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How are ip addresses assigned.

How do IP Addresses get Aasigned?

When you're connected to a network, your computer or smart device will obtain an IP address either from your ISP or your router. There are 2 ways how you can assign an IP address to your device: (1) dynamically via DHCP or (2) statically by manually assigning an IP address yourself. In either case, you must use the IP address that is provided to you by your ISP, or the IP range you allocated yourself within your private space (i.e. private IP address).

How are IP addresses allocated?

Before we can discuss IP assignment, we need to understand how IP addresses are allocated. There are two versions of IP addresses: IPv4 (version 4) and IPv6 (version 6). There are numerical differences , but they essentially serves the same purpose by uniquely identifying a device on the Internet. There are a few organizations that allocate and manage IP addresses globally, and they are:

  • ICAAN (The Internet Corporation for Names & Numbers): ICANN manages supply of all IPv4 and IPv6 addresses as well as domain name system ( DNS ) and Root Servers.
  • IANA (Internet Assigned Numbers Authority): IANA is a part of ICANN that maintains technical aspect of the DNS. DNS is the system that translates human-readable domain names to machine friendly IP addresses.
  • ARIN (American Registry for Internet Numbers): ARIN is a region specific organization that manages IP addresses for the USA, Canada, Caribbean and North Atlantic islands.
  • ISP (Internet Service Providers): ISPs reach out to ARIN and register blocks of IP addresses (i.e. class A, B and C). In addition to ISPs, large corporations may reach out to ARIN to register blocks of IP address for their corporate use.
  • RIR (Regional Internet Registry): Much like the ARIN for managing IP address for North American region, RIR manages IP addresses for rest of the world.

As ARIN and RIR manages IP addresses for the region, they allocate and deallocate IP addresses for countries, ISPs and corporations. A larger blocks of IP addresses are assigned to countries, the accuracy of IP location for country level is approximately 95% - 98% depending on the provider.

Once one or more blocks of IP addresses are assigned to an ISP or Corporation, the organization assigns the IP address to its customers. When you purchase the Internet Service from an ISP, you have an option to obtain static (non-changing) or dynamic (changing) IP Address(es). Most home users obtain a dynamic IP address, and small businesses may obtain static IP addresses. The IP addresses obtained from an ISP are "public" IP addresses which are a globally unique number within the Internet.

Once the IP address is obtained by your router from your ISP, you have an option to create a private network by assigning private IP addresses to your devices that are not globally unique, but unique within your private network.

IP addresses are governed by ICANN, and ARIN and RIR are responsible for allocating IP addresses to ISPs and Corporations within its regions. IANA manages DNS for translating domain names to IP addresses. The IP addresses are then assigned to individuals or small businesses either statically or dynamically via DHCP, and every computing devices on the Internet must have an IP address to communicate with each other.

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Table of Contents

What is an IP address?

An Internet Protocol (IP) address is like a phone number for your computer. Just like you need to dial a phone number to reach someone, your computer (or computing device, such as a smartphone or tablet) needs an IP address to reach other devices on the network.

The history of IPv4 dates back to the early 1980s when the internet was a private network solely used by the military. Despite its initial intended purpose, it quickly grew in popularity, leading to an eventual shortage of IPv4 addresses due to all the different networks and devices now accessing the internet. 

The total pool of 4.3 billion IPv4 addresses initially seemed like ample amounts; however, this figure quickly proved incapable of meeting demands. The depletion of available IPv4 began as early as the 1990s. Clever technical networking tricks have managed to delay this exhaustion and allow us access to IPv4 transactions even today.

IPv6 is the most recent variation of the Internet Protocol, granting more computer systems and devices access to the internet than ever before. IPv6 is designed to enable routing only within a local area network (LAN) or subnetwork.

How IP addressing works

There are two types of IP addresses, IPv4 and IPv6, and they work a little differently from each other—specifically, IPv4 is a 32-bit address while IPv6 is 128 bits.

IPv4 addressing

IPv4 uses 32 bits, and its address format is usually a unique string of numbers and letters that looks something like this: 123.123.123.123. Each IP address comprises four sets of numbers separated by periods, each ranging from 0 to 255.

IPv4 addresses are composed of two parts: the network ID and the host ID. The network ID identifies the network a device is connected to, while the host ID identifies a specific device on that network.

The network ID is typically expressed in dotted decimal notation, which is a series of three numbers separated by dots. Each number can range from 0 to 255, forming an 8-bit binary number. The host ID is also expressed in dotted decimal notation, but it can be any combination of numbers up to 32 bits long.

For example, take the IP address 192.168.1.20.

The first part, 192.168.1, represents the network ID, while the last part, 20, represents the device ID.

Usually, a device ID 1 is allocated to the router while subsequent numbers 2 and onwards are used to identify other devices on the network.

Together, these two parts make up an IPv4 address and allow devices to communicate with each other over the internet. By knowing both the network ID and host ID, devices can send and receive data from one another without knowing each other’s exact location or IP address.

IPv6 addressing

Like IPv4, an IPv6 address is made up of two distinct parts: a network component and a participant/node component. However, IPv6 uses 128 bits for its address instead of the 32 bits allowed by IPv4. This provides users with a much greater range of addresses than IPv4, enabling every device to have a unique address.

Represented in hexadecimal format, each IPv6 address includes eight groups separated by colons. For example, 2620:0aba2:0d01:2042:0100:8c4d:d370:72b4.

6 types of IP addresses

Within the two types of IPv4 and IPv6 addresses, there are also several other classifications to be aware of: internal versus external IPv4, static versus dynamic IP addresses, and special address formats for particular purposes.

Internal IPv4 addresses (local/private)

Internal IPv4 addresses are used for private networks, such as LANs. They’re not visible on the public internet; only devices connected to the same subnetwork can see each other’s internal IP address. These IP addresses generally start with 192.168.x.x, 10.0.x.x, or 172.16-31.x.x and cannot be accessed from directly outside the network. In other words, they are not globally routable.

External IPv4 addresses (public)

External IPv4 addresses are used to connect to the public internet and make websites available on the World Wide Web. They’re assigned by internet service providers (ISPs) and are usually dynamic, meaning they can change over time. They do not start with 192.168 or 10.0, as these numbers signify private IP addresses. Being public IP addresses means they’re globally routable.

Static IP addresses

A static IP address remains constant over time, allowing for a more reliable connection on the network. This type of address is beneficial when computers need to access the same resource regularly, such as remote desktop access and file sharing between devices. Static IPs remain unchanged until manually changed by an administrator.

Dynamic IP addresses

A dynamic IP address changes each time you connect to a new network. This type of address is beneficial for reducing the amount of IP address space needed from the ISP, as well as providing a more secure connection. Dynamic IP addresses are assigned to each computer or device on the network when they join it. External IP addresses are almost always dynamic.

Special IP addresses

Special IP addresses are used to identify particular services, such as servers, web hosting, and other uses. These special-use IP addresses include the IANA IPv4 Special-Purpose Address Registry, loopback addresses, wildcard addresses, multicast addresses, limited broadcasts, and directed broadcasts.

IANA IPv4 Special-Purpose Address Registry

IANA IPv4 Special-Purpose Address Registry is a registry managed by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) for protocol assignments in the address block of 192.0.0.0/24. It consists of all the current IETF assignments from this particular address block and provides a convenient centralized database for tracking protocol assignment usage. It’s an important resource for those needing special-purpose IP addresses, as it provides easy access to the latest updates and provides information about IETF-assigned protocol assignments.

Loopback address

A loopback address is a special IP address that serves as a virtual interface, allowing your computer to connect to itself. It’s usually used for testing or diagnostics purposes, such as checking network configurations and running programs that require two or more network connections simultaneously. On IPv4, this address ranges from 127.0.0.1 to 127.255.255.255.

Wildcard address

A wildcard address is a special IP address that matches any host or domain name, allowing for a broad range of access from the same source IP address. It’s commonly used for websites and applications needing multiple services from the same IP address. Wildcard addresses are usually in the form of an asterisk (*) followed by a number or string that matches any IP address.

Multicast address

A multicast address is a special type of IP address used for sending data to multiple computers on a network simultaneously. It’s a helpful tool for sending large files, such as multimedia streams and video, as it reduces bandwidth usage by sending the same data stream to multiple computers at once. Multicast addresses range between 224.0.0.1 and 239.255.255.255 on IPv4 networks.

Limited broadcast

A limited broadcast is a special type of IP address used to send data to a specific subnet. It’s used to find the gateway address on a network or to send messages out to all hosts within a certain range. Limited broadcasts are usually in the form of an IP address with all 255s in the last octet.

Directed broadcast

A directed broadcast is a special type of IP address used to send data to all computers on an external network. It’s usually used for network administration, such as notifying all computers on the network about a change in configuration or retrieving information from multiple sources.

Different formats of IPv6 addresses

Since IPv6 addresses consist of 128 bits (in contrast to IPv4’s 32 bits), they allow for much greater variation and flexibility than IPv4. Three of the most common types of IPv6 addresses are global unicast, link local, and unique local addresses.

Global unicast address

Global unicast addresses are globally unique IP addresses assigned to a single interface or host. These addresses are used for communication between two systems over the public internet, or within a private network. Global unicast addresses are structured in eight 16-bit blocks, each separated by a colon (e.g., 2001:0db8:0000:0000:0000:ff00:0042:8329).

Link-local address

Link-local addresses are used for communication between nodes on the same local link or subnet. Link-local addresses are not routable over the public internet but can be used within a private network. Link-local addresses start with fe80::/10 and have a 64-bit interface identifier appended at the end (e.g., fe80::d3b0:f2f7:a5b1).

Unique local address

Unique local addresses (ULAs) are similar to global unicast addresses, but they are only intended for use within private networks and cannot be routed over the public internet. ULAs start with fc00::/7 and have a 40-bit randomly generated interface identifier appended at the end (e.g., fd37:6c82:f9a5::1).

How to find your IP address

Knowing your IP address can be useful in many different ways, from troubleshooting network issues to accessing geo-restricted content. Here’s how you can look up your IP address on Mac and Windows computers.

How to find your IP address on a Mac (OS X 10.5 and later)

There are two methods for finding your IP address on macOS devices: through your System Preferences, or in your macOS Terminal.

How to find your IP address in macOS using System Preferences

  • Go to the Apple menu and select System Preferences.
  • Click on Network.
  • Select your active network connection, such as AirPort or Ethernet, from the list on the left.
  • Your IP address will be displayed in the IPv4 Address field to the right.

How to find your IP address in macOS Terminal

  • Open the Terminal application located in Applications > Utilities.
  • For Ethernet: ipconfig getifaddr en1
  • For Wi-Fi: ipconfig getifaddr en0
  • For public IP address: curl ifconfig.me
  • The command will return your IP address.

How to find your IP address on Windows 11

On Windows, you can find your IP address in your system settings, or via command prompt.

  • How to find your IP address in your Windows Settings
  • Open the Settings app.
  • Click on Network & internet.
  • Click Properties, and scroll down to see your IP address.

How to find your IP address in Windows using Command Prompt

  • Open the Command Prompt by typing cmd into the Windows search bar.
  • To find your public IP address, type nslookup myip.opendns.com. resolver1.opendns.com into the Command Prompt and press Enter.
  • Your IP address will be listed under IPv4 Address.

How to find your IP address on any device

The fastest and easiest way to find your public IPv4 or IPv6 address is simply to fire up Google, type in “my ip,” and click search.

Why you might want to know your IP address

One of the most common reasons you would want to find your IP address is to troubleshoot network issues. Your IP address can help you identify problems with your internet connection or router, as well as help diagnose any technical issues you may be having with other devices on the same network.

You may also want to access geo-restricted content. Many websites and streaming services use your IP address to determine where you are located and block access if you’re outside their allowed area. Knowing your IP address can help you bypass these restrictions by using a virtual private network (VPN) .

In addition, knowing your IP address is necessary when setting up new devices on your network. For example, when configuring a wireless printer or router, you must know the IP address to connect it properly.

Further, if you need to access a device remotely over the internet, you’ll need to know its IP address and your own to configure the connection.

Finally, some people are just curious. It’s always interesting to know more about how the internet works, and understanding what an IP address is and how it functions can be a great way to learn more about the technology behind it all.

IP address security threats

IP address information is valuable to cybercriminals, as it can be used to track and target you or your business. Some of the main security threats include tracking and online stalking, spoofing, hacking your devices, or attacking your network.

  • Tracking and online stalking: Criminals or people/entities with nefarious intentions can use IP address information to find out where you are geographically located and use other services to determine your identity or even where you live.
  • Spoofing: Spoofing attacks are when a cyber attacker creates data packets with a false IP source address in order to trick the firewall or receiver into believing it’s safe.
  • Hacking your devices: Knowing your IP address can allow malicious actors to identify vulnerabilities in your device and attempt to gain access or even seize control.
  • Attacking your network: Cybercriminals can also use IP addresses to target a group of devices, such as a home network or business servers, in an attempt to gain access and carry out malicious activities. Knowing the IP addresses of an organization is also a prelude to a DDoS attack .

Many of these risks can be mitigated by using a virtual private network (VPN) or taking other security measures, such as regularly changing your IP address and maintaining an effective, advanced firewall .

Bottom line: Understanding IP addresses

IP addresses are an integral component of the internet and how it functions. It’s important to understand the basics of how IP addresses work and the different types of IP addresses.

Knowing your own IP address can come in handy for purposes as diverse as gaming, setting up remote access, or troubleshooting network issues.

It’s also important to be aware of the potential security threats associated with having an active IP address and take the necessary steps to mitigate the risks.

Using a virtual private network (VPN) to hide your IP address can help protect your network and let you browse more freely. Here’s a guide to the top VPN services available today.

Kihara Kimachia

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IP Address Definition and Explanation

An Internet Protocol (IP) address is the unique identifying number assigned to every device connected to the internet. An IP address definition is a numeric label assigned to devices that use the internet to communicate. Computers that communicate over the internet or via local networks share information to a specific location using IP addresses.

IP addresses have two distinct versions or standards. The Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) address is the older of the two, which has space for up to 4 billion IP addresses and is assigned to all computers. The more recent Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) has space for trillions of IP addresses, which accounts for the new breed of devices in addition to computers. There are also several types of IP addresses, including public, private, static, and dynamic IP addresses .

Every device with an internet connection has an IP address, whether it's a computer, laptop, IoT device, or even toys.  The IP addresses allow for the efficient transfer of data between two connected devices, allowing machines on different networks to talk to each other.

How Does an IP Address Work?

An IP address works in helping your device, whatever you are accessing the internet on, to find whatever data or content is located to allow for retrieval. 

Common tasks for an IP address include both the identification of a host or a network, or identifying the location of a device. An IP address is not random. The creation of an IP address has the basis of math.  The Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) allocates the IP address and its creation. The full range of IP addresses can go from 0.0.0.0 to 255.255.255.255.  

With the mathematical assignment of an IP address, the unique identification to make a connection to a destination can be made.  

Public IP Address

A public IP address, or external-facing IP address, applies to the main device people use to connect their business or home internet network to their internet service provider (ISP). In most cases, this will be the router. All devices that connect to a router communicate with other IP addresses using the router’s IP address.

Knowing an external-facing IP address is crucial for people to open ports used for online gaming, email and web servers, media streaming, and creating remote connections.

Private IP Address

A private IP address, or internal-facing IP address, is assigned by an office or home intranet (or local area network) to devices, or by the internet service provider (ISP). The home/office router manages the private IP addresses to the devices that connect to it from within that local network. Network devices are thus mapped from their private IP addresses to public IP addresses by the router.

Private IP addresses are reused across multiple networks, thus preserving valuable IPv4 address space and extending addressability beyond the simple limit of IPv4 addressing (4,294,967,296 or 2^32).

In the IPv6 addressing scheme, every possible device has its own unique identifier assigned by the ISP or primary network organization, which has a unique prefix. Private addressing is possible in IPv6, and when it's used it's called Unique Local Addressing (ULA).

Static IP Address

All public and private addresses are defined as static or dynamic. An IP address that a person manually configures and fixes to their device’s network is referred to as a static IP address. A static IP address cannot be changed automatically. An internet service provider may assign a static IP address to a user account. The same IP address will be assigned to that user for every session.

Dynamic IP Address

A dynamic IP address is automatically assigned to a network when a router is set up. The Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) assigns the distribution of this dynamic set of IP addresses. The DHCP can be the router that provides IP addresses to networks across a home or an organization.

Each time a user logs into the network, a fresh IP address is assigned from the pool of available (currently unassigned) IP addresses. A user may randomly cycle through several IP addresses across multiple sessions.

What are the four types of IP addresses

What Is IPv4?

IPv4 is the fourth version of the IP. It is one of the core protocols of the standards-based methods used to interconnect the internet and other networks. The protocol was first deployed on the Atlantic Packet Satellite Network (SATNET), which was a satellite network that formed a segment of the initial stages of the internet, in 1982. It is still used to route most internet traffic despite the existence of IPv6.

IPv4 is currently assigned to all computers. An IPv4 address uses 32-bit binary numbers to form a unique IP address. It takes the format of four sets of numbers, each of which ranges from 0 to 255 and represents an eight-digit binary number, separated by a period point. 

IP Address Classes

Some IP addresses are reserved by the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA). These are typically reserved for networks that carry a specific purpose on the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) , which is used to interconnect devices. Four of these IP address classes include:

  • 0.0.0.0 : This IP address in IPv4 is also known as the default network. It is the non-routeable meta address that designates an invalid, non-applicable, or unknown network target.
  • 127.0.0.1 : This IP address is known as the loopback address, which a computer uses to identify itself regardless of whether it has been assigned an IP address.
  • 169.254.0.1 to 169.254.254.254 : A range of addresses that are automatically assigned if a computer is unsuccessful in an attempt to receive an address from the DHCP.
  • 255.255.255.255 : An address dedicated to messages that need to be sent to every computer on a network or broadcasted across a network.

Further reserved IP addresses are for what is known as subnet classes. Subnetworks are small computer networks that connect to a bigger network via a router. The subnet can be assigned its own IP address system, so that all devices connecting to it can communicate with each other without having to send data via the wider network. 

The router on a TCP/IP network can be configured to ensure it recognizes subnets, then route the traffic onto the appropriate network. IP addresses are reserved for the following subnets:

  • Class A : IP addresses between 10.0.0.0 and 10.255.255.255
  • Class B : IP addresses between 172.16.0.0 and 172.31.255.255
  • Class C : IP addresses between 192.186.0.0 and 192.168.255.255
  • Class D or multicast : IP addresses between 224.0.0.0 and 239.255.255.255
  • Class E, which are reserved for experimental usage : IP addresses between 240.0.0.0 and 254.255.255.254

IP addresses listed under Class A, Class B, and Class C are most commonly used in the creation of subnets. Addresses within the multicast or Class D have specific usage rules outlined in the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) guidelines, while the release of Class E addresses for public use was the cause of plenty of debate before the IPv6 standard was introduced.

Internet Addresses and Subnets

The IANA reserves specific IP address blocks for commercial organizations, government departments, and ISPs. When a user connects to the internet, their ISP assigns them an address from within one of the blocks assigned to it. If they only go online from one computer, then they can use the address assigned to it by their ISP. 

However, most homes now use routers that share a network connection with multiple devices. So if a router is used to share the connection, then the ISP assigns the IP address to the router, and then a subnet is created for all computers that connect to it. 

IP addresses that fall within a subnet have a network and a node. The subnet is identified by the network. The node, also known as the host, connects to the network and needs its own address. Computers separate the network and node via a subnet mask, which filters the appropriate IP address designation. When a large network is set up, the subnet mask that best fits the number of nodes or subnets required is determined. 

When it comes to IP addresses within a subnet, the first address is reserved for the subnet, and the final one indicates the broadcast address for the subnet’s systems.

IPv4 vs. IPv6

IPv4 has not been able to cope with the massive explosion in the quantity and range of devices beyond simply mobile phones, desktop computers, and laptops. The original IP address format was not able to handle the number of IP addresses being created.

To address this problem, IPv6 was introduced. This new standard operates a hexadecimal format that means billions of unique IP addresses can now be created. As a result, the IPv4 system that could support up to around 4.3 billion unique numbers has been replaced by an alternative that, theoretically, offers unlimited IP addresses.

That is because an IPv6 IP address consists of eight groups that contain four hexadecimal digits, which use 16 distinct symbols of 0 to 9 followed by A to F to represent values of 10 to 15.

How Do I Locate My IP Address?

Windows computer users can look up their IP address by typing "cmd" into the search tab and hitting Enter, then typing "ipconfig" into the pop-up box. Mac computer users can find their IP address by heading into System Preferences and selecting Network. 

To look up an IP address on a mobile phone, users need to head into Settings, then open the Wi-Fi menu and their network menu. The IP address should be listed under the Advanced section, depending on the phone they use.

IP Address vs. MAC Address

When you analyze an IP address vs. a MAC address, you can start with the similarities. For both of these IP address types, you are dealing with a unique identifier with an attachment to that device. The manufacturer of a network card or router is the provider of the MAC address, while the internet service provider (ISP) is the provider of the IP address.

The main difference between the two is that the MAC address is the physical address of a device. If you have five laptops on your home Wi-Fi network, you can identify each of those five laptops on your network via their MAC address.  

The IP address works differently as it is the identifier of the connection of the network with that device. Other differences include:

  • A MAC address is a 6-byte hexadecimal address while an IP address is a 4 or 16-byte address.
  • A MAC address is in a data link layer, while an IP address is in a network layer.
  • A third party will have a difficult time finding a MAC address, while it can easily find an IP address.
  • MAC addresses are static, while IP addresses can change dynamically 
  • MAC addresses and IP addresses are necessary to get a network packet to a destination.  However, no one can see your MAC address unless they are on your LAN.

What Are Security Threats Related to IP Addresses?

A variety of security threats are related to IP addresses. Cybercriminals can deceive devices to either reveal your IP address and pretend they are you or stalk it to track activity and take advantage. Online stalking and social engineering are the two leading security threats existing for IP addresses.  

Some of the other security threats to an IP address include:

  • Allowing a cybercriminal to use your IP address to track your location
  •  Using your IP address to target your network and launch a DDoS attack
  • Using your IP address to download illegal content

5 Ways to Protect Your IP Address

There are multiple ways to protect your IP address from cybercriminals. Some of these options include:

  •  Make use of a proxy server
  • Have your ISP make use of dynamic IP addresses
  • Employ a NAT firewall to hide your private IP address
  • Resetting your modem may change your IP address

Frequently Asked Questions about IP Address

What is the use of an ip address.

An IP address identifies every device connected to the internet. This enables computers and other internet-connected devices, such as mobile phones and Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices, to communicate over the internet and on local-area networks (LANs). 

What happens if someone has your IP address?

The chances of being hacked through someone having your IP address is quite low. With an IP address, a user's location can be narrowed down to a specific area. A skilled cyber criminal could potentially work out who their ISP is and then use phishing attacks to find their personal details. A bigger concern might be IP addresses being sold on the dark web alongside other personal information. 

An IP address is more likely to be used by content providers to target the user with content restrictions based on their geographical region. For example, services like Hulu and Netflix read IP addresses to prevent their U.S. content from being accessed by people outside the country. 

What are the two types of IP addresses?

The two types of IP addresses are public IP addresses and private IP addresses. A public IP address is the main device people use to connect to the internet, which is typically their router. Private IP addresses are assigned to the devices that connect to the public IP address, such as desktop computers, mobile devices, laptops, printers, smart TVs, and tablets.

What is the 192.168 IP address?

The 192.168 IP address is where the private IP address range begins. This goes all the way through to 192.168.255.255. This IP address is not usually used on a network, and devices like computers and mobile phones will not be assigned it.

What is a loopback IP address?

The loopback IP address is 127.0.0.1. The loopback IP address is used by a computer to identify itself, regardless of whether or not it has been assigned an IP address.

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Josh Fruhlinger

What is an IP address? And what is your IP address?

IP addresses are one of the fundamental building blocks of the internet, but could pose a potential security liability, if an attacker were to get ahold of yours.

IP addresses [IPv4, IPv6] identify laptop computers as a team meets.

An IP address is a long string of numbers assigned to every device connected to a network that uses Internet Protocol as the medium for communication; it’s the digital world’s equivalent of the mailing address associated with your home or workplace.

The way Internet Protocol works is that information is transmitted over the network in discrete chunks called  packets;  each packet is mostly made up of whatever data the sender is trying to communicate, but also includes a  header,  consisting of metadata about that packet.

Among other pieces of data stored in the packet header are the IP address of the device that sent the packet and the IP address of device where the packet is heading. Routers and other network infrastructure use this information to make sure the packets get to where they’re supposed to go.

How does DNS match domain names to IP addresses?

Nobody types IP addresses into a browser search field; we use domain names like Network World, CNN or Twitter. The  Domain Name System, or DNS , another part of the Internet protocol suite, makes sure that requests made using domain names reach the correct IP address.

You can think of DNS as representing a more user-friendly layer on top of the IP-address infrastructure. However, the IP address remains the fundamental way that internet-connected devices are found, and in some circumstances a domain name can correspond to multiple servers with different IP addresses.

What’s the difference between IPv4 and IPv6 addresses?

  There are two versions of IP addresses:  IPv4 and IPv6 , and they have different formats, the major difference between them being that it’s possible to create vastly more unique IPv6 addresses (2 128 ) than IPv4 addresses (2 32 ).

IPv4 addresses are written in four parts separated by dots like this: 45.48.241.198. Each part written in conventional Base 10 numerals represents an eight-bit binary number from 0 to 255.

Each of these four numbers separated by dots is written in standard decimal notation. But computers fundamentally deal with numbers in binary (using zeroes and ones, and each of the numbers in an IPv4 address represents an 8-bit binary number, which means that none of them can be higher than 255 (111111 in binary).

It’s quite likely that you’ve seen IP addresses like that one before since they’ve been around since 1983. The newer version of the protocol, IPv6, is slowly displacing IPv4, and its addressing looks like this: 2620:cc:8000:1c82:544c:cc2e:f2fa:5a9b

Note that instead of four numbers, there are eight, and they’re separated by colons rather than dots. And yes, they are all numbers. There are letters in there because IPv6 addresses are written in hexadecimal (Base 16) notation, which means 16 different symbols are required to uniquely represent Base 10 numbers 1-16. The ones used are numerals 0-9 plus letters A-F. Each of these numbers represents a 16-bit binary number, and the difference between these numbers and the 8-bit components of an IPv4 address is the main reason for IPv6’s existence.

IPv4 addresses are 32-bit numbers, and the total number of possible addresses of that length is the 2 32  mentioned above—about 4.3 billion. That number that seemed sufficient in the early days of the internet, but began to loom as a potential crisis as internet-connected devices multiplied

The anxiety that IPv4 addresses were going to run out is what drove the development of IPv6. . IPv6 addresses are 128-bit numbers, which means that there are 2 128  possible addresses, a number that we’re not going to bother writing out because it’s 39 digits long, but it’s called 340 undecillion.

In practice, IPv4 addresses are still widely used and not that hard to come by. This has to do with how IP addresses are assigned to network-connected devices and how private networks can be created with their own restricted set of IP addresses.

How are IP addresses assigned?

As the International Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA)  puts it , “Both IPv4 and IPv6 addresses are generally assigned in a hierarchical manner,” and IANA is at the top of the hierarchy. IANA assigns blocks of IP addresses to regional internet registries (you can see  which address ranges go with which regions here ).

The regional registries in turn assign smaller blocks to national registries, and so on down the line, with blocks eventually being assigned to individual internet service providers (ISP), which in this context include mobile phone companies. It’s the ISPs that assign specific IP addresses to individual devices, and there are a couple of ways they can do this.

What’s the difference between static vs. dynamic IP addresses?

A  static  IP address is one that’s been assigned by an ISP to a device and is guaranteed to remain constant. If your computer’s address is 45.48.241.198, it will stay that way as long as you want it to. Static IP addresses are important for devices that need to be easily found on the internet, like web servers or gaming servers. Generally speaking, an ISP will charge a customer extra for an assigned static IP address.

From the perspective of the ISP, which has a limited number of IPv4 addresses to hand out, one downside of leasing a static address is that the address is unavailable to anyone else. But the huge majority of end users only need an address when they’re actually accessing the internet. For those users, ISPs assign  dynamic  IP addresses, basically handing out a new address to a device every time it connects to the network, and putting that address back into a pool of available addresses when the device disconnects. This technique helps conserve IP addresses. If an ISP has a million customers but only half are online at given time, the ISP doesn’t need a million addresses in its pool.

For IPv4 networks, the process of assigning IP addresses dynamically is governed by the  Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol, (DHCP) , which, among other things, automates most of the process and ensures that no two devices are assigned the same address at the same time.

IPv6 was designed to support stateless IP address autoconfiguration (SLAAC), in which a device itself essentially grabs an address from the available pool when it connects to the network. However, there’s also  DHCPv6, an updated version of the DHCP protocol that keeps more control in the hands of network providers .

What are public vs. private IP addresses?

So far, we’ve been talking about IP addresses and potentially running out of them as if there were one set of addresses for the entire planet, with no repeats. But that’s not strictly true. In fact, it’s probably not true for most devices you use in a day-to-day basis and not all of the 4.3 billion IPv4 addresses are available to publicly connected devices.

A typical home or corporate network connects to the public internet via a router, and it’s this router that’s assigned an IP address by the ISP. From the perspective of the outside world, all traffic from devices on that local network are coming from that  public  IP address; but inside the network, each device (including the router) has a local  private  IP address, usually assigned by the router via DHCP.

These addresses are considered private because they’re only used for directing packets within the local, private network, and can’t be seen by anyone outside the network. As result, the same IP address can be used on an infinite number of private networks without causing confusion. In fact, there are blocks of IP addresses specifically set aside for use on these private networks. (For small home networks, addresses starting with 192.168 are quite common.)

The job of the router is to alter the origin and destination IP addresses in each packet’s headers as needed as it passes between the private network and the public internet, a process known as  network address translation, or NAT .

There are several methods for doing this. One common way is to associate each device on the internal network with a network port that is listed in the packet header. That port information determines the final destinations of incoming packets that have all been addressed to the public-facing IP address assigned to the router.

This discussion is specific to IPv4 addresses, and the boom in local networks has been in a big factor in staving off a total IPv4 address drought even as network-connected devices multiply in every home.

IPv6 addresses, on the other hand, are so plentiful that it’s assumed that these kinds of private networks will be unnecessary after universal IPv6 adoption. However, if you want to set up a private internal IPv6 network that connects to the internet via IPv4, there are also  private IPv6 address ranges  you can use.

What is my IP address?

Since you’re reading this on a networked device, you might wonder what your own IP address is. There are many websites, such as  whatismyipaddress.com , that will tell you.

However, if, like most people, you have your device connected to a local network, the result you’ll get back from these sites is the public-facing IP address assigned to your router. To find your private IP address on your local network, you’ll need to dig into your device’s network settings. Lifehacker  lays out the steps you’ll need to follow  on Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android.

Can someone else find out my IP address?

If you’re surfing the web, you’re revealing your IP address to every website or service you visit—after all, they can’t send you data like the contents of a web page you’re visiting if they don’t know where to send it.

Your IP address is stored (though not indefinitely) in the server logs of the websites you visit, and if you use interactive features of those sites, like posting a comment on a blog that includes identifying information, that IP address can be connected to you directly.

However, those server logs aren’t public, and there are data protection laws that are intended to keep that information private. That said, an attacker who managed to breach a web server could get access to those logs relatively easily. If someone were trying to target you directly there are other techniques they could use to get your IP address, like tapping into your network router or managing to connect to your wireless network. (Email messages used to include the sender’s IP address in the header, though this is largely no longer the case now that web-based services like Gmail dominate the space.)

What could someone do with your IP address?

You might not think you’re worth a hacker’s effort for this kind of attack. But with more and more people taking their professional lives home to their non-professional-grade residential internet connection, we all need to be more wary.

An attacker could use your IP address to send you personalized spam, execute a targeted DDoS attack , or spoof your address and masquerade as you as they conduct their nefarious activities. And because most public email addresses can help narrow someone’s location down to at least a city, an IP address can be part of an adversary’s OPSEC techniques as they attempt to piece together personally identifying information about you.

How to hide your IP address with a VPN

  Your IP address can reveal a lot about you. It will tell anyone your approximate geographic location, for instance, and there are plenty of reasons that you might want to mask that. One way to do so is by using a  virtual private network or VPN.  A VPN service can establish an encrypted tunnel across the public internet from your device to a private network hosted by the VPN provider. It’s sort of like connecting to your home network, except the network router may be halfway across the world. To external sites, your IP address will be the one assigned to your VPN host. IP addresses may not offer much by way of privacy, but VPNs offer a clever way to get around that.

VPN tunnels can also be created from the originating device and terminating on the destination device if each is equipped with compatible VPN software. Many enterprises support VPN gateways that create tunnels between themselves and remote devices that have compatible VPN software.  

What are subnetting and subnet masks?

IP addresses are hierarchical. In general, the numbers to the left tell you what network the device with that IP address is on, whereas the numbers to the right identify the specific device. However, the Internet Protocol doesn’t define where the dividing line is.  In addition, some of the bits in an address may be used to identify a subnetwork, or  subnet.

Routers determine what parts of an IP address refer to networks, subnets, and devices by use of a  subnet mask.  In IPv4, a network mask is an 8-bit number like a standard IP address, though with all of its ones on the left and all of its zeroes on the right; in essence, the dividing line between the ones and zeroes defines the divide within an IP address in the address space the subnet mask refers to. The nitty-gritty here is fairly detailed and involves binary bitwise operations. IPv6, subnetting is much simpler, and mostly involves just  slicing digits off of addresses to denote a range of subnetted addresses .

An important thing to keep in mind that is that subnet information isn’t contained in packet headers or known by the source and destination devices. Instead, it’s used by routers and other infrastructure that use the IP addresses into determine how to deliver packets to the right devices on the right physical networks. Through subnetting, for instance, a network admin could take a sequential block of IP addresses and distribute them across three separate physical subnetworks. The packet doesn’t need to know about those subnetworks; the router will use its lookup tables to figure out where to send the packet when the time comes.

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Josh Fruhlinger is a writer and editor who lives in Los Angeles.

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How are IP addresses actually assigned?

I'm having a hard time understanding how a governing body assigns IP addresses, companies use BGP to advertise those IPs, and how the internet works. Then, where the hell does DNS come in?

Can anyone suggest a good read of how this stuff actually works? I suppose I have several questions. The first is, does ARIN (or any other governing body) actually matter? If they weren't around, would there be chaos? When they assign a block, they don't LITERALLY assign it? You have to use BGP to advertise, correct? I have always been used to a closed hosting environment (dedicated/shared) where you have routed IPs.

Then, how does DNS come in to play? With my registrar I am able to register a DNS server (eNom) - what does that actually mean? I've installed Bind and made all of that work, and I run my own DNS servers, but who are they registering that DNS server with? I just don't get it.

I feel like this is something I should know and I don't, and I'm getting really frustrated. It's like.. simple.. how does the internet work? From assigning IPs, to companies routing them, and DNS.

I guess I have an example - I have this IP space let's say 158.124.0.0/16 (example). The company has 158.124.0.0/17 internet facing. (First of all, why do companies get blocks of IPs assigned and then not use them? Why don't they use use reserved internal space 10.x and 192.x?). So, that's where I'm at. What would I do to actually get these IPs on the Internet and available? Let's say I have a data center in Chicago and one in New York. I'm not able to upload a picture, but I can link one here: http://begolli.com/wp-content/gallery/tech/internetworkings.png

I'm just trying to understand how from when the IP block is assigned, to a company using BGP (attaining a public AS #?), and then how DNS comes in to play?

What would something look like from my picture? I've tried to put together a scenario, not sure if I did a good job.

  • domain-name-system

Vegim's user avatar

  • 6 As a professional system administrator, or someone working in a related field, we are expected to know these things. For any bits that may be a little unclear vast numbers of books and Internet articles have already been published. This is also not the kind of question, or set of questions, that can be properly addressed by a Q&A site like SF. –  John Gardeniers May 31, 2011 at 22:48
  • 2 I don't really have a problem with this question - I look at it the same way as the "Subnetting 101" question & answer: It's something every sysadmin should know, but some may have slipped through without the requisite knowledge. We can't cover it as exhaustively as subnetting, but I think having it as a quick-and-dirty primer is a Good Thing. –  voretaq7 Jun 1, 2011 at 15:50
  • 1 @John - I think there are many different levels. Like I stated, I grew up learning in a static environment as far as networks went. I never really dealt with ISPs, border routers, and configuring blocks of IPs. I have had the pleasure of having many dedicated servers, configuring linux distributions, securing them, running web applications, and being able to manage those boxes. There are different sides to the spectrum, and I don't think we are expected to know these things. We are expected to know specialized tasks. Some people know networking engineering real well.. others do not. –  Vegim Jun 2, 2011 at 16:08

4 Answers 4

Leased ip blocks.

IPs are assigned in blocks by IANA to the Regional Internet Registries (RIR). See this ( list and map ) of the RIRs. The RIRs then lease out smaller blocks IPs to individual companies (usually ISPs). There are requirements (including fees and proof of use) for getting a distribution and failing to maintain these means a loss of lease.

Once a company has leased one or more blocks from the RIR, they need some way of telling the rest of the world where to find a particular IP (or set thereof: subnets). This is where BGP comes into play. BGP uses a large network concept called an Autonomous System (AS). The AS knows how to route within itself. When routing to another network it only knows about AS Gateways and where the "next hop" toward those external addresses. AS numbers are managed by IANA as well.

Within an AS, even one as large as an ISP, they might use several routing protocols (RIP, OSPF, BGP, EIGRP, and ISIS come to mind) to route traffic internally. It's also possible to use Static Routing Tables, but entirely impractical in most applications. Internal routing protocols are a huge topic, so I'll simplify by saying there are other questions on Server Fault that can do those topics more justice than I can here.

Humans don't remember numbers well, so we invented host names. Skipping the history, we use the Domain Naming System (DNS) to keep track of what hostname points to what IP address. There is a central registry for these, also managed by IANA, and they determine what Top Level Domains (TLD) (eg ".com" or ".net") go in the Root Zone, which is served by the Root Servers. IANA delegates administration of the "root zone", this administrator only accepts updates from qualified Registrars.

You can use a Registrar to "purchase" a domain name, which is a subdomain of a TLD. This registration essentially creates that subdomain and assigns you control over it's Name Server (NS) and Glue (A) records. You point these to a DNS server that hosts your domain . When a client wants to resolve your IP from a domain name, the client contacts their DNS server which does a recursive lookup, starting with the root server, finding your DNS server and eventually getting the relevant information.

Everyone Agrees

As for the "governing bodies": everyone just agrees to use them. There are no (or very few) laws requiring anyone to cooperate at all. The Internet works because people choose to cooperate . The governing bodies provide a means of easy cooperation. All the various RFCs, "Standards", and such - nobody is being forced to use them. But we understand that society is built on cooperation, and it's in our own self interests to do so.

The efficiency bred by cooperation is the same reason BGP is popular, everyone basically agrees to use it. In the days of ArpaNet they started with hand configured route tables; then gradually progressed to a more comprehensive system as the Internet grew in complexity, but everyone just "agreed" to use whatever new standard. Similarly name resolution stated with host files that networks would distribute, and eventually grew into the DNS system we know today. ("Agreed" in quotes because many times a minority set a requirement for a new standard and nobody else had a better alternative, so it was accepted).

This level of cooperation requires trusting IANA, a lot. As you've seen they manage most of the various systems' cores. IANA is currently a US Government sponsored Non-Profit corporation (similar to the US Post Office), it is not part of the government, though only barely removed. In past years there was concern that the US Goernment might exercise some control over IANA as a "weapon" against other world governments or civilians (particularly through laws like SOPA and PIPA, which were not passed, but may be the basis for future laws).

Currently IANA has taken it upon themselves to raise funding (despite being a non-profit company) through the creation of new TLDs. The "xxx" TLD was viewed by some as an extortionist-style fundraising campaign, as a large percentage of registrants were "defending" their name. IANA has also taken applications for privately owned TLDs (at $180,000 each; they have suspended the application process after being inundated with applications, nearly half being from Amazon alone. Many of these applications resulted in new gTLDs .

Community's user avatar

  • No problem! Good answer - this will be good to have to point to for people needing the overview. –  Shane Madden Jun 1, 2011 at 1:05
  • Do you think you could elaborate on the delegations for reverse DNS? This is a great answer that touches on the related subjects already, so adding that info would close the loop on the whole thing. –  Andrew B Feb 28, 2015 at 20:59

All advertisements to the public internet, the DFZ (Default-Free Zone), is done via BGP (Border Gateway Protocol), how ISP's do internal routing varies a lot. Most would use BGP internally as well both between their own routers (BGP is often used in conjunction with an IGP such as OSPF) and also with clients, if you don't have your own AS number you can use a private AS to peer with your ISP and when they announce your address space to the DFZ they simply remove the private AS from the as-path. For smaller non-redundant links you can use static routing as well on the PE. The actual "assignment" is just in the database of your registrar, the whois database, RIPE/ARIN etc run their own databases for this purpose.

Try running the command whois 158.124.0.0/16 on a Linux box.

Same goes with DNS, the reverse DNS server is specified in whois records.

Dean Taylor's user avatar

This is a very old question, but I had many of the same questions in figuring out how the Internet works . Like the other answers, the networking books give an overview of BGP and DNS but still left me confused. For example, a.root-servers.net through m.root-servers.net are given as the root servers, but how does a DNS service know where to find those servers if they can't use DNS themselves.

The basics of IP, subnetting, DNS, etc. are assumed to be known by this answer. I am addressing "gaps" I, and probably the questioner, have on how the Internet works. By no means am I an expert, but this is my understanding of the gaps.

IP Addresses

The first thing to note is that when the Internet started out as ARPANET, everybody knew everybody and routing tables for IP addresses were handcoded. I assume the assignment process for IP's was done over the phone. As the Internet became too big, BGP was used by multiple networks (AS's) to advertise they had public IP's or could get to a public IP through their AS to another AS. The trust was there that an AS wouldn't advertise an IP they didn't have.

Today, there's not as much trust. Instead, ISP's can download and authenticate the IP allocations to each AS from IANA and the regional authorities. These downloads are now authenticated through public key cryptography. So when IANA "assigns an IP address," they are changing their record (or really the regional authority changes their record). All other AS's can download and authenticate their records.

These records are important because ISP's can't take the word of other ISP's that they have the IP addresses. The ISP's can compare the BGP advertisement with the authenticated IP records. If any BGP advertisement shows the last AS as an AS other than what's in IANA's and RIR's authenticated record, the BGP advertisement does not change their own routing.

More commonly, a rogue ISP or AS can advertise they have a route through their AS they don't have. AS1 has an IP registered and AS5 currently uses AS5 -> AS4 -> AS3 -> AS1 -> IP. AS2 advertises to AS5 a route of AS5 -> AS2 -> AS1 -> IP. Except AS2 doesn't actually have a connection with AS1. It can just lose the packets, maybe to frustrate AS1's hosting customers. Or AS2 could be a small company network with a multihomed arrangement with AS5 and AS1. Their router is misconfigured and advertises a path through a small company network. Nearly all ISP's throw away such advertisements of their BGP customers and only pass on terminating BGP advertisements.

More likely, you have the case of Pakistan trying to shut off Youtube in Pakistan through such IP hijacking, and shutting off Youtube outside of Pakistan too since AS's outside of Pakistan assumed their BGP advertisements were correct.

In the end, there isn't a perfect defense against such IP hijacking. In most countries like the US, such abuse of BGP can be punished as breach of contract and other ISP's will shut off peering connections with that AS if they have to. An ISP could also disregard the whole IANA and RIR apparatus and redirect the IP addresses to their own servers. That won't work for any https sites though, assuming the ISP doesn't have the private keys for any CA's. There is very little to gain from it economically. It only happens with authoritarian governments, such as Egypt recently shutting off all BGP advertisements to their ISP's from outside the country.

DNS Servers

DNS is somewhat simpler once the IP tables are correct. The root servers are all hardcorded IP addresses in the DNS server code. a.root-servers.net is 198.41.0.4 and the IP address is anycast within one AS. In the case of a.root-servers.net, the AS is Verisign and there are five different sites. In the US, the two sites are New York and LA. Anycasting is like if you had an address of 123 Main Street and you said "It doesn't matter what town you are in, go to 123 Main Street and you'll find one of my businesses." Both 123 Main Street in NY and LA will give the same answer for all top-level domains. The AS, in this case Verisign, figures out internally which server has the fewest hops through OSPF, internal BGP, and other routing protocols. So a router in Denver may go to LA while a router in Chicago goes to New York. The same routing process can be used for Anycast hosts because the hosts don't offer to route traffic.

One of the root servers gives which IP address for the com top-level domain. Then that domain gives the domain for yoursite.com. The registrars really have a contract with whoever runs the top-level domain. So if the top-level domain currently doesn't have a record for yoursite.com, it has access to add a record with their who-is server. Then, with the access the registrar gave you to yoursite.com's DNS records, you change the records in their DNS server to go to your IP address.

Because DNS all depends on multiple IP addresses going to the right place, you have the same issue as before with AS's authenticating the IP registry and then the BGP assignments. That is the key piece for an http website. Https has the added protection of certificates. So, an ISP can't reroute requests for their own root servers and top-level domain servers to give their own IP for, say, citibank.com. If they did, the IP address given to the user will be a different IP address, but their server won't have Citibank's private key.

mwwaters's user avatar

and no, I'm not kidding(I got started with this book 15 years ago, but it's still very relevant): http://www.amazon.com/Internet-Dummies-John-R-Levine/dp/0764506749

Then, come back here with the BGP questions =)

Greeblesnort's user avatar

  • 2 It looks like the first part of your answer go chopped off somehow. –  John Gardeniers Jun 1, 2011 at 1:34

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how will ip addresses be assigned

What Is an IP Address and How Does It Work? The Complete Breakdown

If you have been on the internet long enough, there is a good chance that you might have come across IP addresses in one form or another.

Every device has an IP address and needs it to be able to communicate with other devices over a network, including the internet.

What if we told you that you are here because of an IP address? Even though you may not have typed one, you are reading this blog post thanks to one.

IP addresses are everywhere and nothing on the internet would function without them.

That’s what this post is about.

By the end of this article, you will know everything you need to know about IP addresses.

We’ll cover what IP addresses are, how they work, how to get one, how DNS and ARP works and a lot more.

We’ll also cover how IP addresses are relevant to websites.

If you were looking for a grounding in IP addressing, you’re in the right place!

What Is an IP Address?

So let’s start at the very beginning. What is an IP address?

An IP address is a numerical address given to devices on the internet or local network. They enable different devices within a network to identify and communicate with one another.

Think of them as your phone number and you don’t be far wrong.

Your friends need your number so they can call or WhatsApp you. It’s a similar thing for networks.

Computers and other devices use IP addresses in the same way we use phone numbers to communicate with each other.

Any networked device needs an IP address to be able to send and receive traffic.

Every phone, computer, laptop, tablet, internet-enabled refrigerator and any other device requires one.

That’s why they are so important.

IP addresses are usually strings of numbers, broken up into 4 lots of 3, like 172.217.14.206 . This is a Google IP address.

We say ‘usually strings of numbers’ because addressing is changing. We’ll get to that later.

The full IP address range goes from 0.0.0.0 to 255.255.255.255.

It ends at 255 because that’s the maximum number in an octet, which is how 32-bit addressing works.

As there are four sets of numbers, which are octets (8 bits of information), 4 x 8 = 32.

Don’t worry about that part, we just include that for completeness.

What Does IP Addressing Have to Do With Running WordPress Websites?

Learning about IP addresses is fascinating, but how does this relate to running a WordPress website?

There are two situations where knowing IP addresses can be useful, analytics and defense.

Analytics and IP Addresses

If you run an online store or want to track where people visit your website from, IP addresses play a key role.

Analytics tools will capture the IP address and identify where in the world those IP addresses are used to provide that data.

Without them, you wouldn’t know where people were coming from and wouldn’t be able to identify their location or your key markets.

Website Defense and IP Addresses

The other way a website owner utilizes IP addresses is if you use a firewall.

Many WordPress firewalls include blacklists and whitelists. Both depend on IP addresses to work.

A blacklist is a list of IP addresses that are blocked from accessing your website. A whitelist is a list of trusted IP addresses.

A WordPress firewall tracks all IP addresses that try to access your website. If it identifies suspicious activity, it will block that IP address from accessing your site.

Conversely, you can manually add your own IP address to the whitelist to ensure you are always able to access it.

Two simple, but fundamental ways IP addresses are used within the average WordPress website!

The Anatomy of an IP Address

An IP address is split into two halves. The first half is the network ID and the second half is the host ID.

So, in our Google example above, the 172.217 part is the network ID and the 14.206 part is the host ID.

The network ID identifies the network the IP address is assigned to. For example, your ISP, your company or your home network.

The host ID identifies the device. It’s a pool of numbers that can be allocated to devices within that network. For example, your laptop, phone, PS5 or Xbox.

Types of IP Addresses

There are two main types of IP addresses that we think you should know, dynamic and static.

Dynamic IP Addresses

A dynamic IP address is a type of IP address that can change frequently.

Dynamic IP addresses are provided by your ISP or by your router. ISPs buy IP addresses in bulk and distribute them automatically to customers.

As ISPs typically have thousands of customers connecting and disconnecting all the time, they create IP address pools.

All IP addresses owned by the ISP are put into a pool and a customer router will request one periodically or when it reboots.

The ISP router will allocate a dynamic IP address and map it so your router can connect to the internet.

The address will then refresh periodically depending on the time set by your ISP.

The idea is to ensure all IP addresses owned by the ISP are utilized and that no customer will ever be left without connectivity.

Static IP Addresses

A static IP address is the type of IP address that remains the same over a period of time, or static.

These can be assigned by ISPs or your own router. Once assigned, your router keeps the static IP address for the entire period you’re a customer.

Static IP addresses are necessary if you manage your own web server instead of using a hosting company.

In such a case, a static IP address prevents DNS confusion.

We’ll get to DNS later.

IP Address Versions

As well as different types, there are two versions of IP address – IPv4 and IPv6.

IPv4 stands for Internet Protocol Version 4. This is the most popular type of IP address present today and has been around since the beginning.

The IPv4 address is represented by a dot-decimal notation. It means that the address is 4 parts separated by a period.

The address we used as an example above is an IPv4 address – 172.217.14.206 .

IPv4 uses a 32-bit address space. This means that there can be ‘only’ 2 32 (4,294,967,296) unique addresses.

That’s 4.3 billion , give or take a few.

That number might seem huge, but with the rapid expansion of the internet and connected devices, we are running out of addresses.

This is referred to as ‘ IPv4 address exhaustion ’ and describes a shortage of unique IPv4 addresses.

As more and more devices come online, the 4.3 billion addresses allowed by IPv4 are rapidly dwindling.

Which has led to the development of IPv6.

IPv6 stands for Internet Protocol Version 6.

In IPv6, we use a 128-bit address space, which means we can have 2 128 (approximately 3.403×10 38 ) IP addresses.

That’s 340 trillion trillion trillion IP addresses!

As opposed to the numerical digits in IPv4, in IPv6, we use alphanumeric, both letters and numbers, separated by colons instead of periods.

A good example is a Google IPv6 address – 2607:f8b0:4003:c00::6a .

The new alphanumeric system allows for many times more IP addresses in the foreseeable future.

As the IoT, Internet of Things becomes more common, we’re going to need all those addresses!

IP Address Summary

So a quick summary of IP addresses:

  • Every networked device needs an IP address to be able to send and receive data
  • An IPv4 address is made up of two parts, network ID and host ID
  • IPv4 is the current system but is running out of addresses
  • IPv6 looks more complicated but offers many more addresses
  • IPv4 is capable of 4.3 billion addresses
  • IPv6 is capable of 340 trillion trillion trillion IP addresses

How Do You Get an IP Address?

So you have an idea of what IP addresses are, but how do you get one?

There are two main types of IP address, network level addresses and local addresses.

  • Your ISP will assign a network level address to your broadband connection
  • Your network provider will assign your phone a network level address for 4G or 5G use
  • Your router will assign a local address to every device on your network

So, to break it down:

  • Your ISP will provide an IP address to your broadband router so it can communicate with the internet
  • Your router will assign an IP address to devices within your network so they can use the internet or talk to each other

For example, your ISP assigns the IP address 166.166.166.156 to your router. This allows your router to use the ISP network to access the internet.

In turn, your router could assign your desktop computer an IP address of 192.168.222.111.

The 192.168… address is a common internal network address used across the world.

If, for example, you have an Xbox or PS5, your router could assign it an IP address of 192.168.222.112 and any other devices .113, .114 and so on.

Internal network addresses are controlled by your router and the host part, the second half, can be any set of 3 numbers you like.

So how does a device with an IP address of 192.168.222.111 use the internet if your ISP thinks you have an address of 166.166.166.156?

It uses network address translation, NAT.

Network Address Translation

Network Address Translation, or NAT, is a feature of most modern routers. It enables the router to keep the IP address provided by your ISP separate from the internal one the router provides to your network.

It uses a simple table to map what IP address is used by what device on your network, called an ARP table or ARP cache.

We’ll get to ARP in a minute.

NAT works like this:

  • You open a browser on your desktop and opens a web page
  • Your router automatically switches the 162.168 address it assigned your desktop with the network address provided by your ISP
  • Once the router receives the website data, it switches the IP address back to your local address and sends it to your desktop

This happens for every packet of data you send over the internet!

Now let’s explain ARP tables or the ARP cache.

Routers and ARP Caching

Most routers will have an ARP cache or ARP table. Computers use ARP caches too, but we’re more concerned with routers right now.

The ARP cache is a database that maps IP addresses to MAC addresses and then to router ports.

What, what? MAC address?

IP addresses are not unique. Every router in the world could assign the same local network IP address to a computer, which could be very confusing!

IP addresses can also be dynamic, meaning they can be changed at any time, for any reason.

The Internet Protocol overcomes that by using MAC addresses for routing traffic.

A MAC address, Media Access Control Address, is a truly unique identifier.

A MAC address looks like this – 2C:F0:5D:98:45:0C . Like the one bordered in red in the image below.

Every single network card or chip (for phones and tablets) in the world has a completely unique MAC address. It’s also called a ‘burned in’ address as it is programmed at the factory and cannot be changed.

A router uses ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) to detect the MAC address of every network card or chip connected to and creates a database called the ARP table or cache.

That database will map a particular MAC address to an IP address so it knows where to send traffic.

If the device uses a wired connection, the router will also record the port number it is connected to.

A port is the physical Ethernet port on the router. If you check yours, you’ll see they are all numbered. This is the port number.

Routers use port numbers to help send traffic to the right device without sending it to every other device too.

An ARP cache would look a little something like this:

‘ Desktop0 = 2C:F0:5D:98:45:0C = Port0 = 192.168.222.111 .

It doesn’t technically look like that, but you get the idea.

The router maintains the table so it knows any network traffic from 192.168.222.111 comes from the device that has a network device with a MAC of 00:00:5e:00:53:af.

The router also knows any internet traffic destined for Desktop0 should be sent only through port0 rather than anywhere else.

Still with us?

Here’s a breakdown of how it all works:

  • Your ISP assigns a network IP address to your broadband router
  • Your router detects what devices are connected to it and assigns each a local IP address
  • The router builds the ARP cache that maps IP addresses to unique MAC addresses and ports
  • When you access the internet from a device, the router switches your local IP address with its network address using Network Address Translation so you can use your broadband
  • When it receives traffic, the router switches the IP address back and forwards it to your device using the port it has mapped
  • All this happens in milliseconds so you never really know anything about it

ARP caching is an IPv4 function. When IPv6 finally takes over, it will use NDP, Neighbor Discovery Protocol. It works in much the same way though.

How Does All This Work in Practice?

So that’s all the theory, how does it all work in real life?

Let’s use an example of how a router learns what’s on its network:

  • You turn on your router with broadband connected. The router sends a ping to your ISP to announce it is available
  • The ISP verifies the connection, checks you’re a paying customer and allocates an IP address so you can use the internet
  • The router verifies that it can use that IP address
  • The router then sends a broadcast message through every port that says something like ‘Hello, is anyone there. If so, send me your MAC address so we can chat’.
  • Every device on the network hears the message and replies ‘Hey there! I’m Desktop0 and my MAC address is 2C:F0:5D:98:45:0C. Let’s connect!’
  • The router enters the MAC address and port it is connected to into the ARP table. It also checks what IP addresses are available and allocates one
  • Each device can now access the internet through the router

Yes, it is kind of complicated but most of this happens behind the scenes. Your router and ISP will take care of most of these tasks without you ever knowing about it.

Summary of How You Get an IP Address

Here’s quick summary of how IP addresses are assigned:

  • Network level addresses are assigned by your ISP
  • Local IP addresses are assigned by your router
  • Your router maps local IP addresses to a router port (for wired connections) and devices using the ARP cache
  • The ARP cache maps the MAC address of your network card to your assigned IP address
  • The router uses Network Address Translation to change the local IP address to its own IP address so it can send and receive traffic over the internet
  • The router then translates traffic back to local IP addresses and forwards it to your device

IP Addressing and Web Browsing

As you now know, devices use MAC addresses and IP addresses to communicate with each other.

So why don’t we type IP addresses into our web browser to visit a website?

You could if you wanted to, but can you imagine remembering dozens of IP addresses just to visit your favorite sites?

We can’t either, which is why DNS was invented.

Domain names were introduced to be memorable. They could be bought and sold, branded and increasingly complicated domain names invented.

But at the end of the day, servers use IP addresses to communicate.

So how does your browser know that typing www.google.com into the URL bar means it needs to go to the web server at 172.217.14.206?

Every domain name is linked with a specific IP address.

DNS and IP Addressing

This linking is done through the Domain Name System (DNS). DNS is like an address book for domain names.

Think of it as a huge ARP cache containing millions of domains and their IP addresses.

For example, a website at www.amazingwebsitename.com could have a web server IP address of 62.62.621.621

So the DNS record could look like this:

www.amazingwebsitename.com = 62.62.621.621

It won’t look exactly like this, but that’s how it works.

There are two types of DNS server, authoritative DNS and recursive DNS.

Authoritative DNS Server

Authoritative DNS servers are central servers owned by large internet companies like Google, Cloudflare and others.

They are substantial servers that maintain accurate DNS records for millions of websites.

Recursive DNS Server

A recursive DNS server is usually owned by your ISP. It will maintain thousands, perhaps millions of records of its own.

It will query the authoritative DNS server if it cannot find what it’s looking for.

DNS, IP Addresses and Web Browsing

When you try to access a website, you type the domain name in the URL bar.

Your router queriesDNS to look up the IP address for the web server that hosts the website.

  • If your ISP’s DNS has the record, it returns the web server IP address to your browser.
  • Your browser then requests to visit that IP address. Your router looks up the address, sees it isn’t connected and queries your ISP router.
  • That router checks to see if that IP address is connected. If it is, it connects you.
  • If it isn’t, it queries a core router deep in the internet to see where that IP address is located.
  • The core router knows where that IP address is and sends the message all the way back to your router.
  • Your router passes on that information and your browser goes directly to the web server hosting of that website.

The website loads and everyone is happy.

If your ISP’s DNS doesn’t have the record, it will query its closest authoritative DNS server for it.

If that server has it, your ISP server tells your browser and keeps its own copy of that record to save effort next time.

Usually, there are only one or two DNS queries, but occasionally, the closest authoritative server will need to consult another authoritative server.

This would, in theory, continue until one of them could find the entry!

All this happens in seconds and would go unnoticed by the majority of web users.

As you can see, there are two different queries happening here.

One, the DNS lookup where your router tries to find the IP address of the domain name you typed.

Two, the IP address lookup where your router via your ISP and core routers, try to identify where in the world the web server for that domain is located.

All this happens within a second or two, despite the distances often being thousands of miles.

Summary of IP Addressing and Web Browsing

Here’s a quick summary of IP addressing and web browsing:

  • Even though servers use MAC and IP addresses, humans like domain names
  • DNS (Domain Name System) maps domain names to the IP address of the web server hosting the website
  • Every time you enter a domain name into your browser, it, via your router, queries DNS to find out where to go
  • Your ISP will have a recursive DNS server with lots of addresses mapped
  • Companies like Google and Cloudflare operate large authoritative DNS servers
  • Queries are made behind the scenes and are invisible to users
  • Once your router has the web server IP address, it has to send another query to try to locate it
  • That query will be sent up the chain to the web’s core routers until someone knows where that server is
  • Once located, your router will send all traffic to that web server to load the page you requested

Final Thoughts

IP addressing is a huge, and often complicated, subject. Yet It’s crucial to how we use the internet and manage websites.

While you don’t need to understand how IP addresses work, the more informed you are, the more able you are to troubleshoot problems and amaze your friends with your knowledge!

Plus, if you’re managing websites, it’s always useful to know how visitors actually arrive on your site, isn’t it?

Did we cover IP addressing in enough depth? Do you have any questions? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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IP Addresses Explained

  • Lawrence Abrams
  • March 23, 2004
  • Read 651,419 times

Introduction

Every machine on the the Internet has a unique number assigned to it, called an IP address. Without a unique IP address on your machine, you will not be able to communicate with other devices, users, and computers on the Internet. You can look at your IP address as if it were a telephone number, each one being unique and used to identify a way to reach you and only you.

IPv4 and IPv6 Addresses

There are two flavors of IP Addresses that can be used on a network. The first, and the version that the Internet and most routers are currently configured for, is IPv4 or Internet Protocol version 4. This version uses 32-bit addresses, which limits the amount of addresses to 4,294,967,296 possible unique addresses. Some of these addresses, about 290 million, are also reserved for special purposes. Due to the popular growth of the Internet there has been concern that the pool of possible addresses would be exhausted in the near future. With this in mind, a new version of IP addresses was developed called IPv6, or Internet Protocol version 6, that would change the address size from 32-bit address to 128-bit addresses. This change would allow for generous IP address allocations to networks without any foreseeable problem with the amount of addresses available. In order to use IPv6 addresses, though, existing routers and hardware would need to be upgraded or configured to use this new version of IP addresses.

As IPv4 is still the most commonly used, this tutorial will be focusing on that version of IP addresses.

The Address Itself

An IP address always consists of 4 numbers separated by periods, with the numbers having a possible range of 0 through 255. An example of how an IP address appears is: 192.168.1.10

This representation of an IP address is called decimal notation and is what is generally used by humans to refer to an IP address for readability purposes. With the ranges for each number being between 0 and 255 there are a total 4,294,967,296 possible IP addresses.

Out of these addresses there are 3 special ranged that are reserved for special purposes. The first is the 0.0.0.0 address and refers to the default network and the 255.255.255.255 address which is called the broadcast address. These addresses are used for routing, which will not be covered in this tutorial. The third address, 127.0.0.1, is the loopback address, and refers to your machine. Whenever you see, 127.0.0.1, you are actually referring to your own machine. That means if you clicked on this link, http://127.0.0.1 , you are actually trying to connect to your own computer, and unless you have a web server running, you will get a connection error. There are some guidelines to to how IP address can appear, though. The four numbers must be between 0 and 255, and the IP address of 0.0.0.0 and 255.255.255.255 are reserved, and are not considered usable IP addresses. IP addresses must be unique for each computer connected to a network. That means that if you have two computers on your network, each must have a different IP address to be able to communicate with each other. If by accident the same IP address is assigned to two computers, then those computers would have what is called an "IP Conflict" and not be able to communicate with each other.

IP address classes

These IP addresses can further be broken down into classes. These classes are A, B, C, D, E and their possible ranges can be seen in Figure 2 below.

If you look at the table you may notice something strange. The range of IP address from Class A to Class B skips the 127.0.0.0-127.255.255.255 range. That is because this range is reserved for the special addresses called Loopback addresses that have already been discussed above.

The rest of classes are allocated to companies and organizations based upon the amount of IP addresses that they may need. Listed below are descriptions of the IP classes and the organizations that will typically receive that type of allocation.

Default Network: The special network 0.0.0.0 is generally used for routing.

Class A: From the table above you see that there are 126 class A networks. These networks consist of 16,777,214 possible IP addresses that can be assigned to devices and computers. This type of allocation is generally given to very large networks such as multi-national companies.

Loopback: This is the special 127.0.0.0 network that is reserved as a loopback to your own computer. These addresses are used for testing and debugging of your programs or hardware.

Class B: This class consists of 16,384 individual networks, each allocation consisting of 65,534 possible IP addresses. These blocks are generally allocated to Internet Service Providers and large networks, like a college or major hospital.

Class C: There is a total of 2,097,152 Class C networks available, with each network consisting of 255 individual IP addresses. This type of class is generally given to small to mid-sized companies.

Class D: The IP addresses in this class are reserved for a service called Multicast.

Class E: The IP addresses in this class are reserved for experimental use.

Broadcast: This is the special network of 255.255.255.255, and is used for broadcasting messages to the entire network that your computer resides on.

Private Addresses

There are also blocks of IP addresses that are set aside for internal private use for computers not directly connected to the Internet. These IP addresses are not supposed to be routed through the Internet, and most service providers will block the attempt to do so. These IP addresses are used for internal use by company or home networks that need to use TCP/IP but do not want to be directly visible on the Internet. These IP ranges are:

If you are on a home/office private network and want to use TCP/IP, you should assign your computers/devices IP addresses from one of these three ranges. That way your router/firewall would be the only device with a true IP address which makes your network more secure.

Common Problems and Resolutions

The most common problem people have is by accident assigning an IP address to a device on your network that is already assigned to another device. When this happens, the other computers will not know which device should get the information, and you can experience erratic behavior. On most operating systems and devices, if there are two devices on the local network that have the same IP address, it will generally give you a "IP Conflict" warning. If you see this warning, that means that the device giving the warning, detected another device on the network using the same address.

The best solution to avoid a problem like this is to use a service called DHCP that almost all home routers provide. DHCP, or Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol , is a service that assigns addresses to devices and computers. You tell the DHCP server what range of IP addresses you would like it to assign, and then the DHCP server takes the responsibility of assigning those IP addresses to the various devices and keeping track so those IP addresses are assigned only once.

IP addresses and their function on the Internet is an important concept to understand. Hopefully with this tutorial you will have a firmer grasp on this concept, which should help you troubleshoot problems and bring a better understanding of how the Internet works.

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How To Assign IP Address

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  • Tech Setup & Troubleshooting

how-to-assign-ip-address

Introduction

Assigning IP addresses is an essential task in computer networking that allows devices to connect and communicate within a network. An IP address serves as a unique identifier for each device connected to a network, enabling the exchange of data packets between them. Whether it’s a home network or a large corporate network, the process of assigning IP addresses plays a crucial role in ensuring smooth and efficient communication.

In this article, we will delve into the fundamentals of IP addresses, the different types of IP addresses available, and explore the methods for assigning them. Whether you’re a network administrator, a curious computer enthusiast, or simply want to understand how IP address assignment works, this article aims to provide you with the necessary knowledge.

Understanding IP addresses is the first step towards comprehending their assignment. IP addresses are numerical labels assigned to devices connected to a network. They consist of four sets of numbers separated by periods, such as 192.168.0.1. This addressing scheme provides a way for devices within a network to locate and communicate with one another.

There are two main types of IP addresses: IPv4 (Internet Protocol version 4) and IPv6 (Internet Protocol version 6). IPv4 addresses, consisting of 32 bits, have been the standard for many years. However, with the rapid growth of internet-connected devices, the need for more addresses arose, leading to the development of IPv6 addresses, which consist of 128 bits and provide a virtually limitless pool of addresses.

IP addresses can be assigned in two ways: manual (static) assignment or automatic (dynamic) assignment. Manual assignment involves manually configuring the IP address on each device, ensuring that each one has a unique address within the network. Automatic assignment, on the other hand, involves a central server dynamically allocating IP addresses to devices using protocol-level mechanisms.

In the next sections, we will explore both manual and automatic IP address assignment methods, including the use of the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) for automatic assignment. We will also look at how to assign IP addresses on different operating systems such as Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Additionally, we will touch on common issues that may arise during IP address assignment and provide troubleshooting tips to help resolve them. By the end of this article, you will have a comprehensive understanding of IP address assignment and be equipped to assign IP addresses to devices within your network efficiently.

Understanding IP Addresses

IP addresses are crucial elements in computer networking, serving as unique identifiers for devices connected to a network. They enable devices to communicate and exchange data packets with one another. To understand IP addresses, let’s dive into their structure and functionality.

An IP address is a numerical label assigned to each device within a network. It consists of four sets of numbers, separated by periods, such as 192.168.0.1. Each set, known as an octet, represents a binary value ranging from 0 to 255. This addressing scheme provides a standardized way for devices to locate and communicate with each other on a network.

The most widely used IP version is IPv4 (Internet Protocol version 4), which utilizes 32-bit addresses. This means there are approximately 4.3 billion unique IPv4 addresses available. However, with the exponential growth of internet-connected devices, the pool of available IPv4 addresses is depleting. To overcome this limitation, IPv6 (Internet Protocol version 6) was introduced, which uses 128-bit addresses. This allows for an astronomically large number of unique addresses, ensuring the continued expansion of the Internet of Things (IoT) and other networked devices.

IP addresses are hierarchical, with different classes and ranges reserved for specific purposes. The most common classification is based on the range of IP addresses allocated to private networks and public networks.

Private IP addresses are used within local networks to facilitate internal communication among devices. They are reserved and cannot be routed over the internet. The most commonly used private IP address ranges are:

  • Class A: 10.0.0.0 to 10.255.255.255
  • Class B: 172.16.0.0 to 172.31.255.255
  • Class C: 192.168.0.0 to 192.168.255.255

Public IP addresses, on the other hand, are globally unique and can be accessed over the internet. Internet service providers (ISPs) allocate public IP addresses to devices connected to their networks. These addresses allow devices to communicate with other devices and servers across the internet.

In summary, IP addresses serve as unique identifiers that enable devices to communicate within networks. Whether it’s a small home network or a large corporate network, understanding IP addresses and their structure is vital when it comes to assigning and managing them effectively.

Types of IP Addresses

IP addresses can be classified into different types based on their purpose and usage. Understanding these types is essential to effectively manage and assign IP addresses in a network. Let’s explore the various types of IP addresses:

1. Public IP Addresses

A public IP address is a globally unique address assigned to a device connected to the internet. This address allows the device to communicate with other devices and servers across the internet. Public IP addresses are obtained from internet service providers (ISPs) and are routable over the internet. Each public IP address can only be assigned to one device at a time, ensuring uniqueness and facilitating direct communication over the internet.

2. Private IP Addresses

Private IP addresses are used within local networks and are not routable over the internet. They provide a means for devices within a network to communicate with each other. Private IP addresses are typically assigned to devices on a home network, office network, or any other private network. These addresses are reserved and do not conflict with public IP addresses. The most commonly used private IP address ranges are Class A (10.0.0.0 to 10.255.255.255), Class B (172.16.0.0 to 172.31.255.255), and Class C (192.168.0.0 to 192.168.255.255).

3. Static IP Addresses

A static IP address is a fixed IP address manually assigned to a device. It remains constant and does not change over time. Static IP addresses are typically used for servers, network devices, and devices requiring consistent network identification. It can be beneficial for certain applications that require a permanent IP address to ensure uninterrupted access and connectivity.

4. Dynamic IP Addresses

Dynamic IP addresses are automatically assigned to devices within a network. These addresses are temporary and subject to change. Dynamic IP address assignment is commonly used by internet service providers (ISPs) to manage their pool of IP addresses efficiently. Dynamic IP addresses are allocated using protocols like the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP), which ensures that devices within a network receive a unique IP address dynamically when connected to the network.

5. Loopback IP Address

The loopback IP address (127.0.0.1) is a special IP address reserved for testing and communication within the local device itself. It allows applications running on a device to communicate with each other using the network protocol stack without the need for an external network connection. The loopback address is commonly used for troubleshooting network-related issues on a local device.

Understanding the different types of IP addresses is crucial for managing and assigning IP addresses effectively in a network. Whether it’s public, private, static, dynamic, or loopback addresses, each type serves a specific purpose in facilitating communication and connectivity within networks.

How IP Addresses are Assigned

IP addresses play a crucial role in facilitating communication between devices within a network. Understanding how IP addresses are assigned is essential to ensure efficient and organized connectivity. In this section, we will explore the two main methods of IP address assignment: manual and automatic.

Manual IP Address Assignment

In manual IP address assignment, each device within a network is individually configured with a specific IP address. This method requires manual intervention to assign a unique IP address to each device. Manual IP address assignment is commonly used in situations where a specific device requires a static IP address, such as servers or network devices that need to maintain a consistent network identity.

To manually assign an IP address, an administrator typically accesses the device’s network settings or control panel and provides an IP address, subnet mask, default gateway, and DNS server information. These parameters ensure that the device has the necessary network configuration to communicate within the network.

Automatic IP Address Assignment

Automatic IP address assignment eliminates the need for manual intervention by dynamically allocating IP addresses to devices within a network. This method is efficient, as it streamlines the process of network configuration and avoids potential conflicts that may arise from manual assignment.

The most commonly used protocol for automatic IP address assignment is the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP). DHCP allows a central server, known as a DHCP server, to dynamically assign IP addresses, subnet masks, default gateways, and DNS server information to devices within the network.

When a device connects to a network configured with DHCP, it sends a DHCP discovery message, requesting an IP address from the DHCP server. The DHCP server responds with an offer, providing an available IP address. The device then sends a request to confirm its intention to use the offered IP address, and once acknowledged by the DHCP server, the device is assigned the IP address for the duration of its connection to the network.

This dynamic allocation of IP addresses ensures that devices within the network receive unique addresses and minimizes the chance of conflicting IP assignments. It also allows for efficient management and reusing of IP addresses as devices connect and disconnect from the network.

Whether it’s manual or automatic IP address assignment, the method chosen depends on the specific requirements and network configuration. In scenarios where static IP addresses are necessary or desired, manual assignment provides full control over IP address allocation. However, for most networks, automatic assignment through DHCP offers a streamlined and efficient approach to IP address management.

Manual IP address assignment is a method of configuring individual devices within a network with specific IP addresses. This approach is used when devices require static IP addresses, meaning the assigned IP address remains constant and does not change over time. Manual IP address assignment provides network administrators with full control over IP allocation and allows for precise management of network resources.

Assigning IP addresses manually involves configuring the network settings on each device. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to manually assign an IP address:

Step 1: Determine the IP Address Range

Before assigning IP addresses, it is important to determine the IP address range that will be used in the network. This range should be consistent with the network’s addressing scheme and should not conflict with any existing IP addresses.

Step 2: Access Network Settings

On each device, access the network settings or control panel. This can usually be done through the device’s operating system settings.

Step 3: Select Manual IP Assignment

Within the network settings, look for the option to manually configure the IP address. This option may be labeled as “Static IP,” “Manual IP,” or similar. Select this option to proceed with manual IP address assignment.

Step 4: Enter the IP Address

Enter the desired IP address in the designated field. Make sure the IP address falls within the determined IP address range. Avoid duplicate IP addresses to prevent conflicts within the network.

Step 5: Set the Subnet Mask

Alongside the IP address, set the subnet mask for the device. The subnet mask determines the network portion of the IP address and helps identify other devices within the same network.

Step 6: Define the Default Gateway

Specify the default gateway IP address. The default gateway serves as the access point for devices to connect to other networks or the internet. It is typically the IP address of the router or gateway device within the network.

Step 7: Configure DNS Server Information

Enter the IP addresses of the DNS servers in the respective fields. DNS servers resolve domain names into their corresponding IP addresses, enabling devices to access websites and services on the internet.

Step 8: Apply the Changes

After entering all the necessary information, apply the changes to finalize the manual IP address assignment. The device will now use the specified IP address for its network connectivity.

Manual IP address assignment provides greater control and stability, especially for devices that require persistent configurations. However, it also requires careful administration to ensure IP address conflicts are avoided and the network remains organized.

Now that you have a clear understanding of manual IP address assignment, you can confidently configure devices with specific IP addresses that suit your network’s needs.

Automatic IP address assignment is a method of dynamically allocating IP addresses to devices within a network. It eliminates the need for manual configuration and provides a streamlined approach to IP address management. Automatic assignment is commonly used in networks where devices do not require specific static IP addresses and can adapt to changing network conditions.

The primary mechanism for automatic IP address assignment is the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP). DHCP allows a central server, known as a DHCP server, to allocate IP addresses, subnet masks, default gateways, and other network configuration parameters to devices that connect to the network.

Here is an overview of how automatic IP address assignment through DHCP works:

Step 1: DHCP Discovery

When a device connects to a network with DHCP enabled, it broadcasts a DHCP discovery message. This message is sent to discover available DHCP servers within the network.

Step 2: DHCP Offer

Upon receiving the DHCP discovery message, one or more DHCP servers respond with a DHCP offer. The offer includes an available IP address, subnet mask, default gateway, DNS server information, and other network configuration parameters.

Step 3: DHCP Request

The device selects one DHCP offer and sends a DHCP request message to the chosen DHCP server. The request confirms the intention to use the offered IP address and requests that the DHCP server reserve it for the device.

Step 4: DHCP Acknowledgment

Upon receiving the DHCP request, the DHCP server acknowledges the request with a DHCP acknowledgment message. This message confirms the reservation of the IP address for the device, along with any additional network configuration parameters.

Step 5: IP Address Lease

The DHCP server assigns an IP address lease duration to the device. This lease determines the duration for which the device can use the assigned IP address. The lease period can be configured on the DHCP server and typically ranges from hours to several days.

Step 6: IP Address Renewal

As the lease period approaches expiration, the device sends a DHCP renewal request to the DHCP server. The server can either renew the lease for the same IP address or assign a new IP address, depending on the availability and configuration.

By using DHCP for automatic IP address assignment, network administrators benefit from simplified network management and resource optimization. DHCP eliminates the manual effort of configuring IP addresses on individual devices and ensures that IP addresses are assigned dynamically, avoiding conflicts and efficiently utilizing available addresses.

Automatic IP address assignment through DHCP is widely supported in various operating systems and network devices. It provides flexibility and scalability, making it an essential component of modern networks.

Now that you have a clear understanding of automatic IP address assignment through DHCP, you can implement this method to efficiently manage IP addresses within your network.

Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP)

The Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) is a network protocol that enables automatic and centralized IP address assignment within a network. With DHCP, devices can dynamically obtain IP addresses, as well as other network configuration information, such as subnet masks, default gateways, and DNS server addresses. This protocol simplifies network administration by reducing the amount of manual configuration required and ensuring efficient utilization of IP addresses.

Here are the key components and functionalities of DHCP:

DHCP Server

The DHCP server is a central component in the network responsible for managing IP address assignment. It holds a pool of available IP addresses and leases them to devices on the network. The DHCP server also maintains information about lease durations, configuration parameters, and other network-specific settings.

DHCP Client

A DHCP client is a device that requests IP address assignment from a DHCP server. Clients typically send DHCP discovery messages on the network to locate available DHCP servers and initiate the IP address assignment process. Once a DHCP offer is received, the client sends a DHCP request to confirm and secure the offered IP address.

A DHCP lease refers to the duration for which a DHCP client is allowed to use an assigned IP address. Lease durations are determined by the DHCP server and can be configured to different time intervals, typically ranging from a few hours to several days. Before the lease expires, the client can attempt to renew the lease to maintain its IP address assignment.

IP Address Pool

The IP address pool is a range of available IP addresses that a DHCP server can assign to clients. The pool is configured on the DHCP server and defines the range from which IP addresses are dynamically allocated. The server ensures that each IP address is allocated only once to avoid conflicts within the network.

Address Reservation

In addition to dynamic IP address assignment, DHCP also allows for address reservation. Address reservation associates a specific IP address with a particular device’s unique identifier, such as its Media Access Control (MAC) address. With address reservation, a device is always assigned the same IP address whenever it connects to the network, ensuring consistent configuration and accessibility.

DHCP significantly simplifies network administration by automating IP address assignment and related configuration tasks. It provides scalability, flexibility, and efficient management of IP address resources within a network. DHCP is widely supported by operating systems and network devices, making it an integral part of modern networks.

By leveraging DHCP, network administrators can streamline the process of IP address assignment, reduce manual errors, and adapt to changing network conditions more efficiently. DHCP plays an essential role in maintaining the connectivity and overall performance of networks of all sizes.

Assigning IP Addresses on Windows

Assigning IP addresses on Windows is a straightforward process that can be done through the network settings in the operating system. Windows provides several methods for IP address assignment, including manual (static) assignment and dynamic assignment through the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP).

Here is how you can manually assign an IP address on Windows:

  • Open the Start menu and go to Settings. Select “Network & Internet.”
  • In the Network & Internet settings, click on “Ethernet” or “Wi-Fi,” depending on which network connection you want to configure.
  • Click on “Change adapter options.”
  • Right-click on the network adapter you want to configure and select “Properties.”
  • In the Properties window, scroll down and select “Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)” or “Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6), depending on your network setup. Click on “Properties.”
  • In the IPv4 or IPv6 properties, select the option to use the IP address manually. Enter the desired IP address, subnet mask, default gateway, and DNS server information.
  • Click “OK” to save the changes. The IP address will be assigned to the network adapter.

Dynamic IP Address Assignment via DHCP

If you want Windows to automatically assign an IP address through DHCP, follow these steps:

  • Go to Settings and select “Network & Internet.”
  • Select “Ethernet” or “Wi-Fi” depending on the network connection you want to configure.
  • Right-click on the network adapter and select “Properties.”
  • In the Properties window, scroll down and select “Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)” or “Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6),” depending on your network setup. Click on “Properties.”
  • In the IPv4 or IPv6 properties, select the option to obtain an IP address automatically. Ensure that both “Obtain an IP address automatically” and “Obtain DNS server address automatically” are selected.
  • Click “OK” to save the changes. Windows will now assign the IP address automatically through DHCP when the device connects to the network.

These steps apply to Windows 10, but the process is similar on other versions of Windows, such as Windows 8 and Windows 7. By manually assigning IP addresses or configuring Windows to obtain IP addresses dynamically through DHCP, you can effectively manage and connect your Windows devices to the network.

Assigning IP Addresses on Mac

Assigning IP addresses on a Mac is a straightforward process that can be done through the network settings in the operating system. Mac computers provide an easy interface for manual (static) IP address assignment as well as dynamic IP address assignment through the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP).

To manually assign an IP address on a Mac, follow these steps:

  • Click on the Apple menu in the top-left corner of the screen and select “System Preferences.”
  • In the System Preferences window, click on “Network.”
  • Select the network connection you want to configure from the list on the left (e.g., Wi-Fi, Ethernet).
  • Click on the “Advanced” button.
  • In the Advanced settings, go to the “TCP/IP” tab.
  • In the “Configure IPv4” or “Configure IPv6” dropdown menu, select “Manually.”
  • Enter the desired IP address, subnet mask, router (default gateway) address, and DNS server addresses.
  • Click “OK” to save the changes and close the network settings.

To configure a Mac to obtain an IP address automatically through DHCP, follow these steps:

  • Open the Apple menu and select “System Preferences.”
  • In System Preferences, click on “Network.”
  • Choose the network connection you want to configure from the left-side panel.
  • From the “Configure IPv4” or “Configure IPv6” dropdown menu, select “Using DHCP.”
  • Optional: You can also configure additional DHCP options by clicking on the “DHCP” tab.

It’s important to note that these steps may slightly vary depending on the version of macOS you are using. However, the general process remains the same across different versions.

By manually assigning IP addresses or configuring your Mac to obtain IP addresses automatically through DHCP, you can manage your network connections efficiently and ensure seamless communication between your Mac and other devices on the network.

Assigning IP Addresses on Linux

Assigning IP addresses on a Linux system can be done through the command-line interface or using the network configuration tools available on different Linux distributions. Linux provides flexibility and various methods for both manual (static) IP address assignment and dynamic IP address assignment through the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP).

To manually assign an IP address on Linux, you can follow these general steps:

  • Open a terminal or command-line interface on your Linux machine.
  • Check the network configuration file for your network interface. This file is typically found in /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ and is named based on the interface (e.g., ifcfg-eth0 for Ethernet interface).
  • Edit the network configuration file using a text editor like vi or nano .
  • Find the line that starts with BOOTPROTO and change the value to static .
  • Set the IP address, subnet mask, default gateway, and DNS server information by modifying the corresponding lines in the configuration file.
  • Save the changes and exit the text editor.
  • Restart the networking service or reboot the machine for the changes to take effect.

Configuring DHCP for dynamic IP address assignment on Linux involves similar steps:

  • Check the network configuration file for your network interface ( /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ directory).
  • Edit the network configuration file using a text editor.
  • Find the line that starts with BOOTPROTO and change the value to dhcp .
  • Restart the networking service or reboot the machine to activate the DHCP client and obtain an IP address from the DHCP server.

Please note that these steps are general guidelines, and the actual process may vary depending on the Linux distribution you are using. The configuration files and locations might differ slightly, so it’s recommended to consult the documentation or online resources specific to your Linux distribution.

By manually assigning IP addresses or configuring DHCP for dynamic IP address assignment on Linux, you can effectively manage your network connections and ensure seamless communication between your Linux system and other devices on the network.

Troubleshooting IP Address Assignment Issues

IP address assignment issues can sometimes arise when configuring or managing a network. Understanding common problems and troubleshooting techniques can help ensure smooth network connectivity. Here are a few troubleshooting steps to consider when encountering IP address assignment issues:

1. Check DHCP Server Availability

If DHCP is used for IP address assignment, ensure that the DHCP server is operational and accessible. Make sure the DHCP server is configured correctly and has available IP addresses in its address pool.

2. Verify Network Connection

Ensure that the device experiencing IP address assignment issues is properly connected to the network. Check cables, Wi-Fi connections, or any other means of connectivity. Additionally, make sure the network interface on the device is enabled and functioning correctly.

3. Check for IP Address Conflicts

IP address conflicts occur when two devices within the same network have been assigned the same IP address. This can cause connectivity issues. To resolve this, ensure that each device within the network has a unique IP address. Check if any devices have been manually assigned the same IP address or if there are any DHCP configuration errors causing address conflicts.

4. Reset the DHCP Client

If a DHCP client is not acquiring an IP address correctly, try resetting the client’s network settings. This can be done by releasing and renewing the IP address lease. In a command-line interface, use the commands specific to your operating system to release the IP address lease and then renew it (e.g., ipconfig /release and ipconfig /renew in Windows, or dhclient -r and dhclient in Linux).

5. Restart Networking Services

If IP address assignment issues persist, try restarting the networking services on the device. This can help refresh network configurations and potentially resolve any misconfigurations or issues with the network stack. Restarting the network services can vary depending on the operating system or distribution, so refer to the appropriate documentation or online resources.

6. Check Firewall and Security Settings

Firewall or security settings can sometimes interfere with IP address assignment. Ensure that your firewall or security software is not blocking the DHCP traffic or preventing the device from obtaining an IP address from the DHCP server. Adjust the firewall or security settings accordingly to allow DHCP communication.

These troubleshooting steps should address common IP address assignment issues. If the problem persists, consult the documentation specific to your network equipment, operating system, or seek assistance from a network administrator or IT professional for further troubleshooting and support.

Assigning IP addresses is a fundamental aspect of network administration and plays a critical role in establishing connectivity and communication between devices. Whether it’s manual (static) assignment or dynamic assignment using DHCP, the ability to assign and manage IP addresses efficiently is essential for maintaining an organized and functional network.

In this article, we explored the basics of IP addresses, understanding their structure, and the different types available. We also discussed the two primary methods of IP address assignment: manual and automatic. Manual assignment provides control and stability for devices that require static IP addresses, while automatic assignment through DHCP offers convenience and efficient utilization of IP address resources.

We also covered how to assign IP addresses on different operating systems, including Windows, Mac, and Linux. Each operating system provides tools and interfaces to configure network settings and assign IP addresses, whether through a manual process or by utilizing DHCP.

In addition, we touched on troubleshooting techniques for addressing common IP address assignment issues. Verifying DHCP server availability, checking for IP address conflicts, and resetting network configurations are some of the troubleshooting steps discussed to ensure smooth IP address assignment.

Overall, IP address assignment is a fundamental component of network management. By understanding the different methods and addressing any issues that arise, network administrators and users can maintain reliable and efficient connectivity among devices within a network.

Whether you are setting up a small home network or managing a large enterprise network, the knowledge and techniques shared in this article provide a foundation for successful IP address assignment and network operation.

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How are IP addresses assigned to end users?

How are IPv4 addresses assigned? What sparked my curiosity is that I used to have an IPv4 address of 96.32.179.XX and I moved roughly 2 weeks ago (about 10 miles from previous address) and now I have an IPv4 address of 24.158.252.XXX. Same city and state for each IP.

I would think that each City would be assigned an IPv4 Range, meaning that both of my addresses would start with 96.XX.XXX.XX Or are IPv4 addresses just randomly assigned from your ISP pool of IPv4 addresses that they have available?

Both IPv4 listed above are for residential accounts.

user's user avatar

  • Why the vote down already? Will you explain what is not good or clear about my question? –  SmallFries BigGuys Oct 19, 2016 at 12:21
  • 2 No idea but the answer to your question is that it's depended on your ISPs policy. It could be anything from random IP from his pool to some building on the street mapping. As we've been running out of IPv4 address for a decade or so there have been merges, splits, technical innovates and more that influence such patterns. Without talking to the ISP itself you probably won't be able to discern it. –  Seth Oct 19, 2016 at 12:25
  • @Seth - thank you for that information. With mergers etc, how are IP lookup tools able to display who an ISP is based off IP? Such as this whatismyipaddress.com/ip/96.32.179.23 –  SmallFries BigGuys Oct 19, 2016 at 12:29
  • The Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) assigns IP blocks to regions. Each region e.g. Europe has a "Subdevision" (in this case RIPE) which further assigns those huge blocks into smaller blocks which are eventually at some point are registered to a company. As an example your address was handed out by ARIN to Charter in 2008. Each Registry usually provides a whois API and services like that use them to identify IPs. –  Seth Oct 19, 2016 at 12:47
  • Related on Information Security (later closed as off topic): Can ICANN deny Internet service to people? where roughly the lower half of my answer discusses IP address assignment specifically. –  user Oct 19, 2016 at 17:32

3 Answers 3

Your ISP can be a big company or a local company.

Big companies as Comcast or AT&T in USA have a lot of addresses that they have requested to its Regional Internet Registry .( ARIN in the United States, RIPE in Europe).

As the IPv4 scope is depleted it's very difficult to have a huge chunk of consecutive addresses .

The ISP range could be made of a chunk of 1024 addresses from one range, 4096 from other, etc.

ARIN, RIPE and the other registries assign whatever they find free to the requester.

Small ISPs most of the time depend on bigger ISPs, then, they don't request addresses to ARIN or RIPE. Instead of that they lease addresses from a bigger ISP, resulting on even more partitioned chunks.

Sites that geo-locate using the IP address use databases extracted from the information provided by the registries (ARIN, RIPE, etc.) so they are far from accurate and usually show the physical address of the ISP that requested the range from the registry, not knowing if that range is used by the ISP or leased to another.

jcbermu's user avatar

  • 1 Many companies which are not ISPs own provider-independent IPv4 address blocks which came directly from the RIRs. Some non-ISP companies even own multiple provider-independent IPv4 /8 address blocks. Some individuals even own provider-independent IPv4 address blocks. The ISPs will not advertise any IPv4 prefix longer than /24 , so that is the maximum prefix length of provider-independent addressing. –  Ron Maupin Oct 19, 2016 at 13:42
  • Regarding geo-lookup sites, I found that MaxMind does a very impressive job of pinpointing the exact location of an IP, even though most other sites don't. Granted, this is a paid service, but it's still very impressive. For example, this is the result I get for querying my current (yay for DHCP) external IP –  Cas Nov 4, 2016 at 12:35

Let's start from the top: The Internet Numbers Registry System (defined in RFC 7020 ) is a set of systems and organizations that work together to manage all IP addresses in the world.

IANA (Internet Assigned Numbers Authority) "owns" all IP addresses and delegates them to RIR's (Regional Internet Registries), who define their own policies regarding who can get an IP address block, and for what reason they should get one.

IANA assigns IPv4 "blocks", which are basically a set of consecutive IP addresses. The largest assignable block is a /8 block, which means all IP addresses starting with a certain octet (eg: 123. . .*). RIR's take IP addresses assigned to them by IANA and divide them up into smaller blocks, which are then assigned to organizations such as ISP's or large companies. (For example, Cloudflare is not an ISP, but does have quite a few IP addresses assigned because they operate a very large global network. You can't go to a RIR and request just one IP)

Your ISP will then, depending on its size, go to the RIR and request an allocation of IP addresses. The RIR then assigns your ISP some addresses from the available pool, in an ideal world, this would be one large block of consecutive addresses (for example 123.123.0.1/17 (123.123.0.1 - 123.123.127.254)). Unfortunately, the amount of available IP blocks of this size is rapidly shrinking because the IPv4 address space is running out. This is why an ISP might receive two /18 blocks instead of a single /17 block.

Then, when you connect to your ISP's network, you request an address (using DHCP ) . Your ISP will pick an address from the pool of available addresses it was assigned by the RIR. Since the ISP probably owns multiple blocks of IP addresses, the chance exists that the IP address you will be assigned is completely different from the one you had previously.

It is possible for an ISP to neatly organize their IP allocations by assigning a certain block to a certain location, but this doesn't really serve any purpose except for looking pretty, which is why they don't do it.

TL;DR: You get your IP from an ISP, which gets it from a RIR, which gets it from IANA. IP's are assigned in a first come, first served method so when your RIR or ISP requests two blocks at separate times, they won't be consecutive. You get a random IP from the pool of available addresses at your ISP, which may be from any of the blocks they own. Your ISP could assign an IP based on your location, but since that has no real benefit, they probably don't.

Cas's user avatar

Your city or house or even connection have nothing to do with this. You get your IP assigned by your ISP. They typically assign this automatically and whats more important dynamically .

So generally, whenever your router/modem restarts and your connection is started (again) you normally get a different ip.

kyze's user avatar

  • I understand you get a new IP each time your modem reboots (typically) - I just was not sure if a certain range of IP's belong to a certain ISP/Area or if there is no such assignment like that. –  SmallFries BigGuys Oct 19, 2016 at 12:27
  • 1 Again, this has nothing to do with area whatsoever. Every ISP does have a IPv4 block they can then give their customers. Some have more, some have less and resort to Dualstack or IPv6. –  kyze Oct 19, 2016 at 12:30

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how will ip addresses be assigned

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You are here, explained: how is my ip assigned / determined (ipv4).

Dennis Faas's picture

Infopackets Reader Izzy M. writes:

" Dear Dennis,

I am trying to figure out how IP addresses are assigned using IPv4 (IP addressing version 4), but can't seem to find a straight answer online. My question: is there a certain number that my IP address has to be? Is there any correlation between my IP address, subnet mask and default gateway? How is my IP address assigned or determined? Thank you in advance! "

My response:

I think the reason you can't find an answer to this question is because this is an extremely broad question. To put this as simple as possible: the answer to your question depends on your network class (A, B, C, D). The network class then determines whether you are referring to a public IP address which is assigned to your modem by your Internet provider, or a private IP address which is typically assigned by your router on a home network.

Related: How Do I Change my IP Address (IP Banned) ?

Your IP address (with respect to IPv4) is derived from three main things:

1. Your network class (A, B, C, D) - this defines whether you're using a public IP address (from your Internet provider) or a private IP address (typically assigned by your router, on your home network). For the record you can review a list of public IPs (IPv4) here .

2. The subnet , which defines how many IPs are assigned to the network class range

3. Whether the IP is leased or permanent ( static or dynamic )

How an IP is Assigned on a Home Network (IPv4)

Let's look at a typical example for a home user.

Internet access is provided by an Internet Service Provider (ISP) ; data travels from the Internet to a modem inside your home (usually). A router connects to the modem and allows your home network to communicate to the outside world (to the Internet).

The router usually has DHCP (dynamic host control protocol) enabled by default. The purpose of DHCP is to automatically assign any device on your network an IPv4 address. This allows you to share the Internet across multiple devices in your home (or office), and even communicate with other devices across your entire private network.

Here's where things get a bit more technical.

The subnet mask is used to define a subnet range on the network. As a typical example, most routers are assigned a class C range. Class C is defined as having IPs 192.168.0.0 to 192.168.255.255 , which yields a total of 2,097,150 usable IP addresses . This is far too large for most home networks; as such, a subnet mask is applied to yield a smaller range of usable IPs on the network.

Thus, a typical network class C range (for use at home) would be 192.168.0.1 to 192.168.2.254 with a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0 , yielding 254 usable IP addresses. There is a mathematical way to derive how IPs are subnetted , which I will not get into - but you read read up on, if you want.

Of that IP range, certain IPs are reserved for special cases. For example:

  • 192.168.0.1 is usually the default gateway (also used for the router administration page)
  • 192.168.0.2 - 192.168.0.100 are usually reserved for dynamic addresses , controlled by DHCP ; these IPs are leased and expire over time, thus DHCP IPs are not always the same
  • 129.168.0.101 - 192.168.0.254 are usually reserved for static IPs
  • 192.168.0.255 is the broadcast IP

Assigning an IPv4 Address: Using DHCP or Static IPs

On a typical home network, an IPv4 address is assigned depending on how the router and your machine are configured.

By default, DHCP (dynamic host control protocol) is enabled on the router. This means that the router will automatically assign an IP address to any device on the network automatically according to the DHCP IP range . The DHCP range is defined in the router administration page. Using the example above, the range would be 192.168.0.2 to 192.168.0.100.

If you prefer to set a static IP rather than one through DHCP, this would be done by adjusting your network adapter settings in the operating system. For example, if you have a ' server ' or ' media pc ' machine in the home and you want to use the same IP address for that device all the time (instead of a random IP address), then a static IP address makes more sense.

I hope this answers your question.

Keep in mind that this is an extremely broad question with many variables involved. That said, in the case of 'home networking' this answer should fit. In the case of how an IP is assigned using an Internet Provider : the same ideas apply, except DHCP is controlled by the Internet Provider and IPs are leased for a certain duration of time (especially if your modem or router loses power).

Got a Computer Question or Problem? Ask Dennis!

About the author : Dennis Faas is the owner and operator of Infopackets.com. With over 30 years of computing experience, Dennis' areas of expertise are a broad range and include PC hardware, Microsoft Windows, Linux, network administration, and virtualization. Dennis holds a Bachelors degree in Computer Science (1999) and has authored 6 books on the topics of MS Windows and PC Security. If you like the advice you received on this page, please up-vote / Like this page and share it with friends. For technical support inquiries, Dennis can be reached via Live chat online this site using the Zopim Chat service (currently located at the bottom left of the screen); optionally, you can contact Dennis through the website contact form .

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pctyson's picture

DHCP (dynamic host control

DHCP (dynamic host control protocol)

I know you will get some more comments on this so I am giving you a heads up. DHCP is most commonly referred to as Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP). It appears that it can be called Dynamic Host Control Protocol as referenced on the below noted Cisco page but its technical name is Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol. The header in the Cisco page uses the word control but the rest of the page references it as configuration. It may be a country related variation that I am not aware of and if so ignore my post please.

(https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/ios-nx-os-software/dynamic-host-control-protocol-dhcp-domain-name-system-dns/index.html)

Used interchangeably

Dynamic Host Control Protocol and Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol are used interchangeably but refer to the exact same thing. Thanks for pointing it out. Old school users like myself refer to it as Dynamic Host Control Protocol.

BigZ1981's picture

IP assignment

It would be good to point out that every IPv4 address has 4 numerical values separated by a period. Each of these values range between 0-255. Every ISP has a range of public IPs they assign to their customers. These IPs are given to your home gateway or router. This allows your router to communicate with your ISP's system. All residential/consumer accounts have a dynamic IP assignment, which means that the IP changes every so often. The normal standard is 7 days, and does not always change when the router reboots. However this is normally something you would not see within your home network.

Like Dennis said, most home routers will have a config/gateway IP address of 192.168.x.x. Those x's are either 0's or 1's, depending on what the manufacturer sets. With router DHCP configurations, some default to start IP assignments in the 192.168.x.100 range. If you decide that you want to set static IP assignments for your devices within your home network, note that they all have to match the first 3 fields in the IP address and cannot be the same as the gateway IP. (Unless you change your subnet mask, which then complicates things.) So if your router is configured with a gateway IP of 192.168.1.0, then your devices can have any IP address that falls within the range of 192.168.1.(1-255).

DHCP normally assigns IP addresses in sequential order starting with the first device it connects with. So if the gateway is 192.168.1.0 and it's set to start from the 100 range, the first device will be assigned 192.168.1.100, the next will be 192.168.1.101, and so forth.

For your public IP assigned to you by your ISP they have bigger routers that essentially do the same thing, for your neighborhood, only they can be confogured with a wider range of IP addresses.

I hope this digs a bit deeper, but doesn't get confusing for those who are wanting to learn a bit more. The IP classes & subnet masks are more for high-level corporate networks where they need to separate networks or merge location networks for purposes of maintaining an intranet or VPN connection, which then goes beyond the scope of my own knowledge.

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how will ip addresses be assigned

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How-To Geek

How to assign a static ip address in windows 10 or windows 11.

When organizing your home network it's easier to assign each computer it's own IP address than using DHCP. Here we will take a look at doing it in XP,

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What is a static ip address, assign static ip addresses via your router, how to set a static ip address in windows 11, how to set a static ip address in windows 10, how to set a static ip address in windows 7 or 8 using "network connections", set a static ip address in windows vista, set a static ip address in windows xp, key takeaways.

  • To set a static IP address in Windows 10 or 11, open Settings -> Network & Internet and click Properties for your active network.
  • Choose the "Edit" button next to IP assignment and change the type to Manual.
  • Flip the IPv4 switch to "On", fill out your static IP details, and click Save.

Sometimes, it's better to assign a PC its own IP address rather than letting your router assign one automatically. Join us as we take a look at assigning a static IP address in Windows.

A static IP address is manually set to a permanent, fixed address rather than being assigned automatically by your router using a procotol known as Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP). DHCP is a handy way for devices to connect to your network more easily, because you don't have to configure IP addressing for each new device yourself. The downside to automatic addressing is that it's possible for a device's IP address to change from time to time, which is why people choose static IPs for certain types of devices. For example:

  • You have a device like a home media server that you want to be able to find using the same IP address or host name each time.
  • You have certain apps that can only connect to network devices using their IP address. In particular, many older networking apps suffer this limitation.
  • You forward ports through your router to devices on your network. Some routers play nice with port forwarding and dynamic IP addresses; others do not.

Whatever your reason, assigning static IP addresses to devices is not difficult, but you do have a choice to make---whether to do it from the router or on the device itself.

Related: How to Set a Static IP Address in Ubuntu

While this article covers assigning static IP addresses to PCs within Windows itself, there is another way to go about it. Many routers allow you to assign a pool of IP addresses that are handed out to specific devices (based on the device's physical, or MAC address). This method offers a couple of significant advantages:

  • IP addresses are still managed by the router, meaning that you won't have to make (and keep up with) changes on each individual device.
  • It's easier to assign addresses within the same IP address pool your router uses.

This article is about assigning static IP addresses directly to PCs running Windows. We've already got a great guide on How to Set Static IP Addresses On Your Router , so if that's the way you want to go, be sure to give it a read.

With all that in mind, though, let's take a look at how to assign static IP addresses within any version of Windows.

Related: How to Find Your Router's IP Address on Any Computer, Smartphone, or Tablet

To set a static IP address in Windows 11, you'll want to open Settings, go to Network & Internet, and then find the Properties for your network. Inside there you'll be able to click the Edit button for IP Assignment and then fill out the manual network details.

First, open up the Settings app and then find Network & Internet on the left-hand side. You'll be presented with a panel that shows your current network connection. You can click where it says "Properties" right underneath the network, or if you have multiple network connections you can drill down into the specific network to see the IP address details for each one . In this case it's called "Ethernet", but you will most likely see "Wi-Fi" as the option to choose.

Network & Internet Settings Windows 11

Once you've drilled down into the network connection that you want to set a manual IP for, scroll down until you see "IP Assignment" and then click the Edit button to the right.

Windows 11 Ethernet settings

Once there, you'll flip the drop-down to "Manual" and switch the IPv4 switch to "On". At this point you can fill out your network details and click Save to finish.

Windows 11 manual ip settings

You can also use the old-school Network Connections panel in Windows 11, so if you prefer to use that method, keep reading.

If you're interested in more advanced networking, you might need to set up a static TCP/IP route , reset the entire TCP/IP stack on Windows , check open TCP/IP ports , find your MAC address on Windows , or find your IP address from the Command Prompt . We've got you covered there too.

To set a static IP address in Windows 10, you'll need to open the Settings app and drill down to Network & Internet. From there you'll select Properties for your network, and then the Edit button next to IP Assignment where you can input a manual IP address.

First, open the Settings app and locate the Network & Internet button.

Windows 10 settings app

On the next screen you'll see your network status, which should show you your active network. Here you'll want to click the Properties button. If you have multiple different networks, you could select them from the left-hand menu---in our case you'll notice we have both Wi-Fi and Ethernet networks, so you'll want to pick the one that you are trying to set a manual IP address for. You'll notice this is the same method we use when we're trying to find an IP address on Windows 10 .

Windows 10 network & internet settings

On the network properties screen, scroll down until you see "IP settings" and click the Edit button under "IP assignment".

windows 10 network settings

In the resulting popup window, change the Edit IP settings dropdown to Manual and then flip the IPv4 switch to "On". Fill out the details, click Save, and you should be good to go.

Windows 10 manual ip settings

You might need to reboot to get all of your applications to work properly, just because it's Windows.

It's worth noting that you can use the old Network Connections method to set an IP address in any version of Windows, so if you prefer that method, keep reading.

To change the computer's IP address in Windows 7, you'll need to open the "Network Connections" window. Hit Windows+R, type "ncpa.cpl" into the Run box, and then hit Enter.

how will ip addresses be assigned

In the "Network Connections" window, right-click the adapter for which you want to set a static IP address, and then select the "Properties" command.

how will ip addresses be assigned

In the properties window for the adapter, select "Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)" and then click the "Properties" button.

how will ip addresses be assigned

Select the "Use the following IP address" option, and then type in the IP address, subnet mask, and default gateway that corresponds with your network setup. Next, type in your preferred and alternate DNS server addresses. Finally, select the "Validate settings upon exit" option so that Windows immediately checks your new IP address and corresponding information to ensure that it works. When you're ready, click the "OK" button.

how will ip addresses be assigned

And then close out of the network adapter's properties window.

how will ip addresses be assigned

Windows automatically runs network diagnostics to verify that the connection is good. If there are problems, Windows will give you the option of running the Network troubleshooting wizard. However, if you do run into trouble, the wizard likely won't do you too much good. It's better to check that your settings are valid and try again.

Changing your IP from DHCP to a Static address in Vista is similar to other versions of Windows, but getting to the correct location is a bit different. Open the Start Menu, right-click on Network, and select Properties.

how will ip addresses be assigned

The Network and Sharing Center opens...click on Manage network connections.

how will ip addresses be assigned

Right-click on the network adapter you want to assign an IP address and click Properties.

how will ip addresses be assigned

Highlight Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) then click the Properties button.

sshot-2010-06-06-[02-49-46]

Now change the IP, Subnet mask, Default Gateway, and DNS Server Addresses. When you're finished click OK.

sshot-2010-06-06-[02-51-04]

You'll need to close out of Local Area Connection Properties for the settings to go into effect.

sshot-2010-06-06-[02-51-16]

Open the Command Prompt and use the

command to verify that the changes were successful.

sshot-2010-06-06-[02-52-29]

To set a Static IP in Windows XP, right-click the "My Network Places" icon, and then select "Properties."

how will ip addresses be assigned

Right-click the adapter for which you want to set the IP, and then select "Properties" from the context menu.

how will ip addresses be assigned

Select the "Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)" entry, and then click the "Properties" button.

sshot-2010-06-05-[22-27-58]

Select the "Use the following IP address" option. Type in the IP address, subnet mask, default gateway, and DNS server addresses you want to use. When you're finished, click the "OK" button.

sshot-2010-06-05-[22-28-15]

You will need to close out of the adapter's properties window before the changes go into effect.

sshot-2010-06-05-[22-29-15]

And you can verify your new settings by using the

 command at the command prompt.

sshot-2010-06-05-[22-37-10]

By and large, it's better to let most of your devices have their IP addresses assigned automatically by your router. Occasionally, though, you might want to set a static IP address for a particular device. While you can set static IP addresses directly on your devices (and this article has shown you how to do just that on Windows PCs), we still recommending setting up static IP addressing on your router if possible. It will just make life easier.

Related: How to Find Any Device's IP Address, MAC Address, and Other Network Connection Details

Security.org

How To Change Your IP Address

E ven though you may be in cyberspace, you’re still in a specific, virtual location defined by your IP address. But for those who want to stay private, get around government restrictions, and the like, changing your IP address is a simple first step. In this article, we’ll tell you how to change your IP address, step-by-step, along with providing you with more information about the types of IP addresses, the pros and cons of changing them, and more. Get your invisibility cloak ready because we’re about to go private or as private as you can be online.

See the exact steps to changing your IP address on an iPhone, Android, Mac and Windows computer. Also, learn why you would want to change your IP address in the first place.

» Do You Know: How to find the IP address on your iPhone

Pro Tip: Changing your IP address can help you get around website restrictions and censorship, but some apps and services use GPS location. If you’re having trouble changing your GPS location, read our Surfshark review . You’ll appreciate its GPS override feature.

What Is An IP Address?

Of course, some people may not be totally clear on what an IP address actually is; no shame here! An IP address, which standards for an internet protocol address, is a device’s identifying number associated with a specific computer or network of computers. Basically, IP addresses let computers send and receive information, but they can also be used to track the physical locations of users, 4 a nightmare for those concerned with privacy. And according to our VPN usage research , that accounts for 40 percent of VPN-users.

» How To: Get a US IP Address

Types of IP Addresses

Not all IP addresses are created equal! Rather, they can be divided into a few different categories, some of which have certain advantages over others.

  • Public : Each and every internet-connected device has a public IP address, distributed by the Internet Service Providers vis-à-vis the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers. What, you haven’t heard of ICANN? Nevertheless, these public IP addresses are searchable on the web, which is why we can find our printer simply by Googling its IP address .
  • Private/ local : In contrast to public IP addresses, private IP addresses aren’t searchable on the web. Rather, they’re numbers that routers assign the devices on their networks so that they can communicate with each other.
  • Dynamic : Dynamic IP addresses, as we mentioned before, are any type of IP address that change every time you connect, usually through a VPN. This makes users hard to track online, as their literal address keeps changing.
  • Static : Static means that the IP addresses do not change. With VPNs, static IP addresses are usually shared with thousands of users in order to obscure their identities. However, some websites block these shared IP addresses, which necessitates users getting dedicated IP addresses. What a convenient transition!
  • Dedicated : Dedicated IP addresses are assigned to only one user rather than being shared by several. They usually cost a different fee on top of the regular VPN subscription.
  • IPv4 : Internet Protocol version 4 is used by 99 percent of networks, but since it can only store 4.3 billion addresses, it’s being replaced by IPv6, which we’ll get to in a second. Unlike IPv6, IPv4 addresses are four one bite numbers separated by dots like 555.555.1.1.
  • IPv6 : While they’re only used by less than 1 percent of networks, IPv6 has its advantages over IPv4, namely that it can provide an infinite number of addresses. It also allows for larger payloads and is compatible with a greater number of mobile networks. Although they’re starting small, eventually, IPv6 will replace IPv4. 5

» Further Reading: Dynamic vs Static IP Address

Where To Find Your IP Address

Feeling lost in the sauce? Finding your IP address isn’t that complicated, even if you’re not a tech expert like us.

Your private information

My ip address.

20.237.210.148

Unprotected

My IP Information

Internet provider:

MICROSOFT-CORP-MSN-AS-BLOCK

Region/ State:

Hide my IP address

View IP Details

Browser name:

Browser version:

Device brand:

Device type:

Postal code:

Where to Find Your IP Address on Mac

  • Enter your Mac’s System Settings.
  • Select Network.
  • Select your Wi-Fi network.
  • Click Details…
  • You’ll see your IP internal address listed.

Where to Find Your IP Address on Windows

  • Enter your TaskBar.
  • Click on Settings.
  • Select your network.
  • Click Wi-Fi Properties.
  • Look under IPv4 Address.

Where to Find Your IP Address on Android

  • Enter your phone’s Settings.
  • Click About.
  • Click Status.
  • Look at the IP Address.

Where to Find Your IP Address on iOS

  • Click Settings.
  • Click Wi-Fi.
  • Click on the “i” button next to Network.

Pros and Cons of Changing Addresses

Of course, there’s always the debate of whether or not to change your IP address in the first place. While the angel on your shoulder tells you it’s a great way to increase your privacy and access other country’s servers, the devil tells you that it could be costly, that some websites won’t work and that your ISP will still be able to see your address. There’s truth to both of these sides, so we recommend making your decisions on a case-by-case basis. That being said, we broke down the main reasons why you should and shouldn’t change your IP address.

» How To: Get a UK IP Address

Why You Should Change Your IP Address

  • Avoid tracking : If you’ve ever searched for anything related to consumerism, then you probably already notice how your searches seem to follow you around the internet like you owe them money. This sort of tracking is made possible by cookies, which some antivirus software can disable.
  • Bypass government restrictions : Governments like China greatly restrict internet usage in their country, so if you want to bypass firewalls, changing your IP address is a must.
  • Access international servers : Maybe you simply want to see what’s on Netflix Canada from your apartment in California. By changing your IP address to a Canadian one, you can trick the streaming giant into showing you a whole lot of new content.
FYI: Not all VPNs are compatible with Netflix. To find one that’s right for you, read our review of the best VPNs for Netflix .
  • Gain privacy : Maybe you’re an activist, a journalist, or anyone else handling sensitive information, or maybe you just don’t want your Internet Service Provider to track your every move. If that’s the case, changing your IP address is a step in the right direction in terms of privacy.
  • Increase security : Most people think nothing of joining public Wi-Fi networks (and depending on your settings, this may even happen automatically). However, using public Wi-Fi opens up a slew of security risks, with hacking at the forefront. But by hiding your real IP address, you greatly lower your risk of hackings .

Why You Shouldn’t Change Your IP Address

  • Some websites won’t work : Some websites, like the aforementioned Netflix, won’t work with certain VPNs or proxies. So while they may be able to bypass government restrictions, that doesn’t stop individual websites from blocking certain IP addresses.
  • Not always legal : Depending on where you are, VPNs may not be legal ; they’re banned in China, Belarus, Iran and a few other countries, so keep that in mind before you connect.
  • May slow down connection : Any added encryption will slow down your browsing speeds, although the exact slowdowns will differ from service to service. Still, if you’re performing tasks that require a lot of bandwidth like streaming video or video chatting, you might experience some frustrating lag.
  • VPN may log data : Again, depending on the service, your VPN company may be logging the very information you want to hide, like your IP address and web traffic. Our advice? Always read the VPN’s privacy policy, which we cover in our individual VPN reviews, and talk about it extensively on our best no-logging VPNs page.
  • Could cost money : Not all VPNs are free (except of course, the ones that are; check out the best free VPNs to see what we’re talking about). Still, free VPNs typically have limits on time, data, or servers, so if you want full coverage, you might have to pony up some dough.
  • ISP’s will still be able to see IP : Even with a new IP address, your Internet Service Provider will be able to see it, so you’re never truly “private” when you’re online.

» Learn more: All about ISP Throttling

Overall, we’re of the faith that changing your IP address is a necessity at times, and we love that there’s more than one way to do it. We hope we answered all of your questions about changing your IP address, but if we didn’t, read on.

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The IP Address Is the Permanent Solution for Proof of Performance

By Ray Kingman     February 19, 2024    

how will ip addresses be assigned

I n adtech, the market has a number of preconceptions about the IP address that are not necessarily accurate, so it is important to share a bit of additional context on the IP address.

As noted, digital advertising initiated a bit of a gold rush around trying to engineer an alternative to cookies just a few years ago. The assumption has been that cookies were a privacy risk. It is worth stating that the issue wasn't in the construction of the cookie – but rather that these third-party cookies spawned a sub-culture of sharing these anonymous IDs and that this sharing resulted in individuals being targeted without their permission.

A slightly more nuanced consequence of unauthorized sharing was that if the cookie was free to use, then the businesses that relied most heavily on programmatic targeting were, at a certain level, exposed to the misuse of what they consider to be their primary asset: their customer base. Sure, there is a privacy component, but in practical terms it is a share of wallet economic exposure for these identity providers, the mega-brands and what we now call the walled gardens.

So, as history has shown, the gold rush in the proprietary ID space ensued. Walled gardens kept their IDs and cookies to themselves. Key platforms like LiveRamp, The Trade Desk, and others created their own proprietary identifiers to defend and claim as their own asset. Identity in the open web hasn't transitioned yet but the alternative IDs have all the same foibles and performance characteristics of the cookie.

To no one's surprise these alternatives are also based on emails and devices and are still highly dependent on the integrations with publishers. Despite the constant marketing promotion of one-to-one or person-based targeting in our industry, the cookie and the proprietary alternatives still point to the publisher sites where the ID is resident on – unless – it includes all the household members and perhaps all the other people on those same sites. Scale and reach remain one of limiting factors of these proprietary IDs. The other catalytic event is CTV and audience-based television.

For more on this topic, see:

  • Agency Searches and Reviews: What Type of Consultant Is Right for You?
  • ABX and Beyond: Transforming Martech in the Pursuit of Revenue

One of the disarming consequences of cookie deprecation and proprietary replacements is the lack of measurement. Measurement equals proof of performance and without that the brands are going to move cautiously.

Enter the IP address . The one valid challenge with using the IP is that by itself it is household-based targeting. The advertiser is literally targeting the modem in the home. In that sense, the IP address is not a cookie alternative at all. It is simply a proxy for the one public postal address of a home. It is worth considering that homes have deterministic attributes too – known people, home values, and lifestyles. Homes house people who buy products, go to gyms, go to college, and attend political events. They also have devices, which means that the signal from a device through the Wi-Fi is deterministically person-based. You didn't get there from a cookie on a shared browser, but rather through a postal address.

The other characteristics the IP offers is that it is ubiquitous. It is in every home (that has the internet). An IP also is not dependent on a publisher ID. This means that an IP-verified media bid can be served to anyone – anywhere. IP-verified targeting can be a utility for a more accurate proof of reach than one of the 300 cookies that link the back to an original onboarded record.

Sure, IP addresses do change. Depending on the provider, the IP changes 4 percent a week. If one knows the space, there are IP rotations, IPs in transit, IPs as proxies, and VPNs. That doesn't make them inaccurate. It simply means that the IP needs to be sourced correctly and the rules of IP delivery points must be always in practice. Sourcing IPs from the bidstream only provides partial coverage and can be riddled with fraud. Time of collection is an all-important element in IP mapping to destinations accurately.

Lastly, when correctly used, the IP address is not a cookie and should not attempt to be its replacement. An IP address should not be passed outside of a secure environment. An IP address should work in cooperation with postal, email, location, and device to establish a constellation of conformational signals. An IP address is a foundational asset in building more accurate targeting – a targeting system that leans into being a first-party customer communications vehicle rather than a soft ID match encumbered by platform algorithms and audience extensions.

Adtech has a responsibility to itself to validate both reach and proof of performance. The IP address is the only asset that can cover both adequately.

The views and opinions expressed are solely those of the contributor and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the ANA or imply endorsement from the ANA.

Ray Kingman is CEO of Semcasting.

how will ip addresses be assigned

IMAGES

  1. How are IP addresses assigned?

    how will ip addresses be assigned

  2. What is IP Address, Versions and Format of IP Address?

    how will ip addresses be assigned

  3. IP Addresses

    how will ip addresses be assigned

  4. DHCP and manual IP address configuration

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  5. PPT

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VIDEO

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  2. Understanding an IP Address

  3. IP Address classes

  4. WHAT IS MY IP?

  5. What is an IP Address

  6. Day 3.2 : AWS HINDI : AWS EC2 (Elastic Compute Cloud) Part 2

COMMENTS

  1. How Do IP Addresses Work?

    That IP address we mentioned before (192.168.1.34) in binary would look like this: 11000000.10101000.00000001.00100010. Computers work with the binary format, but we humans find it much easier to work with the decimal format.

  2. How are IP addresses assigned?

    There are 2 ways how you can assign an IP address to your device: (1) dynamically via DHCP or (2) statically by manually assigning an IP address yourself. In either case, you must use the IP address that is provided to you by your ISP, or the IP range you allocated yourself within your private space (i.e. private IP address).

  3. internet

    How are IP addresses assigned? Ask Question Asked 13 years, 8 months ago Modified 9 years ago Viewed 37k times 16 How are IP addresses assigned? What if someone from USA and someone from Australia connected to the internet at the same time - how would they not have the same IP address? internet Share Improve this question Follow

  4. Understanding IP Address: An Introductory Guide

    Identifying host/network interface The Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) manages IP addresses globally. And, 5 Regional Internet Registries (RIRs) manage them in designated regions and assign them to local internet registries like end-users and Internet Service Providers (ISPs). How Does An IP Address Work?

  5. IP addresses (article)

    74.125.20.113 🔍 Try visiting that IP in your browser. Where does it go? Each IP address is split into 4 numbers, and each of those numbers can range from 0 to 255 : [0-255]. [0-255]. [0-255]. [0-255] We write those numbers in decimal, but the computer stores them in binary, like so: 01010101 01010101 01010101 01010101

  6. IP address

    Function An IP address serves two principal functions: it identifies the host, or more specifically its network interface, and it provides the location of the host in the network, and thus the capability of establishing a path to that host. Its role has been characterized as follows: "A name indicates what we seek. An address indicates where it is.

  7. Understanding IP Addresses: How IP Addressing Works

    IPv4 uses 32 bits, and its address format is usually a unique string of numbers and letters that looks something like this: 123.123.123.123. Each IP address comprises four sets of numbers separated by periods, each ranging from 0 to 255. IPv4 addresses are composed of two parts: the network ID and the host ID.

  8. Understanding IP Addresses, Subnets, and CIDR Notation ...

    For example, we could express the idea that the IP address 192.168..15 is associated with the netmask 255.255.255. by using the CIDR notation of 192.168..15/24. This means that the first 24 bits of the IP address given are considered significant for the network routing. This allows us some interesting possibilities.

  9. What is an IP Address? How it works? How to Locate it?

    A private IP address, or internal-facing IP address, is assigned by an office or home intranet (or local area network) to devices, or by the internet service provider (ISP). The home/office router manages the private IP addresses to the devices that connect to it from within that local network.

  10. What is an IP address? And what is your IP address?

    An IP address is a long string of numbers assigned to every device connected to a network that uses Internet Protocol as the medium for communication; it's the digital world's equivalent of the...

  11. What Is an IP Address? How It Works and How to Look It Up?

    Public IP addresses are allocated to a device by an ISP. Internet activity from the device is routed through the ISP and back to the device using the assigned public IP address. Dynamic IP addresses on a local network are typically assigned by a network router. In the case of networks connected to the internet, an ISP assigns dynamic IP ...

  12. 6 Basic Things to Know About IP Addresses

    When you're at home, an IP address is assigned to your computer by your Internet service provider (think Time Warner Cable, Cox Communications, or AT&T). Since they are the ones giving you access to the Internet, it's their role to assign an IP address to your computer.

  13. A Short Guide to IP Addressing

    IP addresses are managed by the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA), which has overall responsibility for the Internet Protocol (IP) address pool, and by the Regional Internet Registries (RIRs) to which IANA distributes large blocks of addresses.

  14. How are IP addresses actually assigned?

    How are IP addresses actually assigned? Asked 12 years, 8 months ago Modified 3 years, 5 months ago Viewed 10k times 17 I'm having a hard time understanding how a governing body assigns IP addresses, companies use BGP to advertise those IPs, and how the internet works. Then, where the hell does DNS come in?

  15. What Is an IP Address? The Complete Breakdown

    In turn, your router could assign your desktop computer an IP address of 192.168.222.111. The 192.168… address is a common internal network address used across the world. If, for example, you have an Xbox or PS5, your router could assign it an IP address of 192.168.222.112 and any other devices .113, .114 and so on.

  16. IP Addresses Explained

    The first is the 0.0.0.0 address and refers to the default network and the 255.255.255.255 address which is called the broadcast address. These addresses are used for routing, which will not be ...

  17. How To Assign IP Address

    IP addresses can be assigned in two ways: manual (static) assignment or automatic (dynamic) assignment. Manual assignment involves manually configuring the IP address on each device, ensuring that each one has a unique address within the network.

  18. How are IP addresses assigned to end users?

    How are IPv4 addresses assigned? What sparked my curiosity is that I used to have an IPv4 address of 96.32.179.XX and I moved roughly 2 weeks ago (about 10 miles from previous address) and now I have an IPv4 address of 24.158.252.XXX. Same city and state for each IP.

  19. Explained: How is My IP Assigned / Determined (IPv4)?

    Assigning an IPv4 Address: Using DHCP or Static IPs. On a typical home network, an IPv4 address is assigned depending on how the router and your machine are configured. By default, DHCP (dynamic host control protocol) is enabled on the router. This means that the router will automatically assign an IP address to any device on the network ...

  20. How are IP addresses assigned?

    While IANA does globally coordinate IP addresses, They are assigned by Internet registries (there are five around the world). The registries assign addresses although they don't do it for individuals. Your ISP will assign you an address (from their registry-assigned range) when you connect up to them. Since that address is associated with that ...

  21. ipv4

    What can an IP address be assigned to? A network interface, which is what I thought originally. (I seem to hear a network interface can have multiple IP addresses assigned to it, and if it is true, it doesn't affect that a IP address can be assigned to a network interface.)

  22. How to Assign a Static IP Address in Windows 10 or Windows 11

    To set a static IP address in Windows 10 or 11, open Settings -> Network & Internet and click Properties for your active network. Choose the "Edit" button next to IP assignment and change the type to Manual. Flip the IPv4 switch to "On", fill out your static IP details, and click Save.

  23. How many IP addresses can a device or an interface possess?

    Generally speaking, in a single local network (i.e. flat network or VLAN) a single IP address can only be assigned to one interface/device at any given time. The reason why is that other devices need to learn a correlation between a MAC address and an IP address. This is what the ARP process provides.

  24. What Is a Static IP Address?

    A static IP address is an IP address that stays the same. Typically, users create static IP addresses manually; internet service providers, or ISPs, can assign them, as well.

  25. How To Change Your IP Address

    Private/ local: In contrast to public IP addresses, private IP addresses aren't searchable on the web.Rather, they're numbers that routers assign the devices on their networks so that they can ...

  26. IP Location Finder

    What is IP Geolocation? IP geolocation is the mapping of an IP address to the geographic location of the internet from the connected device. By geographically mapping the IP address, it provides you with location information such as the country, state, city, zip code, latitude/longitude, ISP, area code, and other information.

  27. The IP Address Is the Permanent Solution for Proof of Performance

    An IP address should not be passed outside of a secure environment. An IP address should work in cooperation with postal, email, location, and device to establish a constellation of conformational signals. An IP address is a foundational asset in building more accurate targeting - a targeting system that leans into being a first-party ...