Interfacial energetics and transport phenomena at metal/ceramic interfaces control many important processes, from joining to composite fabrication. In this work contact and dihedral angle measurements are combined with studies of grain boundary grooving on metal/alumina interfaces in order to compare the relevant interfacial energies and transport rates. Experiments in the liquid state, performed using metal droplets of nickel on high purity, polycrystalline alumina are compared with diffusion bonded nickel/alumina joints. Contact and dihedral angles as well as interfacial transport rates are measured as a function of the temperature. Comparative high resolution characterization of the metal/ceramic interface and the adjacent ceramic grain boundaries will be used to support the analysis. The difference in transport rates are highlighted and possible mechanisms discussed.