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

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