CyberCertPrepNetwork FundamentalsOSI & TCP/IP ModelsEASYFree question
A junior network admin asks why you need both a MAC address and an IP address. What is the best explanation?
- A.MAC addresses are used for encryption; IP addresses are for routing
- B.They are both the same thing expressed differently
- C.MAC addresses (Layer 2) identify the physical NIC for local delivery; IP addresses (Layer 3) provide logical, hierarchical addressing for routing across networks. Locally, MAC is used; across networks, IP is used
- D.IP addresses replace MAC addresses once DHCP is configured
Why C is correct
MAC and IP serve different layers and purposes. MAC (Layer 2) is a flat 48-bit identifier for local Ethernet delivery - it changes at each router hop as ARP resolves the next-hop MAC. IP (Layer 3) is a hierarchical 32-bit (IPv4) address used for end-to-end routing. The combination enables delivery both locally and globally.
Know someone studying for Network Fundamentals? Send them this one.