Media Access Control Address (MAC Address)

These instructions have been moved to the ITS Knowledge Base [http://helpdesk.pomona.edu].
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First of all a MAC Address has nothing to do with Apple or Macintosh computers. (MAC stands for Media Access Control.) A MAC address is basically the serial number for your network adapter. As the addresses must be unique, every company that produces network cards is given a specific range to use.

A MAC Address is sometimes called a hardware address, physical address, ethernet ID, or layer-two address (by the very geeky).

How do I find the MAC address of my network card?

The procedure to find the MAC address varies depending on the operating system you are running. Please look at the appropriate section below.

Windows Vista (Only if you are currently connected)

1. Click on Start > Control Panel.
2. Enter Network Status in the search box in the upper right corner.
3. Click on View network status and tasks
4. Click on View status for the applicable network connection.
5. Click on Details.
6. The third line, labeled Physical Address, is the MAC address. It should be an alphanumeric code in the form xx-xx-xx-xx-xx-xx.

Windows XP (Only if you are currently connected)

1. Click on Start > Control Panel > Network Connections icon. If you can't find Network Connections, click Switch to Classic View in the left sidebar.
2. Double click the connection you need the MAC address for. This will probably be either Local Area Connection or Wireless Network Connection.
   
   NOTE: If you click on Wireless Network Connection and get a message saying that Windows cannot configure the connection, you are using some other form of software to manage your wireless card. Either navigate through that software to find the MAC address, or use the "Generic Windows" instructions located below.
3. In the window that appears, click on the Support tab. Then click on the Details button.
4. The first line, labeled Physical Address, is the MAC address. It should be an alphanumeric code in the form xx-xx-xx-xx-xx-xx.

Generic Windows

1. Open a command prompt window by going to Start > Run... and typing cmd into the window and click Okay .
2. A command prompt window should open up. At the prompt, type ipconfig /all and press ENTER
3. Many lines of text should appear. Find a Description... of the network adapter you need the MAC address for in the list. For wired connections, the name will probably be something like "Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection", and for wireless it will probably have wireless in the name.
4. Once you have located the correct connection, find the line labeled Physical Address. It should have an alphanumeric code in the form xx-xx-xx-xx-xx-xx. This is the MAC address.

Mac OS X 10.3 or 10.4

1. Open the Apple menu (small Apple icon in the top left of the screen) and click on System Preferences...
2. Open the Network section of the panel by clicking on it.
3. In the drop-down menu labeled "Show", select either "Ethernet" (if you want to know the MAC address for your wired internet connection) or "Airport" (to find the MAC address for your wireless card).
4. In the row of buttons below the "Show" drop-down menu, click either "Ethernet" or "Airport" (depending on your choice from the previous step). The MAC address for this device will either be labeled "Ethernet ID" or "Airport ID" and will be a 12 character alphanumeric code separated into twos by semicolons (xx:xx:xx:xx:xx).

Xbox

1. Turn on your Xbox console with no game disc in the disc tray.
2. From the Xbox Dashboard, choose Xbox Live.
3. From the Connect Status screen, select Settings.
4. The MAC address is the 12-digit number at the bottom-right corner of the Network Settings screen.

(Source: http://resnet.rit.edu/index.php?module=ContentExpress&func=display&ceid=7)

Xbox 360

1. Go to the System area of the Xbox Dashboard and select Network Settings .
2. Select Edit Settings .
3. From Additional Settings, select Advanced Settings .
4. At the bottom of this screen you'll see a heading called Wired MAC Address.

(Source: http://www.xbox.com/en-US/support/connecttolive/method/xbox360/connecttolive-locatemacaddress.htm)

PlayStation 2

1. Power up thePlayStation 2 and load the Network Adaptor Startup Disc.
2. Once it has loaded, press X to enter the ISP SETUP.
3. The ISP SETUP will begin to load.
4. Once the setup process has loaded, press X to continue.
5. After the network adaptor has been found, press X to continue.
6. Press X again to continue.
7. Select NEW and then press X to continue.
8. Type a name for your ISP setting. This can be any name you would like to associate with this connection.
9. When asked if you currently subscribe to an ISP service, select YES and press X to continue.
10. For connection type, choose HIGH SPEED CONNECTION (CABLE OR DSL) and press X to continue. Select AUTOMATIC SETTINGS and press X to continue.
11. When asked if your ISP requires a User ID and Password, select NO and press X to continue.
12. When asked if your Internet Service Provider requires you to input a DHCP Host Name, select NO, unplug your ethernet cord from the PS2, and press X to continue. (Unplugging your ethernet cord from the PS2 will cause the test to fail, but you want this to happen so that the PS2 will display your MAC address.)
13. Wait while your network connection is tested.
14. The network connection test will fail. Do not press X or Triangle. Press Select to see the error message.
15. The MAC address will be displayed. The address is a combination of 12 numbers and letters.

(Source: http://resnet.rit.edu/index.php?module=ContentExpress&func=display&ceid=7)

PlayStation 3

1. Power up the PlayStation 3 without any disc in the drive.
2. Once the PlayStation 3 operating system has loaded, select "Settings."
3. Once you are in "Settings" select "Network Settings."
4. When the "Network Settings" list appears, select the first option which is titled "Settings and Connection Status List."
5. The physical address will be listed under "MAC Address." The address is a combination of 12 numbers and letters.

(Source http://rcc.bgsu.edu/info/PlayStation_3_MAC_Address)

GameCube

1. Remove the GameCube's broadband adaptor from the GameCube unit.
2. Printed on the underside of the adaptor is a MAC address. It will consist of alphanumeric characters and have the format xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx.

(Source: http://resnet.bridgew.edu/gamecube.html)

Wii

1. Turn on your Wii.
2. From the Wii Menu select Wii Options. (It is the round button in the lower left corner that says "Wii".)
3. Select Wii Settings.
4. Scroll to the right to Wii System Settings 2.
5. Select Internet.
6. Select Console Information.
7. The MAC address will be displayed. It will consist of alphanumeric characters and have the format xx-xx-xx-xx-xx-xx.

How do I tell if a MAC address belongs to my wireless or my wired card?

The name of a wireless card will usually include something along the lines of "WLAN" (Wireless Local Area Network) or "802.11" (the protocol used by wireless cards). A wired card will say something like "10/100" or "10/100/1000" (the speeds used by the card) or "Packet Scheduler". If you're really not sure, call us or ask a technically-inclined friend.