MAC Full Form

Commonly, MAC is defined as the hardware identification number that is uniquely formatted for every hardware. Every computer is included with Network Interface Cards like Bluetooth, Wi-Fi card, or Ethernet Card. These NIC have an unalterable MAC address that is inscribed by the vendor or hardware manufacturer at the time of production. However, the default Id of a device can be altered by replacing its NIC cards. 

History of Media Access Control Address or MAC

According to history, the idea of MAC has been brought into existence by Xerox PARC scientists. MAC can be termed alternatively as physical address, hardware address, Ethernet hardware address, and others. Additionally, Burned-in Address or BIA is also used for referring to MAC.

Characteristics of MAC

MAC possesses some exclusive characteristics as follows:

1. A Media Access Control Address or MAC is defined as a distinguished hardware identification number. The number enables users to identify a particular device within a connected network as its form is globally unique.

2. The overall length of the MAC address in bytes is 48 bits or 6 bytes. As per the IEEE 802 standards, this unique hardware address is embedded in three extensively used formats: Six 2-digits hexadecimal distinct by hyphens (-), Six 2-digits hexadecimal unconnected by colons (:), and Four 3-digits hexadecimal distinct by (.).

3. The viable MAC addresses that can be designed by the address space are almost 2^48 which is over 281 trillion.

4. A computer circuit named NIC enables its users to be connected to a particular network on their own computer. The circuit helps to turn the information into a specific electrical signal, thereby transmitting it over the internet.

5. Commonly, a system includes a hardware address along with an IP address.

6. An IP address is mainly attached to IP or TCP, while a network adapter hardware is lined up with MAC addresses.

7. In a MAC address, the first six-digit showcases data related to the manufacturer and are known as Organizational Unique Identifier or OUI.

8. The last six digits of a MAC address identifies a Network Interface Control System that is assigned by the manufacturer.

9. The unique number is identified automatically by the network itself.

10. MAC prefixes are assigned to authorized vendors by the IEEE Registration Authority Committee.

Advantages of MAC

There are several advantages of MAC as follows:

1. In terms of systems connected to a particular network, there are no attachment costs related to it.

2. MAC has designed a set of policies for switching. These policies are regardless of the individual related to it, therefore considering both authorized machinery as well as non-authorized ones.

3. The address is designed uniquely for all end-users, particularly in the context of a similar subnet of the network.

4. The simple yet effective design of MAC helps to find out network issues, especially associated with IP addresses and others.

5. It assists network managers to find consistency in acknowledging the receiving and sending of the necessary information on a particular network, specifically with the aid of MAC addresses. It is so that these addresses cannot be altered over time like a dynamic Ip address. 

Limitations of MAC

Several limitations have been identified within the framework of Media Access Control Address or MAC. Such limitations are as follows:

1. As the foremost three bytes of any MAC address are preserved for the maker, it is restricted to have only 2^24 exclusive addresses/OUI by the same maker.

2. In the case of MAC address refining, spoofing is considered to be easier. Because of the broadcasting characteristic of Ethernet, it can enable a user to function properly in disguise and consider both to and from accepted MAC addresses.

It has been identified in the context of many cases that access to a specific network can be obtained by an intruder. It can be done by altering the MAC address continually to a permitted one.

Conclusion 

It can be concluded from the previous discussion that MAC or Media Access Control Address is a hardware identification code uniquely designed for every network device. A MAC address is also known as a physical address, hardware address, or Ethernet hardware address. The idea of the MAC address has been designed and developed by Xerox PARC scientists to identify each network device in a simple yet unique way. However, the code is almost permanent and cannot be altered easily. A MAC address commonly uses advanced technologies such as IEEE 802 networking technologies and similar. These addresses are generally embedded by device manufacturers, so often considered the burned-in address.