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4.1 Address Checkup

Since many routers use different software, it’s important to know the device's network identifiers before setting up static access.

NameDescriptionExample
IP Address Internet Protocol addresses are logical, software‑assigned identifiers. IP addresses let routers move data packages between different networks, whether your local home network or across the Internet. 192.168.1.10
MAC Address The Media Access Control addresses are permanent, globally-unique identifiers built into each device's network interface. MAC addresses let switches and bridges forward data frames only within the same local network segment.00:1A:2B:3C:4D:5E
tip

Home networks typically assign dynamic IP addresses via DHCP, a protocol designed for automated device registering. Once a device boots, it requests and leases an IP address from the router’s DHCP address pool.

While DHCP eliminates the need for manual configuration and manages devices efficiently, it can cause the IP address to change over time once an assignment expired. For uninterrupted SSH access, its necessary to identify your node’s hardware address and set up reliable DHCP reservation or static assignment in your router.

1. Resolve IP Address

info

You can use the ip tool to display the system’s default package route and source IP when connecting to the router. The default gateway's IP address is the intermediate route the system takes when sending data to an IP address outside its local network.

ip route show default

The output will look like this:

default via <GATEWAY_IP_ADDRESS> dev eno1 proto dhcp src <NODE_IP_ADDRESS> metric <ROUTING_WEIGHT>

2. Resolve Hardware Address

info

You can list all network interfaces and their MAC addresses using the previously known ip command-line tool. Look for an interface name like eno1 or eth0, typically used to broadcast information to the Internet using an Ethernet connection.

ip link show

The entry should look like this:

<NETWORK_INFERFACE_NAME>: <BROADCAST,MULTICAST,UP,LOWER_UP> ...
link/ether <MAC_ADDRESS> brd <BROADCAST_ADDRESS>
warning

Write down both IP and MAC addresses so you can identify your node while configuring your router.