IP addresses and MAC addresses are two different network address data.
IP addresses refer to Internet Protocol addresses, also known as network protocol addresses (i.e., protocols designed for interconnected computer networks to communicate). In the Internet, IP addresses are a set of rules that enable all computers connected to the Internet to communicate with each other. In other words, only by using IP addresses can computers communicate with each other.
MAC addresses are physical addresses, which are generally written into the flash memory chip of the network card by the network card manufacturer. They store the addresses of the computer machine that sends data and the host that receives data in the real physical sense when transmitting data. That is, the address that is unique and fixed in the entire network and relies on the address in the EPROM of the network card.
The difference between IP addresses and MAC addresses is also easy to understand:
1. Address type and purpose: IP address is an Internet Protocol address, which is used to uniquely identify a device in an IP network. It allows data packets to be transmitted from the source address to the destination address in the network. The MAC address (Media Access Control Address) is the hardware address of the physical network interface of the device, which is used to uniquely identify each device on the network at the data link layer.
2. Allocation method: IP addresses are allocated by network administrators or automatic allocation systems (such as DHCP servers). MAC addresses are burned into the network interface controller (NIC) by the manufacturer of the network device when the device is produced, and are globally unique.
3. Variability: IP addresses can be changed according to network configuration and needs. MAC addresses are fixed and usually cannot be changed.
IP addresses and MAC addresses also have a certain connection:
1. Collaborative work: IP addresses and MAC addresses work together during data transmission. When a data packet is transmitted in the network, the source device first uses the IP address of the target device to determine the destination of the data packet. Then, at the data link layer, the source device uses ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) to resolve the IP address of the target device to the MAC address so that the data packet can be sent directly to the target device.
2. Bridging and routing: In complex networks, devices such as routers and switches use IP addresses and MAC addresses to forward data packets. Routers use IP addresses for routing decisions, while switches use MAC address tables to determine which specific port a data packet should be sent to.
IP addresses and MAC addresses each have their own unique functions in computer networks, and the two need to work together to allow data packets to be transmitted accurately and efficiently in the network.
