Network hardware: NIC, MAC, IP and routers
What a network interface card, MAC address, IP address (IPv4 and IPv6) and router each do.
Transcript
A network interface card, or N I C, lets a device connect to a network. Each one has a unique M A C address, set by the manufacturer.
A M A C address is six pairs of hexadecimal digits. The first half identifies the manufacturer, and the second half identifies the device. It does not change.
An I P address identifies a device on a network, and it can change. An I P version four address is four numbers, each from zero to two hundred and fifty five.
That gives about four point three billion addresses, which is not enough. I P version six uses a hundred and twenty eight bits, so there are vastly more.
A router connects networks together. It reads the I P address of each packet, and sends it on towards its destination. At home, your router connects all your devices to the internet.
A N I C with a M A C address, an I P address, and a router to pass packets along.
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