Networking – what’s an interface address? – super user
What’s an interface address?
Network interfaces have two addresses:
A layer 2 address – The MAC address (Also known as Hardware , physical or burned-in address).
A layer 3 address – The Ip (version 4 or 6).
What exactly is it employed for?
Both addresses are utilized to be able to communicate between network devices.
MAC address – to distinctively identify every node (e.g., workstations and printers) on the network.
Ip – used to be able to talk to a tool on the network, or between different systems.
What’s an interface address?
Network interfaces have two addresses:
A layer 2 address – The MAC address (Also known as Hardware , physical or burned-in address).
A layer 3 address – The Ip (version 4 or 6).
What exactly is it employed for?
Both addresses are utilized to be able to communicate between network devices.
MAC address – to distinctively identify every node (e.g., workstations and printers) on the network.
Ip – used to be able to talk to a tool on the network, or between different systems.
How’s it not the same as an ordinary Ip inside a network?
If device A and device B are on a single network, and also the MAC address of device B is famous by device A – they are able to communicate directly in line with the MAC address.
When the two products are on several systems, they’re going to have to undergo a router and also the communication is performed one gain levels within the TCP/IP model and will also be in line with the IP addresses.
The mapping between your IP and MAC address is performed through the ARP protocol.
Resourse: https://superuser.com/questions/521791/