World of Computer Networking Your CCNA start - Structure of a Media Access Control (MAC) Address

The video tutorial explains the structure of MAC addresses, which consist of 48 bits or six octets. It details the two sections of a MAC address: the Organizationally Unique Identifier (OUI) and the Network Interface Controller (NIC) specific part. The OUI is assigned by the IEEE to different manufacturers, allowing them to distribute MAC addresses uniquely. The tutorial also discusses how tools like Wireshark use OUI prefixes to identify manufacturers. The importance of unique MAC addresses is emphasized, with a potential total of 2^48 unique addresses available globally. The video concludes with a brief mention of upcoming topics on MAC address notations.

What is the total number of bits in a MAC address?

• 128 bits

• 64 bits

• 32 bits

• 48 bits

What does the OUI part of a MAC address represent?

• Organizationally Unique Identifier

• Network Interface Card specific

• Subnet Mask

• Internet Protocol Address

Which organization assigns OUI prefixes to manufacturers?

• W3C

• ISO

• IEEE

• IETF

How do manufacturers ensure each NIC has a unique MAC address?

• By using IPv6 addresses

• By sequentially assigning MAC addresses

• By assigning MAC addresses randomly

• By using the same MAC address for all devices

What is the maximum number of unique MAC addresses possible?

• 2^128

• 2^64

• 2^48

• 2^32