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IP Address and MAC Address

IP Address

An Internet Protocol address, or IP address is a numerical identification assigned to devices on a network that allows the device to access the Internet. It is grouped as a set of 4 numbers divided by periods, e.g. 192.1.0.3. At Barnard, all IP addresses should begin with 160.39 or . as the first two numbers. Every time you connect to the network, either via ethernet or wireless, an IP address is assigned to your corresponding network card to allow it to connect. Having a working IP address is one sign (but not the definitive sign) that you are connected to the internet.

When you know that you are connected to the internet, you can google "my IP address" and easily find it. Or you can click here on the Columbia site.

  1. For PCs (Windows XP/Vista):
  2. For PCs (Windows XP/Vista):
    1. From the Start Menu, choose Run
    2. Type command
    3. In the command line interface window, type ipconfig /all
    4. Look at the IP Address line under either Local Area Connection (for ethernet connection) or Wireless Connection (for wireless connection).
  3. For Macs (OS 10.4/10.5):
    1. Apple Menu - select About this Mac
    2. Click on the More Info button
    3. Look in the System Profile tab, under Network Overview on the IPv4 line. Be sure to select the appropriate "Active Service" in the top--Airport for wireless or Ethernet for ethernet.

MAC Address

Other names: hardware address, adapter address, physical address

A Media Access Control address, or MAC address is a number that is unique to the Network Interface Card (NIC) installed on your computer. Network cards (or built-in network adapters) in two different computers have different MAC addresses, as would an Ethernet adapter and a wireless adapter in the same computer, and as would multiple network cards in a router. The Ethernet Address is a 12-digit number (can include A-F) divided into 6 pairs, e.g. 00:1a:2b:3c:4d:5e.

To find your MAC address, follow the instructions below according to your operating system. Make sure to look for a 12-digit number split as such XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX

  1. For PCs (Windows XP/Vista):
    1. From the Start Menu, choose Run
    2. Type command
    3. In the command line interface window, type ipconfig /all
    4. Look at the Local Area Connection for your ethernet address and the Wireless Connection for your wireless address
  2. For Macs (OS 10.4/10.5):
    1. Apple Menu - select About this Mac
    2. Click on the More Info button
    3. Look in the System Profile tab, under Network Overview