
IP is a protocol that is used on a layer above ethernet. How do IP addresses and MAC addresses work together? There are special MAC addresses, one for example is ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff, which is the broadcast address and addresses every network adapter in the network. If the addresses match, the packet is processed, otherwise it is discarded. If a network adapter is receiving a packet, it is comparing the packet’s destination MAC address to the adapter’s own MAC address. Packets that are sent on the ethernet are always coming from a MAC address and sent to a MAC address. Network cards each have a unique MAC address. MAC addresses are the low level basics that make your ethernet based network work.


SuperUser contributor Werner Henze offers some insight into the function of the MAC address: Where indeed? What is the specific function of the MAC address? The Answer
