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IP Addressing and Subnetting Concepts

Overview of IP Versions

  • IPv4 (Internet Protocol version 4)

    • Primary protocol for communication on networks.
    • Uses IP addresses composed of four numbers, separated by periods.
    • Example of an IPv4 address: 192.168.1.131.
    • Represented in binary; consists of 32 bits divided into four segments (octets).
    • Each segment (octet) can range from 0 to 255, represented in eight bits.
    • Limitations due to popularity of the Internet, prompting the development of IPv6.

  • IPv6 (Internet Protocol version 6)

    • Newer protocol designed to address limitations of IPv4.
    • Uses 128 bits for addresses, allowing for vastly more total addresses.
    • Example of an IPv6 address: 8051:8652:cffd:852 (in hexadecimal format).
    • Addresses are organized into eight groups of 16 bits, making memorization challenging.
    • Uses a 64-bit subnet mask, with the first 64 bits designated for the network and the last 64 bits for the host.

Address Allocation and Configuration

  • Assigning IP Addresses
    • Each device on a network requires a unique IP address to avoid conflicts.
    • Must also configure:
    • Subnet Mask
      • Defines the network portion of an IP address.
      • Common format for IPv4: 255.255.255.0.
    • Default Gateway
      • IP address of a router for external network communication.
      • Example: 192.168.1.1.

DNS (Domain Name System)

  • Important for translating human-readable domain names into IP addresses.
  • Users typically enter web addresses like www.professormesser.com instead of IP addresses.
  • DNS server configuration is crucial for network settings; you may configure multiple DNS servers for redundancy.
    • Example of DNS servers: 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 (managed by Google).
    • Ensures continuous accessibility even if one DNS server fails.