC address). It's a six-byte identifying number permanently embedded in the firmware of the adapter, and is readable by the network and the operating system of the device on which the adapter is installed. All modems have a MAC address; so do all Ethernet cards. The address must follow the standards set by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), which sets computer networking standards. Basically, the address is a six-pair set of hexadecimal numbers, for example, a1-c2-e3-44-5f-6d.

The purpose of the MAC address is to uniquely identify each and every node on a network; nodes include workstations and devices like printers. Every adapter has a unique MAC address. Even two identical models from the same manufacturer will have distinct MAC addresses.

Note: Some literature calls the MAC address the physical address, the hardware address, or the adapter address for various reasons. While that's not wrong or inaccurate, the proper way to refer to that address is to call it the MAC address.


-Amit