This is the primary difference between a MAC address and IP address, and it affects how they differ in their number of bits, address assignment and interactions. global identification Ī MAC address is responsible for local identification and an IP address for global identification. Some of the main differences between a MAC address and an IP address include the following: IP address: What's the difference?īoth MAC addresses and IP addresses are meant to identify a network device, but in different ways. It is similar that IP at layer 3 works well if it has the support of layer 2 (Ethernet and mac addresses) but without the support of layer 2 it does not work.MAC address vs. But the engine without the media does not go well. The engine runs well and if we connect it with a propeller and put it in a boat it goes well or if we put it with wheels in a car and it goes well.

Perhaps suggesting that devices could communicate using just IP but not mac addresses is similar to having a good engine in a car and expecting it to work if we remove the wheels.

In current environments where it is more common that all interfaces are Ethernet it may be a bit more difficult to understand the distinction. In older environments where a router was likely to have both Ethernet and Serial ports it may be easier to understand the advantage that IP did not need to worry about whether it was going over Ethernet or HDLC. IP does not have to worry about how to make local communication which is layer 2. The way that IP was designed depends on having layer 2 working and providing local communication. The real answer to that question is that our network protocols are based on the layered network model in which IP is layer 3 and runs on layer 2. What the original poster is suggesting is that the device just use IP and not bother with mac addresses. I do not understand the response from Leo saying that it can be done if device is assigned a static IP.

Lan network mac address