48-bit absolute internet and Ethernet host numbers

Abstract

Xerox internets and Ethernet local computer networks use 48-bit absolute host numbers. This is a radical departure from practices currently in use in internetwork systems and local networks. This paper describes how the host numbering scheme was designed in the context of an overall internetwork and distributed systems architecture.

Incorporation of multiaccess links into a routing protocol

“…Their Routing Protocol routes towards links, and assumes that higher layers will know at which link a node resides [3].…”

“…The philosophy behind 48 bit IDs is that each node in the world has a unique 48 bit ID that it can use no matter in which network it is attached [3]. Thus with 48 bit IDs and the approach taken in the rest of the paper, a node can be attached anywhere in a network without administrative assignment of any numbers.…”