AirPort: Locating the MAC Address
Summary
Learn to find the MAC (Media Access Control) address for the Ethernet interface of an AirPort Base Station, as well as the MAC address for an AirPort card installed in the Base Station or computer.
Products Affected
AirPort
On a local area network (LAN), the MAC address, also referred to as an ID or hardware address, is your computer's unique identification number. Each device on a network has a unique MAC address; those devices that support both wireless and wired networking will have a MAC address for both network interfaces.
AirPort Base Station (Graphite)
The AirPort Base Station Ethernet and AirPort (wireless) MAC addresses are on the bottom of the unit, below the serial number. They are shown as the Ethernet ID and the AirPort ID. Each Base Station has a unique Ethernet and AirPort ID.
AirPort Base Station (Dual Ethernet)
The AirPort Base Station (Dual Ethernet) lists the WAN Ethernet, LAN Ethernet, and AirPort (wireless) MAC addresses on the bottom of the unit, below the serial number. Each Base Station has two unique Ethernet IDs and an AirPort ID. Listed in order from top to bottom:
* The base station's serial number
* Ethernet ID#1 (WAN)
* Ethernet ID#2 (LAN)
* AirPort ID (Wireless)
Tip: If you use AirPort Admin Utility, you can also look there.
AirPort Card
The AirPort Card's AirPort (wireless) MAC address is on the AirPort Card, below the serial number. It is shown as the AirPort ID. Each AirPort Card has a unique AirPort ID.
System Preferences (Mac OS X)
In Mac OS X, getting the MAC address of your AirPort card is simple as going into the Network pane of System Preferences. Choose AirPort from the Show menu, click the AirPort tab, and there it is.
AirPort Application (Mac OS 9)
You can obtain the AirPort Card and Base Station MAC address from the AirPort application, as shown in Figure 1. You need to select Show Details in main AirPort application window to view this information.
Figure 1 AirPort application window
Note: Wireless Internet access requires an AirPort Card, AirPort Base Station, and an Internet service provider, for which fees may apply. Some ISPs are not compatible with AirPort. America Online (AOL) works with AirPort software version 2.0 or later. For more information on AOL compatibility, see technical document 106591: "AirPort: How to Use with AOL." Range may vary with site conditions.