Find a Computer's Hardware (Network Card) Address


Instructions below help you look up a computer's Hardware Address, which is required to register for the CUIMC Wired Network. Only staff in a Certified IT Group will be able to submit the registration form, however you can use these instructions to help gather the information needed.

Details

Equipment that can connect to any network, including the Internet, use a piece of hardware called a Network Interface Card (NIC). Every NIC manufactured has a unique set of characters referred to as its Hardware, Physical, or MAC (Media Access Control) Address. The address is typically used to recognize the system on the network and give it a logical network (or "IP") address, allowing it to connect. It is formatted as a 12-character, hexadecimal (0-9, A-F) number, and is assigned by the network card's manufacturer.

IMPORTANT: Be very careful to record and enter the address correctly. Every Hardware Address is unique world-wide. A device that uses both Ethernet (wired) and wireless connections will have a different Hardware Address for each connection. If the wrong address is submitted for registration it will not be able to connect, and registration must be re-submitted with the correct address.

Windows

  1. Use the computer's Search bar (in 8.1 swipe or click the upper right corner screen and select the magnifying glass; in 10 use the search box in the lower left taskbar) to find the
  2. Type command prompt into the search field and hit enter.
  3. A black command prompt window will appear. At the prompt type in getmac /v and hit enter.
  4. Find the heading for the network card or connection type:
    • To register a computer for the wired network, find the Physical Address column under the Ethernet heading (highlighted in purple below).
      IMPORTANT: if the address is not submitted correctly, the computer will have to be re-registered using the correct one. Please contact us at 5-Help while viewing this information if you are not sure.
    • The wireless card's address will be to the right of Wi-Fi in the Physical Address column.
      Windows 8 Ethernet Physical Address

Macintosh

  1. From the Apple menu/icon in the upper left, select System Preferences.
  2. Select the Network icon.
  3. In the left of the Network window select the type of connection: Ethernet for wired, or Wi-Fi for wireless.
  4. Click the Advanced button in the lower right.
  5. Click the Hardware button from the top toolbar.
  6. Look for the set of twelve characters listed in the MAC Address field.
    IMPORTANT: if you are registering a computer for a wired CUIMC connection and the MAC Address for Ethernet is not submitted correctly, the computer will have to be re-registered using the correct one. Please contact us at 5-Help while viewing this information if you are not sure.
    Macintosh Ethernet Hardware Address

For other types of systems please contact your Certified IT Group to get assistance with finding its hardware address. If you'd like to register a system that was recently purchased but has not yet arrived, the vendor may be able to supply the hardware address for you in advance.