title: Best way to extract MAC address from ifconfig's output?
body: <p>What is the best way to extract the MAC address from <code>ifconfig</code>'s output?</p>
  
  <p>Sample output:</p>
  
  <pre><code>bash-3.00# ifconfig eth0        
  eth0      Link encap:Ethernet  HWaddr 1F:2E:19:10:3B:52    
            inet addr:127.0.0.66  Bcast:127.255.255.255  Mask:255.0.0.0    
            UP BROADCAST RUNNING MULTICAST  MTU:1500  Metric:1
            ....
            ....
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>Should I use cut, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AWK" rel="noreferrer">AWK</a> or anything else, and what are the merits and demerits of one method over the other.</p>