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What OSI layer recognizes and uses MAC addresses?
layer 2
The MAC address exists on layer 2 of the OSI model, the data link layer, while the IP address exists on layer 3, the network layer. ARP can also be used for IP over other LAN technologies, such as token ring, fiber distributed data interface (FDDI) and IP over ATM.
At what layer of the OSI are MAC addresses used?
data link layer
MAC address works at the data link layer of the OSI model and allows computers to uniquely identify themselves in the network at a relatively lower level.
Are MAC addresses used in the application layer?
TCP/IP networks use both IP and MAC addresses. In the OSI model, Internet Protocol operates at Layer 3, while the MAC protocol works at Layer 2. Media Access Control is able to support other networks besides TCP/IP, for this reason.
What does a layer 2 address look like?
The layer 2 address is a physical address. It pertains to the actual hardware interface (NIC) in the computer. A computer can have any number of layer 3 addresses but it will only have 1 layer 2 address per LAN interface. At layer 3, the data is addressed to the host that the data is destined for.
What happens when two devices have the same MAC address?
If two devices have the same MAC Address (which occurs more often than network administrators would like), neither computer can communicate properly. Duplicate MAC Addresses separated by one or more routers is not a problem since the two devices won’t see each other and will use the router to communicate.
How does MAC address and IP address work?
MAC address along with the IP address works when communicating over physical network segment. For multiple NICs, multiple MAC addresses can exist. In IEEE 802 networks, the Data Link Control (DLC) layer of the OSI Reference Model is divided into two sub-layers: the Logical Link Control (LLC) layer and the Media Access Control (MAC) layer.
What kind of format is a MAC address?
MAC address can be in hexadecimal format. The full form of MAC address is Media Access Control address. A MAC address is generally in six sets of two-digits/characters that are separated by colons.
Can a NIC have more than one MAC address?
For multiple NICs, multiple MAC addresses can exist. In IEEE 802 networks, the Data Link Control (DLC) layer of the OSI Reference Model is divided into two sub-layers: the Logical Link Control (LLC) layer and the Media Access Control (MAC) layer. The MAC layer interfaces directly with the network medium.
Where does the MAC address in IEEE 802 come from?
A MAC address usually encodes the manufacturer’s registered identification number and may be referred to as the burned-in address (BIA). The original IEEE 802 MAC address comes from the original Xerox Ethernet addressing scheme.