Final answer:
The first 24 bits of a MAC address represent the Organizationally Unique Identifier (OUI), which is assigned by IEEE to manufacturers to ensure the uniqueness of each MAC address on a network.
Step-by-step explanation:
The first 24 bits of a MAC address represent the Organizationally Unique Identifier (OUI). The OUI is a unique identifier assigned to each manufacturer by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and is used to ensure that each MAC address is unique.
This is critical because MAC addresses are used to ensure that each network interface has a unique address in a network. In a typical 48-bit MAC address, the first half (24 bits) is the OUI, while the second half is assigned by the manufacturer and serves as a unique identifier for the network interface within the manufacturer's assigned range.