What is the difference between physical and logical addresses? please give an example of both.

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The network layer is responsible for the logical addressing which is actually a 32bit IP like 156.34.23.109



The physical layer is responsible for the physical layer (also known as hardware address, ethernet address or MAC address). It consists of a unique 48bit address which is hardcoded into the NIC (network Interface card) assigned by the manufacturer. It is protocol independent.

Like 00:10:5A:FC:14:5D

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Last edited by Warfare on 12-17-01 at 10:22 AM

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Very well said warfare...

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Sup,
MAC--Media Access Control--Physical COZ its Hardcoded or Read Only--On the Network Interface Card--48bits--24Vendor 24Manufacture--cant be changed--DataLink Layer of OSI

IP--Internet Protocol--Logical--Depends upon the topology--5 classes--Admin assigned--can change--Network layer of OSI

Hope this helps;

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Imran.
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Analogy:

The physical address is hardcoded on the NIC, just like Imran4sin and Warfare said. It's like the street address of a house. That will ALWAYS be the physical address of the house.

The logical address is like a phone number, just like an IP address. In order for you to be on the Internet you have to have an IP address, in order for you to be able to communicate through the telephone network you need to have a phone number.

Hope that helps. I've been teaching it this way for a couple of years. It helps the students click it in their brain.

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