What this means
The IEEE assigned the MA-L block 001697 to NEC Corporation. Every network interface they manufacture under this block has a MAC address beginning with these digits, followed by a unique per-device identifier. If a device on your network shows a MAC starting 00:16:97, it is NEC Corporation hardware.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who owns MAC prefix 001697?
001697 is registered to NEC Corporation in the IEEE MA-L registry.
What does the MA-L registry type mean?
An MA-L assignment, the IEEE's original OUI format, gives the vendor the first three octets and 16,777,216 device addresses under them. NEC Corporation's block covers 16,777,216 addresses.
What devices use 001697?
Any network device with a MAC address starting 00:16:97 was manufactured by or for NEC Corporation.