What are MAC and IP Addresses?
Difference Between Mac and IP Addresses
Mac and IP addresses identify the device connected to the network. Mac is the physical address of the computer like our home address. Thus, in a network, various devices can be identified using a Mac address. The IP address identifies the network connection by giving a number.
In the Mac and IP Addresses article, both addresses are important for connecting the device to the network. The Mac address is given to the device and is specific to the network card in the device. The IP address recognizes the connection from computer to computer and from network to network.
The manufacturer assigns a number to the NIC (Network Interface Controller) in the computer's hardware component. This number is called the Mac address.
The Mac address controls the data received from the device received by the network.
Devices connect to the Internet via Ethernet or Wi-Fi and
they use Mac addresses on the network. 12 digits hexadecimal in Mac address. These 12 digits appear as 6 pairs separated by colons. The first half of the Mac address is the manufacturer's ID, and the last half is used to identify the device. The first part is also called the Enterprise Unique Identifier.
This number is recorded on the device during the production process of the device itself. The manufacturer reuses the second half of the Mac address, the device that identifies the part. However, each Mac address is specific to the network card on the device. The manufacturer has 1.68 million usable addresses, so two devices with the same address do not appear on the same network. When a device's network card is lit, the number starts at 00. Therefore, the number is less likely to be the same. If two devices with the same Mac address appear on the same network, the network is mixed to send data packets to the device. Sends the data to the responding device first. If the device is not expected to receive data, it becomes a problem for the device and therefore the unique address of the Mac is preferred.
The IP address helps to identify the device in the global market. The IP address is written in 4 decimals separated by dots. Some numbers are reserved for private purposes. IPv4 includes 32 bit, IPv6 128 bit. Network and device identification is accomplished with IPv4 addresses. The IPv6 address is written as 8 sets and 4 digits hexadecimal and these two points are separated by a sign. IPv6 also has network and device ID. Software configurations help connect the IP address with the device on the global network.
Network routing equipment uses the IP addresses of the device. Used to hide the router IP address. If the device connects directly, the IP address appears on the internet.
If the device is connected with a router, the internet displays the IP address of the router. A private network is set up by the router so that the IP address of the device does not appear directly on the Internet. We can call the IP address as the mailing address, which allows it to be obtained without any concern about the way it takes to reach the address.
Both the Mac address and IP address are important for a device to work efficiently on the network. While the IP address is more hardware-oriented with IEEE, the Mac address uniquely identifies the device on the local network.
The Mac address physically connects the device to the network, and the IP address logically connects the device. The IP address helps forward data to the appropriate device with a Mac address. While the IP address gives information about the system connected to the network, Mac does not connect. Local communication is done by the Mac address. Globally, devices are identified by IP addresses. It is good to understand both addresses.