WHAT IS IP ADDRESS AND ITS STRUCTURE?

What is IP Address?

IP or Internet Protocol address is the core concept of networking. In fact, IP address is  the backbone of the networking. It is identifier that transmits data between two devices.The internet needs a way to differentiate between each computer and network devices and websites. It provides the way to do so. Therefore, IP Address is very important for a device to communicate over the internet. 

IP Address in one line:

Basically IP is a set of rules for data communication over the internet. It is a unique address consisting of a series of numbers that identifies your device over the Internet. Each device has unique IP address on the internet. It identify every single device on the internet.  Network devices uses IP to communicate with each other over the internet and other networks.Without an IP you can not access the internet.

Public And Private IPs

A public IP address introduce you to all over the internet so you can communicate with any device or system in the entire internet whereas, a private IP address is used only within a small network  to connect to the computers in that specific network A public IP is assigned by Internet Service Provider whereas the private IP address is assigned by the router in the network you are in. To access internet you must have a public IP address.

What is static and dynamic IP?

Static and dynamic IPs are two forms of public IP address. When an ISP assign an IP address, a static IP address remains the same. Though every individual or origination do not  really need a static IP address but every good ISP provides a static IP address to their clients especially to the WiFi connection. Some organizations which want to host their own server, its very important to have a static IP address. On the other hand, dynamic IPs changes after some time. Generally these IPs are assigned to wireless cellular internet connection. Automating regular IP address change gives the benefit of not to carry out specific actions to re-establish a client's IP address,  to the ISP. 

Hiding your public IP address

As we have learned, our IP address play the role of identifiers in the network and any computer or an other device can be tracked out using its public IP on the internet. To avoid this, we mask our ip address through tor nodes or a VPN. 

Parts of IP address

An IP address consist of two parts 

1. Network id

2. Host id

The network id identifies on which network the device is. And the host id indicates the specific device to which that IP is assigned.  Two computers on different networks can not have same network id but they can have same hosts id. Similarly,  two computers on same network can not have same host id but they have same network id.

Types

There are two types of IPs

IPv4

IP v6

Mostly when we call the word "IP" we are talking about IPv4. It is because IPv4 is used generally. When IP addressing was being introduced, we had no idea that we will be out of IPs one day. The internet grew very rapidly in large size that we get short of IPs. So the need of IPv6 arises. The difference between both IPs is in it's structure. Lets have ha look what is the structure of both of them.

IPv4:

IPv4 is 32 bit logical address consist of 4  segments. Each segment is completes an octet.lets suppose we have an IP address "192.168.0.16".  Now this IP consist of 4 parts and each part is a complete octet which means each part have eight bits. For example 192 consist of 8 bits then 168, then 0 then 1 so the total number of bits in IPv4 is 32. An IPv4 must have 4 octets. The maximum value in each octet can be 255 and the minimum value will be 0. And the first octet can never be 0 which we will discuss later. 

Classification:

IPv4 is classified in 5 classes

1. Class A starts from 1.0.0.0 to 126.0.0.0 and its 10.0.0.0 to 10.255.255.255 range is reserved for private. 

2.Class B ip starts from 128.0.0.0 to 191.255.0.0 and its 172.16.0.0 to 172.31.255.255 range is reserved for private. 

3. Class C ip starts from 192.0.0.0 to 223.255.255.0 and its 192.168.0.0 to 192.168.255.255 range is reserved for private. 

4. Class D ip starts from 224.0.0.0 to 239.255.255.255.

5. Class E ip starts from 240.0.0.0 to 255.255.255.255.

 Class A IPs are used to form a large network. On the other hand Class C IP is used for small network. While 

class B IP is used for a medium sze network. Class A, B, and C IPs are  most commonly used and class D E IPs are not so common. These are special purpose IPs. Class D IPs are used for multicasting and class E IPs are used for research. 

The IP range 127.0.0.1 to 127.255.255.255 also known as loop back address is used for testing purpose. Specifically, the IP 127.0.0.1 is mostly used to troubleshoot network connection problems.

Structure of IPv4

So we learned about the classes of IP. Now lets understand how to identify the network ID and host ID.

In class A IP the first 3 octets represents network address and the last octet represents the host address. So its structure will be N.N.N.H ( here N stands for network and H is resenting host). You can see that three octets are reserved therefore very large sized networked can be created using class A IP.

In class B IP the first 2 octets represents network address and the last two octets represents the host address. So its structure will be N.N.H.H and a medium sized network can be form using class B IP. 

In class C IP the first  octet represents network address and the last three octets represents the host address. So its structure will be N.H.H.H As there is only 1 octet reserved for network so this class IP is used to form a small network. 

IPv6 

IPv6 consist of 128 bits and 8 segments. It has no classes.  There is no broadcast in IPv6. And most important thing about it is that it is written in hexadecimal form. It provides quality network connection but unfortunately, it is very costly as compared to IPv4.

So here is an example of IPv6

FE80:CD00:0000:0CDE:1257:0000:211E:729C

So this was all about Internet Protocol. To learn further about it click here for detailed article about  subnet mask and decimal to binary conversion.

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