Security is Everyone's Job
IP addresses are a fundamental concept in networking that allow devices to communicate with each other.
An IP address is a unique identifier that is assigned to every device on a network.
It consists of a series of numbers separated by dots, such as 192.168.1.1. Each number can range from 0 to 255, and represents 8 bits of information, also known as an octet.
An IP address can be divided into two parts: the network part and the host part.
The network part identifies the specific network that the device belongs to, while the host part identifies the specific device within that network.
The main purpose of IP addresses is to facilitate network communication and data exchange.
IP addresses also provide information about the location and topology of the network, such as the subnet mask, the default gateway, and the DNS server.
Additionally, IP addresses can be used for security and management purposes, such as filtering traffic, assigning permissions, and monitoring performance.
There are two main versions of IP addresses: IPv4 and IPv6.
IPv4 is the older and more widely used version, but it has a limited address space of about 4.3 billion possible addresses.
IPv6 is the newer and more advanced version, which has a much larger address space of about 340 undecillion possible addresses.
IPv6 also has some other features that improve security, efficiency, and scalability.
Public IP addresses: These are IP addresses that are visible and accessible on the internet. They are assigned by Internet Service Providers (ISPs) or Regional Internet Registries (RIRs) to devices that need to communicate with other devices on the internet, such as web servers, routers, or laptops.
Private IP addresses: These are IP addresses that are only visible and accessible within a private network, such as a home or office network. They are assigned by network administrators or devices that use Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) to devices that only need to communicate with other devices within the same network, such as printers, cameras, or smartphones.
Loopback IP addresses: These are special IP addresses that are used for testing or troubleshooting purposes. They are assigned by the operating system to devices that need to communicate with themselves, such as a computer or a router. The most common loopback IP address is 127.0.0.1, which is also known as localhost.