How To obtain the MAC address from your system

Every computer using a Harvard network connection needs to be registered, this will describe how to obtain the key information for that to happen

What is a MAC Address?

A MAC address (Media Access Control)  or Physical address is a sequence of characters that identify the network adapter(s) installed on your computer.

The address is composed of up to 6 pairs of characters (in hexadecimal alphabet: A-F and 0-9), separated by colons, i.e. a0:1b:cc:00:99:ff

To obtain your MAC address from your system, please select the right OS and follow the steps on your own system.

Step-by-step guide for Windows Systems

Generic for all Windows (command line)

1. From the keyboard, hit the "Windows Key" from the keyboard (close to the space bar) and the letter "R" (Windows + R)
2. Once the Execute window, type "cmd"
3. Once the black "cmd" window is open, type : "getmac /v /fo list"
4. 

Windows 7 and 8

1. Click on "Start Menu"
2. Click on "Control Panel"
3. Go to "Network and Sharing Center"
4. Click the link "View Status" by the connection you want to examine
5. 
6. Click on Details and Locate the item labeled Physical Address, which is the MAC Address number

Windows 10

1. Open the "Settings app"
2. Go to Network & Internet
   
   1. Click on WiFi if you want the mac address from a wireless card
   2. Click on Ethernet if you want the mac address from a wired card
3. Click on the network name to see its properties.
4. On the next page, you will find the line Physical address(MAC).

Windows XP and Vista

Due to SEVERE security issues that are no longer being fixed, Windows XP and Vista systems are not allowed in any Harvard network. If you have one, please disconnect it immediately and contact us

The presence of this systems endanger all other systems on the network along with the Harvard intellectual property on them.

Step-by-step guide for Mac OS Systems

The GUI way:

1. Open "System Preferences". Click on the Apple icon on the top left corner of your screen.

2. Click on Network
3. Select your connection from the left frame. Choose either Thunderbolt Ethernet, Usb Ethernet or Built-in Ethernet, depending on how you access your network.
4. Click Advanced and navigate to the Hardawre tab where you'll find your MAC address.

The Command line way

1. Open a terminal (command + space bar to bring spotlight up and type terminal OR click on the magnifier at the top right corner)

2. On the terminal type ifconfig -a

3. Look for your active network connection ( likely the only one with an IP address)

4. The MAC address can be found next to the word "Ether" on the second line

Step-by-step guide for Linux Systems

The Command line way:

1. Open a terminal

2. Type ifconfig -a

3. On the network adapter that has an IP address assigned, look for the mac address

   1. Ubuntu/Debian Based, you can find it on the first line next to "HWaddr"

   2. RedHat can be found next to the word "Ether"

• Page:
  How to register a computer on the Harvard wired network
• Page:
  How-to obtain the IP address of your system
• Page:
  How To obtain the MAC address from your system
• Page:
  Best Practices for Linux Security