HVTA [cnttbachkhoa]

Objective

- Determine the MAC address of a Windows XP computer on an Ethernet network using the ipconfig / all command.
- Access to the Run command.

Background / Preparation

Every computer on an Ethernet local network has a Media Access Control (MAC) address that is burned into the Network Interface Card (NIC). Computer MAC addresses are usually displayed as 6 sets of two hexadecimal numbers separated by dashes or colons. (example: 15-EF-A3-45-9B-57). The ipconfig /all command displays the computer MAC address. You may work individually or in teams. The following resources are required:
- Windows XP workstation with at least one Ethernet network interface card (NIC)

Step 1: Open a Windows command prompt window

a. From the Windows XP desktop, click Start then Run.
b. Type cmd in the Run dialogue box then click OK.A Windows command prompt window opens.

Step 2: Use the ipconfig /all command

a. Enter the ipconfig /all command at the command prompt.
b. Press Enter. (Typical results are shown in the following figure, but your computer will display different information.)

Step 3: Locate the MAC in the output from the ipconfig /all command

a. Use the table below to fill in the description of the Ethernet adapter and the Physical (MAC) Address:

Description Physical Address(es)
WAN Interface 00-53-45-00-00-00

Step 4: Reflection

a. Why might a computer have more than one mac address? Answer: Because each interface has its own MAC address, and one computer might have more than one interface.
b. The sample output from the ipconfig /all command shown previously had only one MAC address. Suppose the output was from a computer that also had wireless Ethernet capability. How might the output change? Answer: This change can be done automatically when the PC enable this wireless connection
c. Try disconnecting the cable(s) to your network adapter(s) and use the ipconfig /all command again. What changes do you see? Does the MAC address still display? Will the MAC address ever change? Answer: No. MAC address is hard-burned to the interface by manufacturer