---
name: "ethers"
section: "5"
platform: "linux"
package: "net-tools"
version: "2.10-3"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux", "freebsd", "openbsd"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/ethers/5"
---

# ethers(5)

Ethernet address to IP number database

## NAME

ethers - Ethernet address to IP number database

## DESCRIPTION

**/etc/ethers** contains 48 bit Ethernet addresses and their corresponding IP numbers, one line for each IP number:

*Ethernet-address*  *IP-number*

The two items are separated by any number of SPACE and/or TAB characters. A **#** at the beginning of a line starts a comment which extends to the end of the line.  The *Ethernet-address* is written as *x*:*x*:*x*:*x*:*x*:*x*, where *x* is a hexadecimal number between **0** and **ff** which represents one byte of the address, which is in network byte order (big-endian).  The *IP-number* may be a hostname which can be resolved by DNS or a dot separated number.

## EXAMPLES

08:00:20:00:61:CA  pal

## FILES

/etc/ethers

## SEE ALSO

[**arp**(8)](/arp/8.md), [**rarp**(8)](/rarp/8.md)