Very Computer

It is just symantics.  8:0:20:ef::c0:ab is either an ethernet address or a
MAC address,
your choice.  It is a 48 bit binary address expressed in hexidecimal unique
to the specific hardware network interface.  On a Sparc system the address
is stored in the NVRAM.  Traditionally Sun people call it an ethernet
address.  MAC address is more like PC talk.  But both terms refer to the
same thing.

Can someone point out the difference(s) between the ethernet address and
the MAC address? I've had people swear they're different things, but
have also had a Sun instructor say they're the same. I know what a MAC
address is, so if an ethernet address isn't the same thing, what is it?

Thanks in advance.

Len Philpot

"MAC address" is just a more general term that applies across a wide
variety of media types.  If you're on a token ring network, your MAC
address is your token ring address.  If you're on a FDDI network your MAC
address is your FDDI address.  And so on.

--

GTE Internetworking, Powered by BBN, Burlington, MA
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Thanks - That's what I always thought, but I've had people here and
there swear they're two different things.