What is MAC address?
The MAC address is a unique value associated with a network adapter. MAC stands for Media Access Control.
The MAC address (also known as the physical address) is your computer's unique hardware number. When you're connected to the Internet from your computer (or host as the Internet protocol thinks of it), a correspondence table relates your IP address to your computer's physical (MAC) address on the LAN. This is how the router knows where to send IP packets destined for your system. MAC addresses are also known as hardware addresses or physical addresses.
MAC addresses are 12-digit hexadecimal numbers (48 bits in length). By convention, MAC addresses are usually written in one of the following two formats:
MM:MM:MM:SS:SS:SS
MM-MM-MM-SS-SS-SS
The first half of a MAC address contains the ID number of the adapter manufacturer. These IDs are regulated by an Internet standards body (see sidebar). The second half of a MAC address represents the serial number assigned to the adapter by the manufacturer. In the example,
00:A0:C9:14:C8:29
The prefix
00A0C9
indicates the manufacturer is Intel Corporation.
How do I find my computer's MAC address?
It's quite easy to find your PC's MAC address -
The list below summarizes options to find a computer's MAC address:
* Windows 95 and newer: winipcfg
* Windows NT and newer: ipconfig /all
* Linux and some Unix: ifconfig -a
* Macintosh with Open Transport: TCP/IP Control Panel - Info or User Mode/Advanced
* Macintosh with MacTCP: TCP/IP Control Panel - Ethernet icon
Also check this link
and this link.
