MACAddress

What is a MAC Address?

A MAC (Media Access Control) address is a 48-bit hardware identifier burned into a network interface card by its manufacturer, used to identify a device unique…

What is ARP (Address Resolution Protocol)?

ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) maps a known IP address to its corresponding MAC address on a local network, allowing a device to discover the physical hardw…

What is the Data Link Layer (OSI Layer 2)?

The Data Link layer is OSI Layer 2 — it packages raw bits from the Physical layer into structured frames, adds MAC addresses for local delivery, and detects (t…

MAC Address vs IP Address

A MAC address is a fixed, hardware-burned Layer 2 identifier used to deliver frames within a local network segment, while an IP address is a logical, reassigna…

What is a Network Interface Card (NIC)?

A Network Interface Card (NIC) is the hardware component — a physical card, onboard chip, or virtual adapter — that connects a device to a network, handling th…

What is Ethernet?

Ethernet is the family of wired networking standards (IEEE 802.3) that defines how devices on a local area network physically connect and frame data at the Phy…

What is the Ethernet Frame Format?

An Ethernet frame is the Layer 2 container that carries data across a local network, made up of a preamble, destination and source MAC addresses, an EtherType/…

What is a Network Bridge?

A network bridge is a Layer 2 device that connects two or more network segments and selectively forwards Ethernet frames between them based on learned MAC addr…