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  The Internet runs on TCP/IP. We might as well include AI in the mix, but how about AI? TCP/IP allows devices, services, applications, and data to communicate with other devices, services, applications, and data. How does AI talk? This is why I love networking, and the thought of how AI communicates makes me hopeful that the field will survive extensive job replacements. Unless self-healing networks actually come.  I have been reading more into MCP. What exactly is it? Is it necessary for AI models and agents to communicate? Did you know AI agents have their own social media?? Biggest of all, is there any correlation between MCP and TCP/IP for model communication? Can MCP take notes from TCP/IP, or will it rewrite networking? This post explores Model Context Protocol through parallels with TCP/IP to understand how AI communication can become more structured, standardized, and consistent. What is MCP? To understand MCP, a good place to start is APIs. To understand APIs,...

IPv4 has been dealing with burnout since 2011. Yet we work it to the ground by finding workarounds. Why? The Internet as we know it still runs on it. IPv6 is not as pervasive or widely accepted as IPv4 and often requires adding new infrastructure or reworking what is already in place. So far, the alternatives have extended the use of IPv4 beyond its intended design.  How have we continued to stretch IPv4? If you are studying networking, building a home lab, or managing large-scale networks, these techniques should ring a bell. This post will revisit four current IPv4 workarounds.  Workaround #1 - Private IP Addresses Instead of every server, device, and client getting their own public IP address and taking up space, private IP addresses provide reusable address spaces for local networks. These addresses are not directly accessible via the Internet. Routers will drop external traffic trying to directly access them.  To the outside world, only public IP addresses are...

 It is time for IPv6. Not just for our network infrastructure, but for this series. The IPv4 section has come to an end, and now it is time for a deep dive into IPv6. More than ever, it is time to consider systems that can handle heavier workloads, more devices, and fewer address limitations - AI agents, IoT devices, edge computing. This post will examine why we need IPv6 and why it is an important network solution.   Why do we need IPv6? We need more space. IPv6 literally increases the address space exponentially. The IPv6 address space is 2 128 total addresses, 3.4 followed by 38 zeroes. Technology is no longer limited to servers, office computers, and mobile devices. Today's systems integrate AI infrastructure, edge computing, IoT devices, cloud networking, virtual machines, and more. Simply, more devices mean more space.  We need more scalability. As more devices connect to systems, administrators need to consider not only the number but the distribution. System...

We have already discussed three private ranges used in classful and classless subnetting. The list does not stop there. This post identifies five types of special IP addresses that you will encounter. By the end of this post, you should have a clearer understanding of how these addresses are used in troubleshooting, how they appear on certification exams, and how they shape the way traffic moves across the Internet. 1. Loopback Address (127.0.0.1) Every networked device has a loopback address. Most commonly, it is 127.0.0.1 . The loopback address is typically used to test internal connections. You may wonder, “Why do I need to know if my device can connect to itself? Shouldn’t it connect to other resources and the Internet?” Think about it this way. Before you walk out the door, you make sure you look presentable by taking a shower, brushing your teeth, ironing your clothes, and checking yourself in the mirror. Once everything looks good, you are ready to go. Similarly, your comput...

  NodeConnect IP Subnet Calculator . . . CIDR: Calculate

 In the previous posts, we looked at what an IPv4 address is and how it is used.  Subnetting builds on that foundation and plays a major role in IP addressing, but many learners find it challenging at first.I was in the same boat at first. Now, it is a breeze. What has helped me, and how can you fly through subnetting? In this post, we will specifically focus on how classless addressing and variable length subnet masking is implemented within networks. If you would like to learn more about subnetting or need a refresher, see my other posts Subnets: Key to Network Organization   and Subnetting Tips .    Classful vs Classless What's the difference between these two addressing schemes? Let me ask you this: Have you ever tried on clothes and never could find the right size? It is too big or too small. The store doesn't have your size. What if you can get it tailor-made just for you?  Now imagine you could design a subnet the same way you design a custom sh...

Do you speak another language? Personally, I love learning new languages, but one of the hardest parts is translation. When it comes to networking, it is something similar. Devices within our home and office networks do not directly go to the internet. There needs to be a "translator". What does this have to do with public and private IPv4 addresses? In this post, we will explore: IPv4 Addresses Private Ranges  The difference and teamwork between NAT and PAT Helpful troubleshooting commands such as ipconfig or ping A demo that puts it altogether.  (Link to topology here .) By the end of this post, you will see how public and private IP addresses work together in action.  IPv4 Address Private Ranges RFC1918 Private IP Address Ranges Class IANA Blocks Range Total Addresses A 10.0.0.0/8 10.0.0.0 - 10.255.255.255 16.7 million (16,777,216) ...

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 I...

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...

I have done a few posts on subnetting and the inner workings of DHCP. I wanted to do a post on IPv6 and a hands-on demo on implementing DHCP on actual networking equipment. However, I missed a few parts that I would like to cover that would particularly help in understanding how IP works and why it is needed. Unlike the previous series, this will be a direct approach to a certain protocol: Internet Protocol (IP). I recently started my first series, covering important ports, protocols, and acronyms used in the networking field. However, I realized not only is it difficult to address the ones to mention, but for some letters it's hard to find. The intended structure was to have several per letter not just one. The idea seemed fun and engaging, however, doing over 20 posts alphabetically on acronyms, ports, and protocols lacks order and deviates from the direct approach I want this blog to have. For that reason, I am putting it on hold indefinitely. It was fun at first, but it was not...