Lesson 1 - IP Address Notation

From LOKESH SHARMA, your Guide to Wireless / Networking The first lesson in our IP course covers the topic of Internet Protocol (IP) address notation. IP addresses are used not only on the Internet, but also on corporate, home or school networks. After completing this lesson, you should understand what an IP address looks like and how to find the IP address (or addresses) a computer is using.

About IP Address Notation

What IP addresses look like Most computers and networks use a kind of IP address called the "IPv4" addresses. Some school networks and a few research corporations are beginning to switch over to the "IPv6" addressing system. Someday, we all will be using IPv6, but for now, most of us can concentrate on just the IPv4 system. It's good to be aware that both kinds exist. Your assignment: Read page 1 of this article. (We will break down the other material in future lessons.)     Finding IP Addresses Windows 98, Windows 98 and Windows ME This page explains step-by-step how to find the IP address on a computer that uses Windows 95, Windows 98, or Windows ME. Your assignment: Read this to learn the name of the Windows command that helps identify IP addresses. If you have a networked computer that runs one of these operating systems, practice following these instructions to get that computer's IP address. Windows XP, Windows 2000, and Windows NT This page explains step-by-step how to find the IP address on a computer that uses Windows XP, Windows 2000, or Windows NT. Your assignment: Read this to learn the name of another (different) Windows command that helps identify IP addresses. If you have a networked computer that runs one of these operating systems, follow these instructions to get that computer's IP address. Vocabulary Bits and bytes Computer networks "see" IP addresses in the form of bits and bytes. Octet An octet is technically not the same as a byte. Additional Reading Who invented Internet Protocol? Learn about the engineers who created Internet Protocol. This email is written by: LOKESH SHARMA