What is MAC address and how to find yours?

In the Ethernet network, the MAC (Media Access Control) address, also known as Physical Address, is your computer's network interface card (NIC) unique hardware number. This is different from your computer's IP address. When you're connected to the Internet from your computer (or host as the Internet protocol thinks of it), a correspondence table relates your IP Address to your computer's physical (MAC) address on the LAN to allow you to communicate. 

We are using Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) to distribute IP Addresses to the computers on campus. Every IP Address has to be associated to a unique MAC Address. DHCP server cannot issue an IP Address without a MAC Address. An incorrect MAC Address will disconnect the computer from the network. A MAC Address is necessary to the IP Address request.

How to find your MAC Address on Windows computer

To obtain your MAC address click the Start button (bottom left corner of screen) and enter cmd (in dialogue box Search programs and files) then press enter key. You are now in the command prompt. Type in the following command and press Enter key: ipconfig /all 

The screen will display information needed.  Scroll to the Ethernet Adapter Local Area Connection Section find the line with Physical Address. This is your MAC Address unique to your machine. In the example below the MAC Address is 2C-44-FD-24-79-D9.  Type Exit at the command prompt to leave this screen. 

 

 

 

 

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