Differences and uses of IP addresses and MAC addresses in networks explained.The differences between an IP address and a MAC address are fundamental and affect various aspects of network technology: 1. Functionality and use: - IP Address (Internet Protocol Address): An IP address is a logical address assigned to devices on a network to enable communication. It identifies a specific device on a network at the Internet or local area network level. IP addresses are used to route data packets between different devices. - MAC Address (Media Access Control Address): A MAC address is a physical address embedded in a device's network card. It is used to identify a device on a local network at the data link layer level. MAC addresses are used by network components to send data directly to a specific device within a local network. 2. Address format: - IP address: Consists of four octets (e.g. 192.168.1.1 for IPv4 or 2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334 for IPv6) that are used to identify a network device. - MAC address: Consists of 6 bytes (often represented as 12 hexadecimal characters, e.g. 00:1A:2B:3C:4D:5E) that provide a unique identifier for a device's network interface. 3. Assignment and flexibility: - IP address: Can be assigned dynamically (DHCP), which means it can change when a device leaves the network or the network configuration changes. - MAC address: Is embedded in a device's network card and does not normally change unless the network card itself is replaced. 4. Area of application: - IP address: Used to identify and reach devices across network boundaries, both on the local network and on the Internet. - MAC address: Used to identify and communicate devices within the same local network. In summary, IP addresses are used for identification and routing at the network level, while MAC addresses are used for communication at the network interface level of a specific device. FAQ 37: Updated on: 27 July 2024 16:17 |
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