Adapter Addresses

Every network interface card (NIC) has a unique physical identifier known as a Media Access Control (MAC) address. These physical addresses are used to register devices on the OWU networks. If you use the automated process by pointing your browser to http://register.owu.edu/ for the Residential Network or http://wifi.owu.edu/ (for students) / http://wifi2.owu.edu/ (for faculty & staff) for the BishopNet wireless network, your MAC address is registered automatically. If this automated process is not working for some reason, or you are using a device, such as a gaming console, that does not have a web browser you will need to provide Information Services your MAC address and your student ID number.

Finding a MAC Address on Microsoft Windows XP and Vista
Finding a MAC address on Macintosh OS X 10.5 (Leopard)
Finding a MAC address on Macintosh OS X 10.4 (Tiger)
Finding a MAC address on Gaming Consoles
Related Links

Finding a MAC Address on Microsoft Windows XP and Vista

If you keyboard has a Windows key you can hold this down and press the R key. If not, select Run from the Start Menu.
Type in "cmd" (without the quotes) and press Enter. (On Windows Vista you can simply type this into the Start Menu Search box.)
In the command prompt window type "ipconfig/all" (without the quotes) and press Enter. This will display a long list of information. The information is divided into several sections such as Windows IP Configuration, Ethernet Adapter Wireless LAN, Ethernet Adapter Wired LAN, and more. The adapter address is listed as the "Physical Address". It is a string of 12 alphanumeric characters in 6 sets of 2 characters: xx-xx-xx-xx-xx-xx. You may need to scroll up to find this info. Be sure to find the address in the appropriate section.

Windows IP Configuration
 
        Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : owu-helpdesk
        Primary Dns Suffix  . . . . . . . : owu.prv
        Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown
        IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
        WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
        DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : owu.prv
                                            owu.edu
 
Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:
 
        Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . : owu.edu
        Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Broadcom NetXtrem
        Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-1A-6B-4E-00-BF
        Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes

Finding a MAC address on Macintosh OS X 10.5 (Leopard)

Open System Preferences (usually found in the Dock) or under the Apple menu.
Within the System Preferences, select the networking icon. This will show you the status of all network settings within your system.
Select Ethernet or Airport on the left, depending on which address you want--wired or wireless.
Select the Advanced button in the bottom right hand of the screen. This will take you to the advanced settings of the particular connection you selected.
Select the Ethernet tab at the far right of the screen, this will display your MAC Address as the Ethernet ID.

Finding a MAC address on Macintosh OS X 10.4 (Tiger)

Open System Preferences (usually found in the Dock) or under the Apple menu and select Network.
Within the System Preferences, select the networking icon. This will show you the status of all network settings within your system.
Select Built-In Ethernet or Airport from the Show drop-down list, depending on which address you want--wired or wireless.
For Built-In Ethernet you must select the Ethernet tab at the far right of the screen. This will display your MAC Address as the Ethernet ID. For Airport it will automatically show the Airport Tab with the Airport ID in the center.

Finding a MAC address on Gaming Consoles

Please see the Gaming Consoles page.

Still need help?

For assistance please contact the help desk.

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