2.1.2 IEEE Addressing contd.
nEvery workstation that is connected to the
network has to have a network address, this is
set in software by the network administrator. The MAC (or Physical) address is dependent upon the MAC card being used, i.e.,
it is hardwired by the manufacturer.
nStations desiring to communicate have to translate the network address into a MAC address to forward
the frame over a LAN network.
nSometimes the MAC address is known sometimes it is not. If not, the station has to broadcast its
query for the destination address over the LAN network and
wait for the destination to respond (ARP).