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- MAC addresses need to be unique or at least highly unlikely to be repeated for switches to identify different ports and devices, which is why manually setting a MAC address can have unexpected consequences in a switched network.
People also ask
Can a MAC address be changed?
How does a MAC address work on a network switch?
How does a network switch handle dynamic MAC addresses?
Can a network device communicate with a different MAC address?
What happens when a device changes IP address and MAC address?
What happens if a MAC address is not present?
Sep 4, 2015 · MAC addresses are 'burned' into the Network Interface Card (NIC), and cannot be changed. See ARP and RARP on how IP addresses are translated into MAC addresses and vice versa. In order for a network device to be able to communicate, the MAC address it is using must be unique. No other device on that local network subnet can use that MAC address.
Oct 13, 2017 · MAC addresses are not unique. There can be, and will be duplicates with MACs. There are several reasons for that, one being that they need not be (globally) unique. The MAC must be unique on the local network, so ARP/NDP can do its job, and the switch knows where to send incoming datagrams to.
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SuperUser reader JellicleCat wants to know how the uniqueness of MAC addresses is enforced:
Again and again I have read that devices are uniquely identified by their MAC addresses, but how are MAC addresses determined? And do they tell us anything about the devices they represent?
SuperUser contributor DavidPostill has the answer for us:
How are MAC Addresses Determined?
Vendors are given a range of MAC Addresses that can be assigned to their products by the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers). MAC Address are assigned to Vendors in various sized blocks as appropriate.
•The IEEE offers Registration Authority programs or registries which maintain lists of unique identifiers under standards and issue unique identifiers to those wishing to register them. The IEEE Registration Authority assigns unambiguous names to objects in a way which makes the assignment available to interested parties.
You can go to Vendor/Ethernet/Bluetooth MAC Address Lookup and Search to find the vendor given a particular MAC Address or find a MAC Address Range given to a vendor.
Devices are Uniquely Identified by Their MAC Addresses
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Dec 28, 2023 · The Switch MAC Address is a vital part of network functionality. It operates as a unique identifier for every device on the network. Its role is to indicate where to direct data packets, ensuring the information arrives at the right destination. Q: How do I locate the Switch MAC Address for my device?
Oct 25, 2024 · A switch can learn MAC addresses in two ways; statically or dynamically. In the static option, we manually add MAC addresses to the CAM table. In the dynamic option, the switch automatically learns and adds MAC addresses to the CAM table.
Dec 22, 2023 · Learn how network switches use MAC addresses to efficiently forward data packets and manage network traffic. Understand the importance of MAC addresses in optimizing network performance.
The MAC address is the "hardware address" which uniquely identifies a virtual device (such as an SVI or loopback interface), a host, a port or what-have-you at Layer 2 of your network. These extra MAC addresses are utilized by managed devices (such as Cisco switches) to provide additional functionality beyond that of a "dumb" switch or hub.
