Overview
ISO/IEC/IEEE 8802‑A:2015/Amd 2:2019 amends the Part A (Overview and architecture) of the ISO/IEC/IEEE 8802 series to define local medium access control (MAC) address usage. This amendment introduces an optional Structured Local Address Plan (SLAP) to organize local MAC address spaces so that multiple administrative domains can coexist without address conflicts. It aligns local MAC address practices with the IEEE Registration Authority policies by recognizing addresses built from a Company ID (CID) and by specifying ranges for administrator assignment and for recommended use by IEEE 802 protocols.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Introduction of the Structured Local Address Plan (SLAP) as an optional local MAC address space structure.
- Designation of a range of local MAC addresses for protocols that use a Company ID (CID) assigned by the IEEE Registration Authority.
- Designation of a separate range of local MAC addresses for administrator assignment (administratively assigned identifiers).
- Recommendations for local MAC address ranges appropriate for IEEE 802 protocols and for coexistence across multiple administrations.
- Use of identifier types and terminology highlighted in the amendment: AAI (Administratively Assigned Identifier), SAI (Standard Assigned Identifier), ELI (Extended Local Identifier), and other local address concepts.
- Emphasis on interoperability, conflict avoidance, and governance of local MAC address usage within LAN/MAN architectures.
Practical applications
- Implementing local-only addressing schemes in enterprise networks, testbeds, and isolated environments where global MAC allocation is unnecessary or undesirable.
- Enabling multiple independent administrators to assign MAC addresses within overlapping topologies while avoiding collisions.
- Guiding firmware and network device vendors on MAC assignment practices when manufacturers use a CID or when customers require administrative control over MACs.
- Supporting protocol designers and systems integrators who need predictable local MAC addressing behavior for virtualization, lab environments, or private networks.
Who should use this standard
- Network architects and administrators planning local MAC address management.
- Device manufacturers, firmware developers, and system integrators implementing IEEE 802 interfaces.
- Standards committees, test labs, and organizations managing private or segmented network address spaces.
- Anyone implementing or deploying IEEE 802 protocols that rely on local MAC address conventions.
Related standards
- ISO/IEC/IEEE 8802‑A (Part A: Overview and architecture) - the base document this amendment updates.
- IEEE Std 802 family and documents published by the IEEE Registration Authority (for CID allocation and identifier management).
Keywords: local MAC address usage, Structured Local Address Plan, SLAP, MAC address management, Company ID, IEEE Registration Authority, IEEE 802, administratively assigned identifier, local address, medium access control.
