The IP protocol uses the term IP address to define the software address.

Almost all modern LAN implementations use the IP protocol in the network layer. Based on network requirements and layout, this address can be configured and assigned to an end device. This address is manageable and configurable. The software address is also known as the network layer address or layer 3 address. Because of this, both layers are also known as layer 3 and layer 2, respectively. In both models, the network layer and data link layer stand on the third and second positions, respectively. In both models, the software address and hardware address are defined in the network layer and data link layer, respectively. There are two popular networking models the OSI Seven Layers model and the TCP/IP model. Addressing in Networking Reference modelsĪ networking reference model defines the standards, characteristics, definitions, and functionalities of the network. In the LAN network, a unique address is the combination of two addresses software address and hardware address. A unique address enables an end device to send and receive data in the network. Unless an end device has a unique address, it can’t communicate with other devices in the network. There have been a few interesting comments on this post, I encourage you to read them if you want to learn more about this mechanism.In network, an address provides a unique identity to an end device. prepend the link-local prefix: fe80::5074:f2ff:feb1:a87fĪ converter to do the same operation in reverse is available here.replace first octet with newly calculated one: 5074:f2ff:feb1:a87f.convert octet back to hexadecimal: 01010000 -> 50.convert the first octet from hexadecimal to binary: 52 -> 01010010.reformat to IPv6 notation 5274:f2ff:feb1:a87f.take the mac address: for example 52:74:f2:b1:a8:7f.Here’s the conversion process step by step: This link-local IPv6 is infered from the NIC’s mac address.Ī mac address is 48 bits, an IPv6 address is 128 bits. Instead of getting an address via DHCP, a NIC will hop on the network with a link-local IPv6 address and with this will have to ability to do further configuration automatically (soliciting neighbors, router, et cetera).

Link-local IPv6 addresses are used as part of the IPv6 network auto-configuration process.

Convert mac address