How to determine the vendor MAC address

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    Pankaj6in
    Keymaster

    Yes, it is possible to determine a vendor’s address, but the “address” usually refers to the MAC address vendor identification, not a physical location.

    How it Works
    Every network device has a MAC address (Media Access Control), which is globally unique. The first 3 bytes (OUI – Organizationally Unique Identifier) identify the vendor/manufacturer, registered with IEEE. By looking up the OUI in public/vendor databases, you can determine which company made the device.

    To trace the physical location, additional data like IP geolocation, network topology, or on-site inspection is needed — MAC address alone does not give an exact street address.

    Devices/Tools Required
    Network Analyzers (e.g., Fluke Networks LinkRunner, Keysight Network Tester)

    Switches/Routers CLI (e.g., Cisco show mac address-table, HPE Aruba show arp, Juniper show ethernet-switching table)

    Wireshark (free software to capture packets and identify vendor from MAC)

    NAC Systems (e.g., Cisco ISE, Aruba ClearPass) to identify endpoints and vendors automatically

    Example from Different OEMs
    Cisco Catalyst Switch:

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    Switch# show mac address-table
    Mac Address Type Ports
    00:1A:2B:xx:xx:xx DYNAMIC Gi1/0/1
    The prefix 00:1A:2B can be looked up to find it’s registered to Dell Inc.

    Juniper EX Series:

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    show ethernet-switching table | match xx:xx:xx
    This lists MACs and ports, allowing vendor lookup.

    HPE Aruba Switch:

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    show arp
    The output MAC prefix can be cross-checked with IEEE’s OUI database.

    Summary:

    Vendor identification = via MAC OUI lookup

    Physical address = needs IP geolocation or site survey

    Tools = network analyzers, CLI on switches/routers, NAC solutions

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