When referring to MAC addresses, what does LAA stand for?

LAA stands for Locally Administered Address. This term is used in the context of MAC addresses to refer to a specific type of address that can be assigned to a network interface card (NIC) by a network administrator rather than being assigned by the device manufacturer.

In a standard MAC address, the first half, known as the Organizationally Unique Identifier (OUI), is assigned to a manufacturer, while the second half is unique for each device produced by that manufacturer. However, when a locally administered address is used, the second half can be replaced with a custom value unique to the network it is serving, allowing for flexibility in network management. This is particularly useful in scenarios where devices need to be added or replaced without the risk of MAC address conflicts on the same network.

Using locally administered addresses involves modifying the universal/local (U/L) bit in the MAC address. This bit determines whether the address is universally assigned (by a manufacturer) or locally administered. Setting the U/L bit to 1 indicates that the MAC address is locally administered, which is a crucial aspect for network design and troubleshooting. Therefore, understanding the concept of locally administered addresses is essential for effective network management.