NodeConnect

There are two main types of IP addresses: IPv4 and IPv6. Many of us are familiar with the first option. The first post in this series included an interactive section where you could test IP addresses. Stay tuned for IPv6. The numbers may seem random, but did you know your IP address matters? It matters for our privacy and could also matter to external actors if they can gain access to our systems. I, however, am talking about what it could reveal. Is your IP address private or public? How much does that affect the number of IP addresses that can be on a network? How are IP addresses organized into classes? In this post, I'll focus on answering each of these questions. Structure of an IPv4 Address Follows a dotted-decimal notation Has four octets Each octet has a value between 0 and 255, made up of 8 bits Has a total length of 32 bits in binary form What are IP Clas...

Whenever you order at a fast-food restaurant, the cashier may give you a number or ask for the name on your order. When your order is ready, they will call your number or name so the correct person receives it. Similarly, devices on a network are assigned a unique number so information reaches its intended destination. This number is called an IP address. . . . Check Full IP IP Addresses are Unique Identifiers Every device on a network has an IP address that allows it to communicate with other devices. These addresses are unique within a network to ensure data reaches its intended destination. Imagine if two people had the same order number—there would be confusion about who ordered what. Similarly, without these identifiers, devices would not know where to send or receive data. Purposes of IP Addresses IP addresses serve several purposes, including: Routing: IP addresses operate at layer 3 of the TCP/IP or OSI model, also kno...