Network Addresses - Philips Crystal 660 Installation Manuallines

2.2 Ad-Hoc
This mode is also known as a peer to peer network. In this mode no access point is needed.
Personal computers and devices with WLAN capabilities create point to point connections
between two adapter enabling all workstations to act as servers to all others. This mode is
intended for small home networks with a low number of WLAN network adapters.
3. Definitions
This sections describes the terms a user might come across during the set-up of a wireless
network.

3.1 Network Addresses

Network adapters and personal computers have to be uniquely identifiable in order to be
accessible in a network. Therefore each device uses a combination of the MAC address and
the IP address to identify itself in a network.
3.1.1 MAC Address
The MAC (Media Access Control) address is a six byte long address which is attached to
most network adapters. This address is designed to be globally unique and is hardwired in the
hardware of the network adapter. The MAC address of a WLAN adapter can be found on a
label attached to the adapter.
3.1.2 IP Address
An IP address (Internet Protocol address) is a unique number, similar in concept to a
telephone number, used by personal computers and other network devices to refer to each
other when sending information through the Internet. Unlike the MAC address the IP address
is a software address that can be changed as often as the user likes. An IP address is four bytes
long address, usually represented as four dot separated numbers like 192.168.1.1.
The IP address of a network adapter is either set statically by the user or is provided by a
DHCP server.