IP Address

IP address is a unique address used by computers to communicate over the network, it is a unique number (address). This unique number is called IP. It work at the network layer of the OSI model. It is a 32 bit logical address. There are two types of IP address-

1. Dynamic IP address
2. Static IP address

Dynamic IP Address-

Dynamic IP address is assigned to the devices for temporary connectivity to the network. DHCP (Dynamic Host Control Protocol) use to provide automatic IP address.

Static IP Address-

Static IP address are assign to the devices that attach in a network permanently.

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IP address classes (Classful IP addressing)-

There are five class of IP address.

• Class A addressing-

Class A consist of 8 bit network ID and 24 bit host ID. Its range is starts from 1 to 126 and its default subnet mask is 255.0.0.0 . Class A can be divided into 128 network blocks ( Number of Networks ) when the first network block address starts from 0.0.0.0 to 0.255.255.255 where 0 (First byte) is the network ID. Class A provides 1,67,77,216 host addresses in each blocks. The broadcast IP address is 126.255.255.255 . The private IP range of Class A IP is 10.0.0.0 to 10.255.255.255.

• Class B addressing-

Class B address consist of 16 bit network ID and 16 bit host ID. Its range is starts from 128 to 191 and its default subnet mask is 255.255.0.0 . This address class consist of 16,384 network blocks. The first block starts from 128.0.0.0 to 128.0.255.255 . In this address class the first two bytes represent network ID that is 128.0.x.x where “x” is any number between 0 and 255. Class B provides 65,536 host address in each blocks. The broadcast IP address is 191.255.255.255 . The private IP range of Class B IP is 172.16.0.0 to 172.32.255.255 .

• Class C addressing-

Class C address consist of 24 bit network ID and 8 bit host ID. Its range is starts from 192 to 223 and its default subnet mask is 255.255.255.0 . This address class consist of 20,97,152 network blocks. The first block starts from 192.0.0.0 to 192.0.0.255 . The network ID field is represented by first three bytes – 192.0.0.x . Class C provides 254 host address in each blocks. The broadcast IP address is 223.255.255.255 . The private IP range of class C IP is 192.168.255.255 .

• Class D addressing-

Class D IP address is designed for multicast. This class define a particular group of host over the internet. Its range is starts from 224 to 239 and its subnet mask is 255.255.255.255 .

• Class E addressing-

Class E IP address is reserved for special purpose, like scientific research, weather casting etc. Its IP range is starts from 240 to 254 and its subnet mask is 255.255.255.255 .