what is ip address

An IP address is an address with which a computer is identified on a network (internet).


An IP address is a logical address of the network adaptor.


An IP address is a 32-bit number which has two parts network number and host number.


00001010000001110000010100000001


Computer won’t have problem in understanding this number but we as human can’t deal with binary.


An organization named IANA (internationally assigned numbering authority) as divided this 32-bit number into 4-octat and has given the range from 0-255


00001010- 00000111- 00000101- 00000001


An IP address in represented in decimal notation form like,


192.168.1.1


Based on the range from 0-255 IANA has divided this 32-bit number into three classes,


 Class A from 0-126


 Class B from 128-191


 Class C from 192-223


 *127 is loopback address


 *224-255 is for research and development purpose.


To manage and maintain network again IANA has divided each class of IP address into 2 parts,


 *Network portion (N/P) –represented by 1’s


 *Host portion (H/P)- by 0’s


IANA has assigned class A with single octet (8-bits) for network portion and three octet (24-bits) for host portion.
DSM (default subnet mask) : 255.0.0.0


IANA has assigned class B with two octet (16-bits) for network portion and two octets (16-bits) for host portion.
DSM (default subnet mask) : 255.255.0.0


IANA has assigned class C with three octet (24-bits) for network portion and single octet (8-bits) for host portion.
DSM (default subnet mask) : 255.255.255.0

A subnet mask defines network portion of ip address and host portion of ip address.By knowing the subnet mask information, we can easily identify a particular machine ip belongs to which class.


IP Address is dividedinto two types:
1. Private IP Address.
2. Public IP Address.

Private ip address are basically used within the LAN environment.All private ip address are free to use you don't have to pay to any one for using these address.It is also known as Free IP Address.

Private IP Address range:

Class A = 10.0.0.0 - 10.255.255.255
Class B = 172.16.0.0 - 172.31.255.255
Class C = 192.168.0.0 - 192.168.255.255

Public IP Address:
Public ip address are used in WAN environment.Used for connection to internet.Public ip address are not free , you need to pay for ip address (to isp or iana).
A part from above private ip address range from each and every class all the ip's are public ip's.