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How IP addresses and MAC addresses are used?
The IP address is used to transport data from one network to another network using the TCP/IP protocol. The MAC address is used to deliver the data to the right device on a network.
Why do routers have MAC addresses?
A DHCP server (like your router) uses a MAC address to assign an IP address to a network adapter. Without MAC, an adapter can’t get an IP address. Without an IP address, the device can’t connect at all. When this happens within the network, the device will get the same IP address each time it connects.
What is the purpose of a MAC address?
The physical address — which is also called a media access control, or MAC, address — identifies a device to other devices on the same local network. The internet address — or IP address — identifies the device globally. A network packet needs both addresses to get to its destination.
What is a MAC address used for on a router?
Every piece of hardware on your local network has a MAC address in addition to the IP address assigned to it by the local router or server. What exactly is that MAC address for?
How are packets sent from a MAC address?
The Answer. Packets that are sent on the ethernet are always coming from a MAC address and sent to a MAC address. If a network adapter is receiving a packet, it is comparing the packet’s destination MAC address to the adapter’s own MAC address. If the addresses match, the packet is processed, otherwise it is discarded.
How are MAC / IP addresses used in routing-network engineering?
Layer-2 MAC addresses are removed at each layer2/3 boundary along the routes to be replaced with the MAC addresses of the new source and destination, but the layer-3 IP addresses stay the same along the path (with certain exceptions like NAT). Just wanted to add this animation to complement the accepted answer.
How are IP addresses and physical addresses used in routing?
When packets are routed, IP addresses are used to determine the next hop and the physical address is used to physically identify the interface serving as the next hop. Only the former (determining next-hop) is usually called routing.