IP addresses

Understanding IP Addresses

  • IP Addresses: are unique identifiers assigned to each device connected to a network. They take the form of four sets of numbers separated by periods (e.g. 192.168.0.1).

  • IPv4: IP version 4 is the fourth version of IP. It uses 32-bit addresses which allows for a maximum of approximately 4.3 billion unique addresses.

  • IPv6: IP version 6 uses a 128-bit address, allowing for a much larger number of unique addresses. This is beginning to replace IPv4 due to the increase in devices needing unique IP addresses.

Role of IP Addresses

  • Device Identification: IP addresses allow for devices to be unique identified on a network, ensuring data gets to the correct destination.

  • Network Navigation: Routing of data by routers is decided by the IP address of the destination device.

Static and Dynamic IP Addresses

  • Static IP Addresses: These are IP addresses that are manually assigned to a device and do not change.

  • Dynamic IP Addresses: These are assigned by the network (via DHCP) whenever a device connects, and can change over time.

Private and Public IP Addresses

  • Private IP Addresses: These are used within a network and are not accessible from the internet (e.g. 192.168.0.1).

  • Public IP Addresses: These are unique across the whole of the internet and are used to connect to websites and servers online.

Subnet Mask

  • Subnet Mask: Used alongside the IP address, it helps the device determine which network the IP address belongs to.