What is IP Address

In order to provide computer to computer communication via Internet, we need a global

addressing scheme. Such an addressing is provided by Internet Protocol (IP) at the
network layer.

Every Host and router on the internet has an IP Address. This IP address is unique and
no two devices on the Internet can have the same address at the same time.

The most important features of an IP Address are:

• Unique.
• Globalized and Standardized.
• Essential.

 IP Address Versions

The original version of IP Address first introduced in the year 1983 in the ARPANET.
The first IP was IPv4 that was commercially used. IPv4 was entirely exhausted by the
internet users and internet service providers. It estimated that when the world’s
population was around 7 billion we had just 4.3 billion IP Address for use. Thus to
satisfy the ever-increasing need of IP Addresses, Internet Engineering Task Force
(IETF) came up with the new IPv6 in 1995, standardized in 1996. At present both IPv4
and IPv6 are in use, and both are entirely different from each other regarding providing
addresses.

 IPV4 Version

IP Address: 192.168.90.1
Binary notation: 11000000 . 10101000 . 01011010 . 00000001
The IPv4 is of size 32-bit storage of maximum that means we can store at max (232)
addresses. IPv4 has around 4 billion unique IP addresses.

IPv4 Address Classes

  IPv6 Version

With double colon -> 2001:0db7::54

Without double colon -> 2001:0db7:0000:0000:0000:0000:0000:0054
IPv6 uses 128 binary bits to create a single address
the IP address expressed by 8 groups of hexadecimal numbers. Here we used a colon
instead of dots to separate the sections of digits. Here if we find 2 colon side by side,
that means that all sections between them contain only 0’s.

 IP address Assignment

An IP Address is provided to us by our ISP, i.e., internet service provider. This address
can be of two types:

1. Static Address.
2. Dynamic Address.
If we need to set up a web server or an email service, then we need to use a Static IP
Address. Whereas if we want to surf the internet, we need a Dynamic IP Address.

1. Static IP Address
A static address is also known as a fixed address which means the system with static
address have the same address when it is connected over the internet too. These
addresses are excellent in terms for those who perform activities related to web hosting,
games, voice over internet protocol, etc., These addresses are generally used by
persons using commercial lease lines or the public organizations who need same IP
address every time.
ADVANTAGES:
• Address never change.
• Easy to maintain.
• Ideal for online gaming.
• Speedy and reliable.
• Less down-time.
• Remote access facility.
DISADVANTAGES:
• Static IP address needs to be configured manually.
• Expensive.
• Add to administrative overhead.
• More often there are IP address conflicts.
• Security threats.

2. Dynamic IP Address

The dynamic internet protocol address or in short dynamic IP address is a temporary

address assigned to our computing device when it connected to the network, the
dynamic address automatically assigned by our IPS. Every time our computer or router
reboot the IPS assigns a Dynamic IP address to our networking device using DHCP
protocol. We can check whether we are using a Dynamic IP address or Static IP
address by just checking, what the status of DHCP is. If DHCP enables set to YES, that
means we are using a Dynamic Address, and if the DHCP enable set to NO, then that
means we are using a Static Address. The dynamic address is assigned using Dynamic
Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) that the part of the TCP/IP Suite. The address
assigned by the DHCP has an expiration period after which the address can be given to
some other device if required, thus helping devices to share limited address space on
the network.
ADVANTAGES:
 • Flexible.
• Cost effective.
• Easier to setup and administer.
• Any no. of devices can be connected within internal network with internet
access to all devices.
• More privacy with changing IP address.
DISADVANTAGES:
 • Requires Dynamic Host configuration Protocol (DHCP) to obtain IP address.
• No remote access facility.

 Type of IP Addresses

There are two types of IP addresses:

A. Public IP Address
The public IP address is the unique address given to all computers attached to the
network. No two machines on the network can have the same IP address. Using these
addresses machines can exchange information between each other and can
communicate with one another over the network. The user has no control over the
Public IP address as it is provided to him by the ISP whenever the machine connected
to the internet. A public address can be of any nature, i.e., static or dynamic. It depends
upon the need and requirements of the user. Mostly the users have the dynamic type of
Public IP address.

B. Private IP Address
The organizations (IANA) that distribute the IP addresses for use have kept a range of
addresses as private addresses for the private network. Private addresses are the
addresses that are used by private networks like home or office networks. Here the
logic is that these addresses are used within single administration and not on the global
network or the internet. The range of addresses set aside for private networks is as
follows:
• 192.168.0.0 – 192.168.255.255 (total 65,536 IP addresses)
• 172.16.0.0 – 172.31.255.255 (total 1,048,576 IP addresses)
• 10.0.0.0 – 10.255.255.255 (total 16,777,216 IP addresses)
The device within a private network cannot be connected to the internet directly. If the
computer within private network can connect to internet or another network, then that
means those computers have both a public IP address as well as a private IP address
private IP address to communicate within the network and public IP address to
communicate over the internet. If we want to communicate with another private network,
then this could be achieved by using a router or a similar device like Network Address
Translation (NAT). We can see our computer’s private IP address by using the
command ipconfig IPV4 Address on the window command prompt. Mostly the private IP
addresses are of Static nature.