Internet Protocol Address

Internet Protocol Addresses

An Internet Protocol Address, sometimes called an 'IP' Address or just an 'IP', is an address that is used to uniquely identify a computer connected to the Internet. IP Addresses come in two forms, v4 and v6 (version 4 and version 6, there is no version 5). Version 4 IP (or IPv4) addresses use four binary octets (32 bits) to represent a unique computer IP address. IPv4 addresses are usually written as four decimal numbers from 0 to 255 separated by dots. This is called 'dotted quad' notation. All Internet Protocol addresses are logical addresses which means they are stored in the computer's software configuration and can be changed when needed. When accessing a computer by name, the name is translated by a Domain Name Service server into an IP address. All Internet computers use IP addresses to identify the source and destination endpoints in their communication.

1. Internet Protocol Addresses
   1. What is an IP address?
   2. What is Classful IP Addressing?
   3. What is Classless IP Addressing?
   4. Special Addresses
      1. What are the Public IP Addresses?
      2. What are the Private IP Addresses?
   5. Obtaining IP Addresses
      1. What is my computer's IP address and how do I find it?
      2. How does my computer get an IP address?
      3. Where do I get IP addresses?
      4. What is an IP Address Allocation?
      5. What is an IP Address Assignment?
2. Address Ranges / Address Blocks
   1. What is Subnetting?
   2. What is a Subnet?
   3. What is a Subnet Mask?
   4. What is the Network Address?
   5. What is the Broadcast Address
   6. What is Supernetting?
   7. What is Variable Length Subnet Masking?
   8. How do I Calculate a Variable Length Subnet Mask?
3. Regional Internet Registrars