Addresse Versus Names

Internetwork devices usually have both a name and an address associated with them. Internetwork names typically are location-independent and remain associated with a device wherever that device moves (for example, from one building to another). Internetwork addresses usually are location-dependent and change when a device is moved (although MAC addresses are an exception to this rule). As with network addresses being mapped to MAC addresses, names are usually mapped to network addresses through some protocol. The internet uses Domain Name System (DNS) to map the name of a device to its IP address. For example, its easier to remember www.cisco.com instead of some IP address. Computer performs a DNS lookup of the IP address for Cisco's web server and then communicates with it using the network address.