MAC addresses, ARP, DHCP and NAT
40 min · Intermediate
Every device on a network has two addresses: a MAC address burned into its network card and an IP address given by the network it joins. ARP, DHCP and NAT are the three small protocols that connect these addresses and make everyday Wi-Fi just work.
Topics in this lesson
- MAC address vs IP address
- ARP: finding a MAC from an IP
- DHCP: how a device gets its IP
- NAT: many devices, one public IP
- Putting it together when you join hostel Wi-Fi
Interview questions this lesson answers
- What is a MAC address?
- What is the OUI in a MAC address?
- Can a MAC address change?
- What is the broadcast MAC address?
- Is an ARP request broadcast or unicast? And the reply?
- What is the ARP cache and how can you see it?
- What is the difference between a MAC address and an IP address?
- How does ARP work?
- What is the difference between ARP and DNS?
- Explain DHCP.
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