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IF there is IP then Why MAC address
khawajaahmedali


Joined: 17 Jun 2006
Posts: 2
Location: Lahore
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if two host to host machines use IP but Y MAC address is need in the that communication process.
jraybould


Joined: 29 Apr 2006
Posts: 46
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IP addresses work on the routing layer (otherwise known as the network layer). This layer is responsible for getting information from one network to another network, not necessarily individual computers. Once IP gets the information to the right network, it passes the data off to the data link layer. This layer is responsible for individual hosts within the network and uses MAC addresses to identify them. So IP addresses work between and among networks, MAC addresses work within them.

The reason why IP addresses aren't used within the network is because they really serve a different role than this. They aren't guarenteed to be unique or static. MAC addresses are (almost) 100% unique and (almost) never change, so once a router or switch in a network has info on a MAC address, it generally doesn't change.

I'm not sure I've explained that well, so if anyone can explain it better chime in.
radha65


Joined: 23 Jul 2009
Posts: 2
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MAC addressing works at the data link layer, IP addressing functions at the network layer (layer 3). It's a slight oversimplification, but one can think of IP addressing as supporting the software implementation and MAC addresses as supporting the hardware implementation of the network stack. The MAC address generally remains fixed and follows the network device, but the IP address changes as the network device moves from one network to another. IP networks maintain a mapping between the IP address of a device and its MAC address. This mapping is known as the ARP cache or ARP table. ARP, the Address Resolution Protocol, supports the logic for obtaining this mapping and keeping the cache up to date. you can get the ip address from http://www.ip-details.com/
IF there is IP then Why MAC address
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