WHAT IS A NETWORK OR IP ADDRESS?

 

  

  WHAT IS A NETWORK OR IP ADDRESS?

An IP address is a string of numbers assigned to computers, routers, servers, pretty much anything connected to the internet, including websites. It works much like a regular address, pinpointing the location of any device or system in the network around the world. IP stands for Internet Protocol. IP addresses are used in the TCP/IP Protocol to help devices, routers, and servers communicate with each other.

 

An IP address is a string of numbers assigned to computers, routers, servers, pretty much anything connected to the internet, including websites. It works much like a regular address, pinpointing the location of any device or system in the network around the world. IP stands for Internet Protocol. IP addresses are used in the TCP/IP Protocol to help devices, routers, and servers communicate with each other.

IPv1 - It is the first version of the IP protocol, developed by Vint Cerf and Bob Kahn in 1977. It was the first protocol to use an address-based communication structure, allowing hosts on a network to communicate directly with each other. However, its limited 4-bit length was unable to handle the large number of hosts on the internet. In 1982, IPv2 was introduced with a 6-bit length and a more scalable addressing scheme. Since then, subsequent versions, such as IPv3 and IPv4, have been implemented and now we've arrived at IPv6.

IPv2 - is the second version of the Internet Protocol (IP), developed in 1982. It's the first version that introduced a host address of 6-bits in length, which allowed the IP protocol to be applied to larger networks and more hosts. IPv2's additional features included a more flexible addressing scheme and improved reliability through the use of error correction codes and a checksum. IPv2 has been replaced by subsequent versions, such as IPv3 and IPv4, but it was a significant step forward at the time and laid the foundation for the internet we know today.

IPv3 - also introduced several important features, such as the ability to fragment and reassemble data packets and the use of a maximum transmission unit (MTU) to improve efficient packet delivery. The introduction of more packets and higher throughput increased the need for data redundancy and error correction, which IPv3 implemented through the use of a 16-bit checksum.

IPv4 - addresses can be split into two halves; the first half (called the first octet) identifies the network segment, such as a LAN or WAN. The second half (called the second octet) identifies the host on that network segment, or individual device. For example, the IP address "192.168.100.1" identifies a device on the 192.168.100 network segment, or LAN.

IPv6 - addresses are much longer and are more sophisticated than IPv4. They employ a 128-bit numbering system, divided into eight 16-bit groups. Each group is prefixed with a two-letter abbreviation that identifies its purpose. The two main types of IPv6 addresses are unicast and anycast addresses.