What does it mean when it states that "the MAC address is modified to the next hop"?

davidboadu

Hi I am currently learning the LINUX NETWORKING AND ADMINISTRATION (LFS211)

I am on module LINUX NETWORKING: CONCEPTS AND REVIEW. I am on the page about IP Routing.

Note: What is written above is to point where i am reading from in case - you want to refer to it.

The reading for IP routing states that
"The MAC address is updated to the next hop machine and the packet is passed along. Notice that the MAC address is modified to the next hop and the IP address is the final destination and is not usually modified."

Does it mean that if the mac address is 2C:54:91:88:C9:E3 ( example from google), is this mac address modified (updated) to 0:1B:44:11:3A:B7 (example from google)?
so is the MAC address completely changed before the being moved to the next hop?

bartk

MAC addr can change, as in : packet is transfered to next point/hop by router(s).
IP addr of the destination doesnt.