What is a mac address (read the difference and connection between IP address and MAC address)
Although both IP address and MAC address are called addresses, there is actually no connection between them. Let’s first take a look at what is an IP address and a MAC address, before talking about their differences.
Define
1.mac address
MAC (Media Access Control or Media Access Control) Address, which translates to media access control, or physical address or hardware address, is used to define the location of a device.
Second, the IP address
The ip address refers to the networking protocol address of Huyou Resource Network (English: internet friendship resource network t Protocol Address, also translated as Internet Protocol Address) , which is an abbreviation for IP address. An IP address is a unified address format provided by the IP protocol. It assigns a logical address to each VPN and each host on the Internet to shield the differences in physical addresses.
Distinction
1. MAC address is a physical address, and IP address is a logical address. What do you mean? MAC address cannot be changed, but IP address can be changed.
Second, the MAC address is unique, and the MAC address of each hardware factory is fixed; the IP address is not unique, so many applications are developed around the MAC address.
Third, different levels of work
The second layer forwards data frames to Youyou Resource Network based on MAC addresses, and the third layer forwards packets based on IP addresses. The data is forwarded according to the MAC address table of the second-layer switch, and the router forwards the data according to the routing table (IP address).
Four. Definition of length
MAC address is the address on the Ethernet card with a length of 48 bits; the current mainstream IP address is 32 bits long.
The IP address and MAC address are linked through the ARP protocol.