Introduction to IP
Addresses
IPaddresses are the unique identifiers assigned to devices connected
to the internet or a local network. They enable communication and
data exchange between networked devices.
By: Rohan maurya
: Kiran Choudhary
2.
What is anIP Address?
An IP (Internet Protocol) address is a numerical label assigned to each
device connected to a computer network that uses the Internet
Protocol for communication. It serves as a unique identifier for that
device on the internet or a local network.
IP addresses are essential for enabling devices to find and
communicate with each other across the internet or a local network,
ensuring data is delivered to the correct destination.
3.
Types of IPAddresses
1. IPv4 Addresses: The traditional 32-bit IP address format,
consisting of four octets (e.g., 192.168.1.1).
2. IPv6 Addresses: The new 128-bit IP address format, designed
to address the IPv4 address exhaustion issue (e.g.,
2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334).
3. Public IP Addresses: IP addresses that are accessible from the
internet, used for public-facing services.
4. Private IP Addresses: IP addresses reserved for use in private
networks, not routable on the public internet.
4.
IPv4 Addresses
IPv4, orInternet Protocol version 4, is the most widely used protocol
for internet communication. IPv4 addresses are 32-bit numbers
typically represented in dotted-decimal notation, such as
192.168.1.100. These addresses provide a limited number of unique
IP addresses, leading to the development of IPv6.
5.
IPv6 Addresses
IPv6, orInternet Protocol version 6, is the latest version of the
Internet Protocol, the communication protocol that provides an
identification and location system for devices on the internet. IPv6
addresses the limitations of the previous version, IPv4, by using a
much larger address space to accommodate the growing number of
connected devices worldwide.
IPv6 addresses are 128 bits long, compared to the 32-bit IPv4
addresses, allowing for a vast number of possible unique addresses.
This expanded address space enables more efficient routing and
improved security features, making IPv6 essential for the future of
the internet.
6.
IP Address Classes
IPaddresses are categorized into different classes based on the
network and host portions of the address. The most common classes
are Class A, Class B, and Class C, which differ in the number of
available network and host addresses.
1. Class A: Designed for large networks with a high number of hosts.
2. Class B: Suitable for medium-sized networks with a moderate
number of hosts.
3. Class C: Intended for smaller networks with a limited number of hosts.
7.
Class AAddresses
Class AIP addresses are the largest and most flexible type of IPv4
addresses. They are designed for networks with a large number of
hosts and provide a wide range of unique IP addresses.
Class A addresses have the first octet in the range of 1 to 126, with
the remaining three octets available for host addresses. This allows
for up to 16 million unique IP addresses per network.
8.
Class B Addresses
ClassB IP addresses are a mid-range IP address class, ranging from
128.0.0.0 to 191.255.255.255. They provide a larger address space
than Class A, with up to 16,384 networks and 65,534 hosts per
network.
Class B addresses are commonly used by medium to large
organizations that require a significant number of IP addresses. They
offer more flexibility and scalability than Class C addresses.
9.
Class C Addresses
ClassC addresses are the most commonly used IP address range,
covering 16,777,216 IP addresses from 192.0.0.0 to 223.255.255.255.
They have a default subnet mask of 255.255.255.0, allowing for up to
254 host devices per network.
Class C networks are suitable for small to medium-sized
organizations, providing a manageable number of IP addresses while
maintaining a high level of network security and control.
10.
IP Address Representation
IPaddresses can be represented in various formats, including dotted-
decimal notation for IPv4 and colon-separated hexadecimal notation
for IPv6. These representations allow for clear and concise
communication of IP address information.
For example, the IPv4 address 192.168.1.100 is a common
representation, with each octet separated by a period. Similarly, the
IPv6 address 2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334 uses colons
to separate the hexadecimal groups.