Discussion
Why are IP addresses required even though MAC addresses are globally unique ?
Answer: D
IP addresses are needed because MAC addresses cannot be used for routing across networks.
A MAC address is a flat identifier burned into a network card: it says which device it is but nothing about where the device is. Routers could only forward on MAC addresses by keeping an entry for every device in the world. An IP address is hierarchical, with a network part and a host part, so routers can aggregate millions of hosts into one prefix and forward by network. MAC addresses therefore work only within a single local network, and IP carries a packet between networks.
Routers rewrite the MAC header at each hop, but that is a result of this design, not the reason for it, and they do not strip MACs 'permanently'. IP addresses are not 'faster', and MAC addresses do not expire.
Post your comment
Please log in or register to post a comment.
Examination Categories
- SSC Exams
- Banking Exams
- Teaching Exams
- Civil Services Exams
- Railways Exams
- Engineering Recruitment Exams
- Defence Exams
- State Government Exams
- Police Exams
- Insurance Exams
- Nursing Exams
- Other Government Exams
- NRA CET
- PG Entrance Exams
- Campus Placement
- MBA Entrance Exams
- CUET and UG Entrance
- Judiciary Exams
- Regulatory Body Exams
- Software Development