Which packets will go where during a network request? What will be the source and destination MAC addresses when sending a request to 8.8.8.8?

When sending a network request to IP 8.8.8.8 (for example, an HTTP request), packets pass through several layers of the OSI network model:

1. Application Layer:

   • An HTTP request is formed.

2. Transport Layer:

   • TCP or UDP segment with source (e.g., a random client port) and destination ports (e.g., 80 or 443).

3. Network Layer:

   • An IP packet with source IP address (client IP) and destination (8.8.8.8).

4. Data Link Layer:

   • Ethernet frame with source and destination MAC addresses.

MAC Addresses:

• Source: MAC address of your device's network card.
• Destination: MAC address of the next hop in the local network — usually your router or gateway.

Explanation:

• MAC addresses operate only within the local network (LAN).
• When accessing the internet, the destination MAC address changes to the address of the next device (router).
• The destination IP address remains 8.8.8.8, and the destination MAC address is the address of the nearest router.

Thus, packets will "run" from your device to the local router (via MAC), then through the provider and further into the internet to 8.8.8.8.

Example:

• Source MAC: 00:1A:2B:3C:4D:5E (your network card)
• Destination MAC: 00:1F:2E:3D:4C:5B (router)

Source IP: your local or public IP Destination IP: 8.8.8.8

This is standard behavior when sending IP packets over an Ethernet network.