"An Internet Protocol address (IP address) is a numerical label such as 192.0.2.1 that is connected to a computer network that uses the Internet Protocol for communication. An IP address serves two main functions: network interface identification, and location addressing."
A unique identifier assigned to each device connected to a network to enable communication and routing of data.
IP addressing: Understanding how IP addresses are structured and how they work is essential to understanding computer networks.
Subnetting: Subnetting is a technique for dividing a network into smaller sub-networks, allowing for more efficient use of IP addresses.
IP routing: Routing is the process by which data packets are sent from one network to another. Understanding how routing works is crucial to building and maintaining network connections.
DHCP: DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) is a protocol that automatically assigns IP addresses to devices on a network. Knowing how DHCP operates is important for managing IP addresses in larger networks.
NAT: NAT (Network Address Translation) is a technique for allowing multiple devices on a network to share a single public IP address. Understanding how NAT works is necessary for effective home networking.
IPv6: IPv6 is the latest version of the Internet Protocol, which provides a much larger addressing capability than IPv4. Knowing the differences between IPv4 and IPv6 is important for understanding the current state of IP addressing and preparing for the future.
DNS: DNS (Domain Name System) is a system for translating domain names (such as google.com) into IP addresses. Understanding how DNS works is critical for accessing websites and other online resources.
ARP: ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) is a protocol used by devices on a network to associate IP addresses with MAC addresses. Understanding ARP is important for troubleshooting network connectivity issues.
IP addressing schemes: There are different schemes for assigning IP addresses, including static addressing and dynamic addressing. Understanding the pros and cons of each scheme is necessary for choosing the right approach for your network.
IP address management: Managing IP addresses in larger networks can be a complex task. Understanding different IP address management tools and techniques is necessary for maintaining efficient and secure networks.
IPv4: This is the most commonly used IP addressing protocol that uses a 32-bit address field and can support up to 4.3 billion unique addresses. It is divided into four octets separated by dots, and each octet can range from 0 to 255.
IPv6: This is the next-generation IP addressing protocol that uses a 128-bit address field and can support an almost infinite number of unique addresses. It is represented in hexadecimal notation and consists of eight groups of four hexadecimal digits separated by colons.
Private IP Addresses: These are IP addresses that are reserved for use within private networks and are not routable on the internet. The most commonly used private IP address ranges are 10.0.0.0/8, 172.16.0.0/12, and 192.168.0.0/16.
Public IP Addresses: These are IP addresses that are assigned to devices that are connected to the internet and are globally routable. Public IP addresses can be static or dynamic, and they are assigned by Internet Service Providers (ISPs).
Static IP Addresses: These are IP addresses that are manually assigned to devices and do not change unless they are manually reconfigured. Static IP addresses are commonly used for servers, routers, and other network devices that need to be accessible from the internet.
Dynamic IP Addresses: These are IP addresses that are automatically assigned to devices by a DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) server. Dynamic IP addresses can change each time a device connects to the network or periodically based on the DHCP lease time.
APIPA Addresses: These are automatic private IP addresses that are assigned to devices when a DHCP server is not available. APIPA addresses are in the range of 169.254.0.1 to 169.254.255.254 and are only used for local communication within a subnet.
Link-local Addresses: These are IP addresses that are assigned to devices within a local network segment and are used for communication between devices on the same network. Link-local addresses are in the range of 169.254.0.0/16.
Multicast Addresses: These are IP addresses that are used for sending data to a group of devices rather than a specific device. Multicast addresses fall within the range of 224.0.0.0 to 239.255.255.255.
Anycast Addresses: These are IP addresses that are assigned to multiple devices, but data is only sent to the closest device. Anycast addresses are commonly used for load balancing and fault tolerance.
Broadcast Addresses: These are IP addresses that are used for sending data to all devices within a network segment. Broadcast addresses typically end with .255 for IPv4 and are not used in IPv6.
Loopback Addresses: These are special IP addresses that are used for testing purposes and are only accessible from the local device. The most common loopback address is 127.0.0.1 for IPv4 and ::1 for IPv6.
"Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) defines an IP address as a 32-bit number. However, because of the growth of the Internet and the depletion of available IPv4 addresses, a new version of IP (IPv6), using 128 bits for the IP address, was standardized in 1998."
"A new version of IP (IPv6), using 128 bits for the IP address, was standardized in 1998."
"IP addresses are written and displayed in human-readable notations, such as 192.0.2.1 in IPv4, and 2001:db8:0:1234:0:567:8:1 in IPv6."
"The size of the routing prefix of the address is designated in CIDR notation by suffixing the address with the number of significant bits, e.g., 192.0.2.1/24, which is equivalent to the historically used subnet mask 255.255.255.0."
"The IP address space is managed globally by the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA)."
"IPv4 addresses were distributed by IANA to the RIRs in blocks of approximately 16.8 million addresses each."
"But have been exhausted at the IANA level since 2011."
"Only one of the RIRs still has a supply for local assignments in Africa."
"Some IPv4 addresses are reserved for private networks and are not globally unique."
"Network administrators assign an IP address to each device connected to a network."
"Such assignments may be on a static (fixed or permanent) or dynamic basis, depending on network practices and software features."
"An IP address serves two main functions: network interface identification, and location addressing."
"An IP address serves two main functions: network interface identification, and location addressing."
"A new version of IP (IPv6), using 128 bits for the IP address..."
"Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) defines an IP address as a 32-bit number."
"By five regional Internet registries (RIRs) responsible in their designated territories for assignment to local Internet registries, such as Internet service providers (ISPs), and other end users."
"...was standardized in 1998."
"IP addresses are written and displayed in human-readable notations..."
"An IP address serves two main functions: network interface identification, and location addressing."