MAC AND IP ADDRESSES

MAC (Media Access Control)

• The purpose of a MAC address is to provide a unique identifier for each device on a network.

IP Addresses: Public and Private

• Public IP Address: 
  • Assigned to you by your Internet Service Provider (ISP).
  • ISPs have a range of IP addresses to allocate to customers.
  • Each country is allocated specific IP address ranges.
• Private IP Address: 
  • Used within a private network to securely connect devices within the same network.
  • Each device within the network has a unique private IP address.

Network Interface Card (NIC)

• A NIC is essential for accessing a network and usually comes with a MAC address assigned at the manufacturer.
• The MAC address is stored in your network interface card.
• The MAC address is divided into two parts:
  • The first part is the manufacturer’s ID.
  • The second part is the product ID.
• The manufacturer’s ID occupies 24 bits.
• The first octet of the MAC address typically represents the manufacturing ID, with the rest indicating the product ID.
• MAC addresses are generally expressed in hexadecimal format.