MAC Addresses
If your product has a network adapter, regardless of how it connects (WiFi, Ethernet, other), the network adapter needs to have a unique MAC address (Wikipedia link). A unique MAC address ensures that a device can have network traffic directed to it without conflicts with other devices.
Block Size + Cost
MAC Address registrations are managed by the IEEE-SA Standard Organization and are assigned in blocks that are priced according to the number of addresses assigned. IEEE-SA also provides confidential registration for an additional fee (and yearly maintenance cost):
| Block Type | Block Size | Price (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Public MA-S (Small) | 4,096 | $685 |
| Public MA-M (Medium) | ~1 Million | $1,645 |
| Public MA-L (Large) | ~16 Million | $2,735 |
Confidentiality/Private Registration Fees
| Block Type | Yearly Fee (USD) |
|---|---|
| MA-S | $1,115 |
| Private MA-M | $2,070 |
| Private MA-L | $3,165 |
Assigning to Device
After assembly, the MAC address should be written to the One Time Programmable (OTP) memory of the device, usually at the same time a USB Vendor ID (if applicable) is written.
[Documentation to come in the future]