Lesson 4 - The IP Address Space

From lokesh sharma, your Guide to Wireless / Networking Our next lesson in Internet Protocol technology digs deeper into the IP address space. IP addresses are divided into groups based on their value, and some IP addresses have special meanings in computer networking. After completing this lesson, you should understand which IP addresses are special ones, and why IP address classes and network numbers are used to help organize the IP address space.

The IP Address Space

IP Address Classes This page explains how all IP addresses (called the IP "address space") are subdivided into five ranges called "classes." This class system determined the range of IP address numbers that many corporations and schools use today. Also, the way computers work with subnets is based in part on these classes. Your assignment: Read this one page and understand the five IP address classes.

IP Special and Private Addresses Not all IP address numbers work the same, even within a given address class. This page explains which addresses are special cases that must be studied separately. Your assignment: Read this one page and understand which IP addresses are special, and why.

IP Network Numbering IP addresses have two parts - a network number, and a host address on that network. This page explains how the two-part IP addressing system works and why it is a good thing. Your assignment: Read this one page to learn about how network numbers and default network masks relate to the IP address classes.

Vocabulary

LAN All computers on a LAN must have unique IP addresses. Most networked homes only have one LAN, but schools and businesses often build many LANs.

WLAN Mainstream wireless LANs all use IP addressing.

Intranet Intranets generally use IP addresses in one of the private ranges.

Additional Reading

What is peer-to-peer networking? In IP peer-to-peer networks, two computers communicate with each other by having knowledge of each other's IP address.

This email is written by: lokesh sharma