There is a special protocol ARP (address resolution protocol) that is used for that. Since ethernet uses MAC addresses, the sender needs to get the MAC address of the next hop.
'Where are MAC addresses stored for future reference? - MAC cache - Ethernet cache - ARP cache - NIC '- ARP cache. Where are mac addresses stored for future reference in excel. (replace it with the mac address you are looking for) click on Please enter a name for the new view: call it Mac Address Search click save whenever you want to search for a mac address, select the Mac Address Search view and click on the blue wheel cog to change the static filter line with the Mac Address that you are looking for. Each address can be stored in hardware, such as the card's read-only memory, or by a firmware mechanism. MAC addresses are primarily assigned by device manufacturers, and are therefore often referred to as the burned-in address, or as an Ethernet hardware address, hardware address, and physical address.