diff --git a/daemon/core/api/grpc/client.py b/daemon/core/api/grpc/client.py
index 91c4b679..a51f3724 100644
--- a/daemon/core/api/grpc/client.py
+++ b/daemon/core/api/grpc/client.py
@@ -9,8 +9,8 @@ from contextlib import contextmanager
 import grpc
 import netaddr
 
+from core import utils
 from core.api.grpc import core_pb2, core_pb2_grpc
-from core.nodes.ipaddress import MacAddress
 
 
 class InterfaceHelper:
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ class InterfaceHelper:
 
         # random mac
         if not mac:
-            mac = MacAddress.random()
+            mac = utils.random_mac()
 
         return core_pb2.Interface(
             id=interface_id,
diff --git a/daemon/core/api/grpc/grpcutils.py b/daemon/core/api/grpc/grpcutils.py
index a3b25541..5468e617 100644
--- a/daemon/core/api/grpc/grpcutils.py
+++ b/daemon/core/api/grpc/grpcutils.py
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@ from core.api.grpc import core_pb2
 from core.emulator.emudata import InterfaceData, LinkOptions, NodeOptions
 from core.emulator.enumerations import LinkTypes, NodeTypes
 from core.nodes.base import CoreNetworkBase
-from core.nodes.ipaddress import MacAddress
 
 WORKERS = 10
 
@@ -57,8 +56,6 @@ def link_interface(interface_proto):
         mac = interface_proto.mac
         if mac == "":
             mac = None
-        else:
-            mac = MacAddress.from_string(mac)
         interface = InterfaceData(
             _id=interface_proto.id,
             name=name,
diff --git a/daemon/core/api/tlv/coreapi.py b/daemon/core/api/tlv/coreapi.py
index 9851bb55..b72c186b 100644
--- a/daemon/core/api/tlv/coreapi.py
+++ b/daemon/core/api/tlv/coreapi.py
@@ -5,10 +5,13 @@ types and objects used for parsing and building CORE API messages.
 CORE API messaging is leveraged for communication with the GUI.
 """
 
+import binascii
 import socket
 import struct
 from enum import Enum
 
+import netaddr
+
 from core.api.tlv import structutils
 from core.emulator.enumerations import (
     ConfigTlvs,
@@ -24,7 +27,6 @@ from core.emulator.enumerations import (
     RegisterTlvs,
     SessionTlvs,
 )
-from core.nodes.ipaddress import MacAddress
 
 
 class CoreTlvData:
@@ -323,7 +325,7 @@ class CoreTlvDataMacAddr(CoreTlvDataObj):
     """
 
     data_format = "!2x8s"
-    data_type = MacAddress.from_string
+    data_type = str
     pad_len = 2
 
     @staticmethod
@@ -331,23 +333,27 @@ class CoreTlvDataMacAddr(CoreTlvDataObj):
         """
         Retrieve Ipv6 address value from object.
 
-        :param core.nodes.ipaddress.MacAddress obj: mac address to get value from
-        :return:
+        :param str obj: mac address to get value from
+        :return: packed mac address
+        :rtype: bytes
         """
         # extend to 64 bits
-        return b"\0\0" + obj.addr
+        return b"\0\0" + netaddr.EUI(obj).packed
 
     @staticmethod
     def new_obj(value):
         """
         Retrieve mac address from a string representation.
 
-        :param str value: value to get Ipv4 address from
-        :return: Ipv4 address
-        :rtype: core.nodes.ipaddress.MacAddress
+        :param bytes value: value to get Ipv4 address from
+        :return: mac address
+        :rtype: str
         """
         # only use 48 bits
-        return MacAddress(address=value[2:])
+        value = binascii.hexlify(value[2:]).decode()
+        mac = netaddr.EUI(value)
+        mac.dialect = netaddr.mac_unix
+        return str(mac)
 
 
 class CoreTlv:
diff --git a/daemon/core/emulator/emudata.py b/daemon/core/emulator/emudata.py
index 54f7921d..8929f72a 100644
--- a/daemon/core/emulator/emudata.py
+++ b/daemon/core/emulator/emudata.py
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 import netaddr
 
+from core import utils
 from core.emane.nodes import EmaneNet
 from core.emulator.enumerations import LinkTypes
-from core.nodes.ipaddress import MacAddress
 from core.nodes.physical import PhysicalNode
 
 
@@ -226,7 +226,7 @@ class IpPrefixes:
 
         # random mac
         if not mac:
-            mac = MacAddress.random()
+            mac = utils.random_mac()
 
         return InterfaceData(
             _id=inteface_id,
@@ -250,7 +250,7 @@ class InterfaceData:
 
         :param int _id: interface id
         :param str name: name for interface
-        :param core.nodes.ipaddress.MacAddress mac: mac address
+        :param str mac: mac address
         :param str ip4: ipv4 address
         :param int ip4_mask: ipv4 bit mask
         :param str ip6: ipv6 address
diff --git a/daemon/core/emulator/session.py b/daemon/core/emulator/session.py
index f9d5b9fc..a81ba103 100644
--- a/daemon/core/emulator/session.py
+++ b/daemon/core/emulator/session.py
@@ -33,7 +33,6 @@ from core.location.event import EventLoop
 from core.location.mobility import BasicRangeModel, MobilityManager
 from core.nodes.base import CoreNetworkBase, CoreNode, CoreNodeBase
 from core.nodes.docker import DockerNode
-from core.nodes.ipaddress import MacAddress
 from core.nodes.lxd import LxcNode
 from core.nodes.network import (
     CtrlNet,
@@ -1778,7 +1777,7 @@ class Session:
             net=control_net,
             ifindex=control_net.CTRLIF_IDX_BASE + net_index,
             ifname=f"ctrl{net_index}",
-            hwaddr=MacAddress.random(),
+            hwaddr=utils.random_mac(),
             addrlist=addrlist,
         )
         node.netif(interface1).control = True
diff --git a/daemon/core/nodes/base.py b/daemon/core/nodes/base.py
index 93a71ee4..c3c1524d 100644
--- a/daemon/core/nodes/base.py
+++ b/daemon/core/nodes/base.py
@@ -725,14 +725,14 @@ class CoreNode(CoreNodeBase):
         Set hardware addres for an interface.
 
         :param int ifindex: index of interface to set hardware address for
-        :param core.nodes.ipaddress.MacAddress addr: hardware address to set
+        :param str addr: hardware address to set
         :return: nothing
         :raises CoreCommandError: when a non-zero exit status occurs
         """
         interface = self._netif[ifindex]
         interface.sethwaddr(addr)
         if self.up:
-            self.node_net_client.device_mac(interface.name, str(addr))
+            self.node_net_client.device_mac(interface.name, addr)
 
     def addaddr(self, ifindex, addr):
         """
@@ -787,7 +787,7 @@ class CoreNode(CoreNodeBase):
 
         :param core.nodes.base.CoreNetworkBase net: network to associate with
         :param list addrlist: addresses to add on the interface
-        :param core.nodes.ipaddress.MacAddress hwaddr: hardware address to set for interface
+        :param str hwaddr: hardware address to set for interface
         :param int ifindex: index of interface to create
         :param str ifname: name for interface
         :return: interface index
diff --git a/daemon/core/nodes/interface.py b/daemon/core/nodes/interface.py
index 84e8f399..884ce4e9 100644
--- a/daemon/core/nodes/interface.py
+++ b/daemon/core/nodes/interface.py
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ class CoreInterface:
         """
         Set hardware address.
 
-        :param core.nodes.ipaddress.MacAddress addr: hardware address to set to.
+        :param str addr: hardware address to set to.
         :return: nothing
         """
         self.hwaddr = addr
diff --git a/daemon/core/nodes/ipaddress.py b/daemon/core/nodes/ipaddress.py
deleted file mode 100644
index ea219f47..00000000
--- a/daemon/core/nodes/ipaddress.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,55 +0,0 @@
-"""
-Helper objects for dealing with IPv4/v6 addresses.
-"""
-
-import random
-import struct
-
-
-class MacAddress:
-    """
-    Provides mac address utilities for use within core.
-    """
-
-    def __init__(self, address):
-        """
-        Creates a MacAddress instance.
-
-        :param bytes address: mac address
-        """
-        self.addr = address
-
-    def __str__(self):
-        """
-        Create a string representation of a MacAddress.
-
-        :return: string representation
-        :rtype: str
-        """
-        return ":".join(f"{x:02x}" for x in bytearray(self.addr))
-
-    @classmethod
-    def from_string(cls, s):
-        """
-        Create a mac address object from a string.
-
-        :param s: string representation of a mac address
-        :return: mac address class
-        :rtype: MacAddress
-        """
-        addr = b"".join(bytes([int(x, 16)]) for x in s.split(":"))
-        return cls(addr)
-
-    @classmethod
-    def random(cls):
-        """
-        Create a random mac address.
-
-        :return: random mac address
-        :rtype: MacAddress
-        """
-        tmp = random.randint(0, 0xFFFFFF)
-        # use the Xen OID 00:16:3E
-        tmp |= 0x00163E << 24
-        tmpbytes = struct.pack("!Q", tmp)
-        return cls(tmpbytes[2:])
diff --git a/daemon/core/utils.py b/daemon/core/utils.py
index 413df156..13d75887 100644
--- a/daemon/core/utils.py
+++ b/daemon/core/utils.py
@@ -11,10 +11,13 @@ import json
 import logging
 import logging.config
 import os
+import random
 import shlex
 import sys
 from subprocess import PIPE, STDOUT, Popen
 
+import netaddr
+
 from core.errors import CoreCommandError
 
 DEVNULL = open(os.devnull, "wb")
@@ -408,3 +411,17 @@ def threadpool(funcs, workers=10):
             except Exception as e:
                 exceptions.append(e)
     return results, exceptions
+
+
+def random_mac():
+    """
+    Create a random mac address using Xen OID 00:16:3E.
+
+    :return: random mac address
+    :rtype: str
+    """
+    value = random.randint(0, 0xFFFFFF)
+    value |= 0x00163E << 24
+    mac = netaddr.EUI(value)
+    mac.dialect = netaddr.mac_unix
+    return str(mac)
diff --git a/daemon/core/xml/corexml.py b/daemon/core/xml/corexml.py
index db6d8bd7..ff64d2ce 100644
--- a/daemon/core/xml/corexml.py
+++ b/daemon/core/xml/corexml.py
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@ from core.emane.nodes import EmaneNet
 from core.emulator.emudata import InterfaceData, LinkOptions, NodeOptions
 from core.emulator.enumerations import NodeTypes
 from core.nodes.base import CoreNetworkBase
-from core.nodes.ipaddress import MacAddress
 from core.nodes.network import CtrlNet
 
 
@@ -48,8 +47,6 @@ def create_interface_data(interface_element):
     interface_id = int(interface_element.get("id"))
     name = interface_element.get("name")
     mac = interface_element.get("mac")
-    if mac:
-        mac = MacAddress.from_string(mac)
     ip4 = interface_element.get("ip4")
     ip4_mask = get_int(interface_element, "ip4_mask")
     ip6 = interface_element.get("ip6")
diff --git a/daemon/core/xml/emanexml.py b/daemon/core/xml/emanexml.py
index c97c176f..a62b54e5 100644
--- a/daemon/core/xml/emanexml.py
+++ b/daemon/core/xml/emanexml.py
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ from tempfile import NamedTemporaryFile
 from lxml import etree
 
 from core import utils
-from core.nodes.ipaddress import MacAddress
 from core.xml import corexml
 
 _hwaddr_prefix = "02:02"
@@ -208,7 +207,7 @@ def build_node_platform_xml(emane_manager, control_net, node, nem_id, platform_x
         node.setnemid(netif, nem_id)
         macstr = _hwaddr_prefix + ":00:00:"
         macstr += f"{(nem_id >> 8) & 0xFF:02X}:{nem_id & 0xFF:02X}"
-        netif.sethwaddr(MacAddress.from_string(macstr))
+        netif.sethwaddr(macstr)
 
         # increment nem id
         nem_id += 1