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.