How do you find the computers name if you have the MAC address?

Question

So i used arp -a to find a list of everyone connected on my network but how do i know which computer is which? For example if my moms name is Susan and i have a list of all the MAC address and there corresponding ip address's can i put that somewhere and they tell me what the computer name associated with it is. So then if i see Susans IMAC or whatever ill know its my mom? Please ask me if you need rephrasing

also any help is greatly appreciated

Answer 1

You can't without getting on Susan's computer. From that you have both the mac and IP and

can match it up.



On a managed switch, you can see what mac is on what port. But I don't think most home switches have this capability.



Another quick but not %100 method is to lookup up the MAC online. If the maker is listed as Apple and you have only one IMAC, that is probably it. But PCs use a riff load of card and makers.

Answer 2

Most of the time the computers name will appear in a DHCP server assignment table. If you get on to your router, find the DHCP assignments for the local LAN. That should show all three - MAC Address/IP Address/Name.



Typically PCs are DHCP clients, therefore they don't have that information.

Answer 3

try loging into the router and look at the DHCP page



this might show the IP address, the MAC address, AND the computer name associated with that MAC address

Answer 4

Use a network scanner. I personally use Advanced Network Scanner 2.0. It tells you the name, ip address, mac address and (if its Windows) the username of the current user. Its pretty handy.