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Identify different ports and devices
- 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.
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Layer 2 switches do not need the base Ethernet MAC address of the device nor its switchport MAC addresses to operate. The source and destination MAC addresses of the incoming frame are examined, the first one being saved in the MAC address table along with the receiving port, while the destination MAC address being looked up in the MAC address ...
- Why do we need MAC Address if we can uniquely identify each ...
Switches do not look inside the frame to inspect the IP...
- switch - Why cisco switches have many mac-addresses ...
The MAC address is the "hardware address" which uniquely...
- Why do we need MAC Address if we can uniquely identify each ...
Sep 4, 2015 · 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.
Switches do not look inside the frame to inspect the IP address. This allows layer-2 and switches to carry any layer-3 protocol (IPv4, IPX, IPv6, etc.). IP addresses are layer-3 addresses, and they are only looked at by layer-3 devices, e.g. routers.
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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 enhances network security by enabling device authentication and authorization based on their MAC Addresses. This process helps ward off unauthorized access and strengthens network security protocols.
Each device connected to a network, be it a computer, Smartphone, or any other hardware, requires a unique identifier to facilitate communication and data exchange. One such crucial identifier is the MAC address. In this article, we’ll explore what MAC addresses are, their significance, how they work, and their role in network communication.
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.
