Here's how a MAC address looks like: 55:de:bc:7d:45:dfĮach device is assigned a unique MAC address during its manufacture.

It is also known as the 'physical address' of a machine since it is embedded in the Network Interface Card (NIC) of the device. But finding a reliable and stable utility that does the job well is really complicated considering the number of choices available to a user.īy the end, you will have a brief understanding of MAC addresses, and how to spoof your MAC address on Linux.Ī MAC address, or Media Access Control address, is a unique hexadecimal identifier used to identify a device on a network. On Linux, you can find countless tools to change your device's MAC address. This way, you can receive data packets that were originally meant for the other device. If you need more detailed information, view our article on 31 Linux IP Commands with examples.Modifying your system's MAC address allows you to impersonate other devices on the same network. Now you have the flexibility to choose, if you only need your internal IP address, you can use the hostname method. Now you know how to find a private and public IP address in Linux using multiple methods.Įach option strikes a balance between speed and complexity. That router, in turn, connects to a bigger network (like an Internet Service Provider), which has its own IP address system. When you connect to a small network, your computer connects to a router using an internal IP address.

Public IP address: This is the IP address that registers on a website when you visit it.

It is dynamically assigned to your computer whenever you connect. On smaller networks, the internal IP address typically starts with .x. Also, it is the one you will want to use for configuring routing tools.

Private IP address: This is the address used on the network.

Most systems will have two different IP addresses: However, older networks might get confused, trying to route traffic to both computers. Most modern networks will detect the problem and prompt you to fix it. If two systems have the same IP address, it will generate errors on the network.

What is a Public/Private IP Address?Įach computer in a network is required to have its own IP address. Note: Did you know that when you use curl to connect to an insecure website, the output responds with an error? To resolve it, visit our guide on making curl ignore certificates.

How to check mac address on linux