How many bits represent the Organizationally Unique Identifier (OUI) part of a MAC address?

The Organizationally Unique Identifier (OUI) consists of 24 bits of a MAC address. The OUI is the first half of the MAC address and is used to uniquely identify the organization that manufactures the network interface hardware. Every OUI is assigned by the IEEE to ensure that no two manufacturers will have the same identifier for their devices.

A MAC address as a whole is 48 bits long, with the first 24 bits being the OUI and the remaining 24 bits being the Network Interface Controller (NIC) specific bits, which identify the individual hardware. This structure allows devices from different manufacturers to be uniquely identified on a network, facilitating proper communication and data transfer.

The other options reflect incorrect values for the OUI portion of a MAC address; 32 bits, for instance, exceeds the standard size for an OUI, while 16 bits is significantly smaller and insufficient to provide the necessary uniqueness.