diff --git a/util.cpp b/util.cpp
index 91030c8..a17bc5d 100644
--- a/util.cpp
+++ b/util.cpp
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 #include <phosphor-logging/log.hpp>
 #include <stdexcept>
 #include <string>
+#include <variant>
 #include <xyz/openbmc_project/Common/error.hpp>
 
 namespace phosphor
@@ -549,7 +550,7 @@
     "xyz.openbmc_project.Inventory.Item.NetworkInterface";
 constexpr auto invRoot = "/xyz/openbmc_project/inventory";
 
-std::string getfromInventory(sdbusplus::bus::bus& bus)
+ether_addr getfromInventory(sdbusplus::bus::bus& bus)
 {
     std::vector<DbusInterface> interfaces;
     interfaces.emplace_back(invNetworkIntf);
@@ -583,8 +584,6 @@
     auto objPath = objectTree.begin()->first;
     auto service = objectTree.begin()->second.begin()->first;
 
-    sdbusplus::message::variant<std::string> value;
-
     auto method = bus.new_method_call(service.c_str(), objPath.c_str(),
                                       propIntf, methodGet);
 
@@ -599,8 +598,19 @@
         elog<InternalFailure>();
     }
 
+    std::variant<std::string> value;
     reply.read(value);
-    return sdbusplus::message::variant_ns::get<std::string>(value);
+    return fromString(std::get<std::string>(value));
+}
+
+ether_addr fromString(const char* str)
+{
+    struct ether_addr* mac = ether_aton(str);
+    if (mac == nullptr)
+    {
+        throw std::runtime_error("Invalid mac address string");
+    }
+    return *mac;
 }
 
 std::string toString(const ether_addr& mac)
@@ -608,6 +618,26 @@
     return ether_ntoa(&mac);
 }
 
+bool isEmpty(const ether_addr& mac)
+{
+    return equal(mac, ether_addr{});
+}
+
+bool isMulticast(const ether_addr& mac)
+{
+    return mac.ether_addr_octet[0] & 0b1;
+}
+
+bool isUnicast(const ether_addr& mac)
+{
+    return !isEmpty(mac) && !isMulticast(mac);
+}
+
+bool isLocalAdmin(const ether_addr& mac)
+{
+    return mac.ether_addr_octet[0] & 0b10;
+}
+
 } // namespace mac_address
 } // namespace network
 } // namespace phosphor