The Media Access Control card interfaces your computer to the network and has a unique number. Learn how to get that number, here.
Your computer's interface number for your ethernet connection is different than that for your wireless connection. It serves as a serial number, unique in the whole wide world.
- This is not to be confused with your IP number.
See also:
For Macs
The System Preferences contains what are called Control Panels. Two useful ones are Network and Sharing:
- The network adapter information (such as the MAC addresses for your device) is found in the System Preferences => Network => Advanced section.
- Also, the computer name is found in the System Preferences => Sharing
For Windows
You can view much of the information by opening a command prompt and running IPConfig as shown below.
Start => Run. Then type in:
- CMD
This opens the Command window. In the Command window, type in:
- ipconfig /all
Press return. This command provides information, such as:
- “Host name” is the machine name
- “Physical address” = NetCardAddress (there will be more than one on Laptops with WiFi). This is the MAC address- distinguish between wired and wireless!
- IP Address