How to get the mac address in Linux?

Getting Your MAC Address in Linux

What is a MAC Address?

A MAC (Media Access Control) address is a unique 48-bit address assigned to a network interface controller (NIC) by the manufacturer. It is used to identify the device on a network and to ensure that the device is not stolen or cloned. In Linux, you may not see the MAC address directly in the networking or system information, but it can be obtained through various means.

How to Get Your MAC Address in Linux

The MAC address can be obtained in several ways:

1. Using a Command Line Tool

You can use a command line tool to extract the MAC address from your Linux system. Here are a few options:

• dmesg: This command can be used to display system information, including network interfaces. However, it does not directly provide the MAC address.
• ip addr show: This command can be used to display network interface information, including the MAC address.
• etherscan: This command is specifically designed to extract information about network interfaces, including the MAC address.

Command	Description
dmesg |	Displays system information, including network interfaces.
ip addr show	Displays network interface information, including the MAC address.
etherscan	Extracts information about network interfaces, including the MAC address.

How to Use Each Command:

• To use dmesg, save the output to a file, then use grep to search for the MAC address.
• To use ip addr show, use the -a option to display all network interface information.
• To use etherscan, save the output to a file, then use grep to search for the MAC address.

Command	Description
dmesg |	Displays system information, including network interfaces.
ip addr show -a	Displays all network interface information.
etherscan -a	Extracts information about network interfaces, including the MAC address.

2. Using Network Settings

The MAC address can also be obtained through network settings. Here are a few options:

• Setting the MAC Address in nmcli: This command allows you to set network settings, including the MAC address.
• Setting the MAC Address in ip: This command allows you to configure IP settings, including the MAC address.

Command	Description
nmcli	Sets network settings, including the MAC address.
ip	Configures IP settings, including the MAC address.

3. Using a Network Tool

There are also network tools available that can extract the MAC address. Here are a few options:

• Wireshark: This is a popular network analysis tool that can be used to extract information about network interfaces, including the MAC address.
• Nmap: This is a network scanning tool that can be used to extract information about network interfaces, including the MAC address.

Tool	Description
Wireshark	Extracts information about network interfaces, including the MAC address.
Nmap	Extracts information about network interfaces, including the MAC address.

4. Using a Script

You can also use a script to extract the MAC address. Here are a few options:

• ip addr show script: This script can be used to extract the MAC address from network interface information.
• etherscan script: This script can be used to extract information about network interfaces, including the MAC address.

Script	Description
ip addr show script	Extracts the MAC address from network interface information.
etherscan script	Extracts information about network interfaces, including the MAC address.

Tips and Tricks

• The MAC address can be obtained in different ways, and the best method may depend on the specific use case.
• The MAC address can be used for various purposes, such as tracking devices or identifying network interfaces.
• The MAC address can be used in conjunction with other network information, such as IP addresses and subnet masks, to create a complete network diagram.

Conclusion

Getting the MAC address in Linux can be done through various means, including command line tools, network settings, network tools, and scripts. By using the methods described above, you can obtain the MAC address and use it to perform various network-related tasks.