IP ADDRESS: TYPES AND ITS

VERSIONS
Name :– Arijit Dey
Roll.no :– 34230822042
Reg.no :– 223420110054
Paper name :– Computer Networks
Paper code :– PCC-CS602
Year :- 3rd year
Semester :– 6th
 Abstract
This report provides an in-depth analysis of IP (Internet Protocol) addresses, which serve as unique
numerical identifiers for devices connected to a network. It explores the different types of IP addresses,
including private, public, static and dynamic addresses. Additionally, the report examines the two main
versions of IP—IPv4 and IPv6—highlighting their differences in terms of address length, format, security,
efficiency, and adoption rates. Given the depletion of IPv4 addresses, the transition to IPv6 is crucial for
future networking advancements. Understanding IP addressing is essential for ensuring seamless
communication, security, and efficient data routing in modern digital infrastructures.

Introduction
An IP (Internet Protocol) address is a unique numerical identifier assigned to each device connected to a
network that uses the Internet Protocol for communication. It serves two primary functions: identifying the
host or network interface and facilitating the location of a device on a network. IP addresses are crucial for
data routing across the internet and other networks. Every device, whether a computer, smartphone, or IoT
gadget, must have an IP address to send and receive data.
Without IP addresses, data packets would not know where to go, making seamless communication across
networks impossible. They play a significant role in ensuring that devices interact efficiently within both
private and public networks.

Types of IP addresses
1. Public Address:
A Public IP address is assigned to every device that directly accesses the internet. This address is
unique across the entire internet. Here are the key characteristics and uses of public IP addresses:
 Uniqueness: Each public IP address is globally unique. No two devices on the internet can
have the same public IP address at the same time.
 Accessibility: Devices with a public IP address can be accessed directly from anywhere on
the internet, assuming no firewall or security settings block the access.
 Assigned by ISPs: Public IP addresses are assigned by Internet Service Providers (ISPs).
When you connect to the internet through an ISP, your device or router receives a public IP
address.
 Types: Public IP addresses can be static (permanently assigned to a device) or dynamic
(temporarily assigned and can change over time).
Example Use: Public IP addresses are typically used for servers hosting websites, email servers, or
any device that needs to be accessible from the internet. For instance, if you host a website on your
own server at home, your ISP must assign a public IP address to your server so users around the
world can access your site.
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 2. Private Address:
Private IP addresses are used within private networks (such as home networks, office networks, etc.)
and are not routable on the internet. This means that devices with private IP addresses cannot directly
communicate with devices on the internet without a translating mechanism like a router performing
Network Address Translation (NAT). Key features include:
 Not globally unique: Private IP addresses are only required to be unique within their own network.
Different private networks can use the same range of IP addresses without conflict.
 Local communication: These addresses are used for communication between devices within the
same network. They cannot be used to communicate directly with devices on the internet.
 Defined ranges: The Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) has reserved specific IP address
ranges for private use:
o IPv4: 10.0.0.0 to 10.255.255.255, 172.16.0.0 to 172.31.255.255, 192.168.0.0 to
192.168.255.255
o IPv6: Addresses starting with FD or FC

Example Use: In a typical home network, the router assigns private IP addresses to each device (like
smartphones, laptops, smart TVs) from the reserved ranges. These devices use their private IPs to
communicate with each other and with the router. The router uses NAT to allow these devices to
access the internet using its public IP address.

3. Static Address:
A Static IP address is an IP address that does not change frequently or constantly; it is reserved for a
specific computer or device. This type of IP address does not dynamically change with time but will
only change through an action done by the user or the network administrator. Assigning Static IP
address is common in servers, network devices or any device that has to have a fixed address that can
be accessed from a distance.

How to Get a Static IP Address?

To obtain a Static IP address, there is a possibility of applying for it from the INTERNET SERVICE
PROVIDER (ISP). This may be accompanied with the extra expense of getting the ISPs to provide
static IP addresses since these often come with an added cost. For those who have their own physical
infrastructure of the network, static IP addresses can be assigned in the settings through the device.

When are Static IPs Needed?

Static IP addresses are especially important in cases where a device has to be quickly found over the
internet permanently.
 Web Servers: A website must have one or more static IP addresses assigned to the domain that
always point to the correct server.

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  Remote Access: Some of the devices that require a remote connection, like the CCTV cameras or a
VPN, are preferable to be as static as possible.
 Hosting Servers: Game or email servers that are in constant use also need a static IP so that the
services running in the background remain undisturbed.
 Secure Communications: Some devices that participate in secure communications might require
static IPs to make the link stable and reliable.
4. Dynamic Address:
A Dynamic IP address is an IP address that is changed from time to time. In contrast to the static IP,
an IPv6 address is obtained by the DHCP server (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol)
automatically. In the DHCP, a host receives an available IP address from the DHCP server for some
period referred to as the lease time and the IP address given to the host may change. Dynamic IPs are
more common for home and commercial appliances and other electronic devices for which it is not
necessary to have a constantly changing IP address.

How to Get a Dynamic IP Address?

Dynamic IP addresses are those that are assigned to you by the ISP on a random and on a connecting
basis. Dynamic IPs can be obtained without any specific request or change as most of the ISP’s offer
them by default. Whenever one launches a connection to some web, automatically the DHCP server
doles out an IP address from a series of IP addresses.

Where Are Dynamic IP Addresses Used?

Dynamic IP addresses are primarily used in home networks, small businesses, and large corporate
environments where devices frequently connect to and disconnect from the network. Some of the
common use cases include:
1. Home Internet: Most Internet Service Providers (ISPs) assign dynamic IPs to residential users.
These IPs are changed periodically to ensure the efficient distribution of available addresses.
2. Mobile Networks: Devices like smartphones and tablets usually receive dynamic IPs when
connecting to cellular networks or Wi-Fi hotspots.
3. Corporate Networks: Large companies often use dynamic IP addressing to manage the fluctuating
number of devices accessing the network.
4. Web Hosting: Some web hosting services use dynamic IPs for their customer’s websites, though
more often, static IPs are preferred for consistent uptime and performance.

Versions of IP Addresses
There are two main versions of IP addresses, each with distinct characteristics and capabilities.

1. IPv4 (Internet Protocol Version 4):

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 IPv4, or Internet Protocol version 4, is the original addressing system of the Internet, introduced in
1983. It uses a 32-bit address scheme, which theoretically allows for over 4 billion unique addresses
(2^32). IPv4 addresses are typically displayed in decimal format, divided into four octets separated
by dots. For example, 192.168.1.1 is a common IPv4 address you might find in a home network.

Characteristics of IPv4
 32-bit address length: Allows for approximately 4.3 billion unique addresses.
 Dot-decimal notation: IP addresses are written in a format of four decimal numbers separated by
dots, such as 192.168.1.1.
 Packet structure: Includes a header and payload; the header contains information essential for
routing and delivery.
 Fragmentation: Allows packets to be fragmented at routers along the route if the packet size
exceeds the maximum transmission unit (MTU).
 Address Resolution Protocol (ARP): Used for mapping IP network addresses to the hardware
addresses used by a data link protocol.
 Manual and DHCP configuration: Supports both manual configuration of IP addresses and
dynamic configuration through DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol).
 Limited address space: The main limitation which has led to the development of IPv6 to cater to
more devices.
 Network Address Translation (NAT): Used to allow multiple devices on a private network to share
a single public IP address.
 Security: Lacks inherent security features, requiring additional protocols such as IPSec for secure
communications.
Drawbacks of IPv4
 Limited Address Space: IPv4 has a limited number of addresses, which is not enough for the
growing number of devices connecting to the internet.
 Complex Configuration: IPv4 often requires manual configuration or DHCP to assign addresses,
which can be time-consuming and prone to errors.
 Less Efficient Routing: The IPv4 header is more complex, which can slow down data processing
and routing.
 Security Issues: IPv4 does not have built-in security features, making it more vulnerable to attacks
unless extra security measures are added.
 Limited Support for Quality of Service (QoS): IPv4 has limited capabilities for prioritizing certain
types of data, which can affect the performance of real-time applications like video streaming and
VoIP.
 Fragmentation: IPv4 allows routers to fragment packets, which can lead to inefficiencies and
increased chances of data being lost or corrupted.
 Broadcasting Overhead: IPv4 uses broadcasting to communicate with multiple devices on a
network, which can create unnecessary network traffic and reduce performance.
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 2. IPv6 (Internet Protocol Version 6):
Another most common version of the Internet Protocol currently is IPv6. The well-known IPv6
protocol is being used and deployed more often, especially in mobile phone markets. IPv6 was
designed by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) in December 1998 to supersede IPv4 due to
the exponentially growing global internet of users.
IPv6 stands for Internet Protocol version 6. IPv6 is the new version of Internet Protocol, which is
way better than IPv4 in terms of complexity and efficiency. IPv6 is written as a group of 8
hexadecimal numbers separated by a colon (:). It can be written as 128 bits of 0s and 1s.

To switch from IPv4 to IPv6, there are several strategies:

 Dual Stacking: Devices can use both IPv4 and IPv6 at the same time. This way, they can talk to
networks and devices using either version.
 Tunneling: This method allows IPv6 users to send data through an IPv4 network to reach other IPv6
users. Think of it as creating a “tunnel” for IPv6 traffic through the older IPv4 system.
 Network Address Translation (NAT): NAT helps devices using different versions of IP addresses
(IPv4 and IPv6) to communicate with each other by translating the addresses so they understand each
other.

Characteristics of IPv6
 IPv6 uses 128-bit addresses, offering a much larger address space than IPv4’s 32-bit system.
 IPv6 addresses use a combination of numbers and letters separated by colons, allowing for more
unique addresses.
 The IPv6 header has fewer fields, making it more efficient for routers to process.
 IPv6 supports Unicast, Multicast, and Anycast, but no Broadcast, reducing network traffic.
 IPv6 allows flexible subnetting (VLSM) to divide networks based on specific needs.
 IPv6 uses Neighbour Discovery for MAC address resolution instead of ARP.
 IPv6 uses advanced routing protocols like OSPFv3 and RIPng for better address handling.
 IPv6 devices can self-assign IP addresses using SLAAC or use DHCPv6 for more control.
 IPv6 handles fragmentation at the sender side, not by routers, improving speed.

How do IP Addresses work?

1. Unique Identification
Every device connected to a network, such as computers, smartphones, and servers, is assigned an IP
address. This address is used to identify the device on the network, similar to how a home address identifies
a specific location.
2. Communication Protocol
The Internet Protocol (IP), part of the broader suite of internet protocols, uses these addresses to facilitate
the routing of data packets between devices. Each piece of data sent over a network is broken into smaller
units called packets. Each packet includes both the sender’s and the recipient’s IP addresses.

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3. Data Routing
When a device sends information to another device over the internet:
 The data is divided into packets.
 Each packet contains the IP address of the device it is destined for.
 Routers within the network read the destination IP address on each packet and determine the best
path for the packet to travel. Routers communicate with each other to update and maintain records of
the fastest, most efficient routes for data.
4. Local Area Networks (LAN) and Wide Area Networks (WAN)
 LAN: On local networks, IP addresses can be assigned manually by an administrator (static IP) or
automatically by a DHCP server. Devices within the same network communicate directly using their
local IP addresses.
 WAN: For devices on different networks, the data must travel through multiple routers across the
internet. Each router makes independent decisions about the best route for the packets based on the
destination IP address.
5. Network Address Translation (NAT)
Most devices on a home or small business network share a single public IP address when accessing the
internet, even though each device has its own private IP address within the local network. NAT is a process
where multiple local IP addresses are mapped to a single public IP address. This conserves IP addresses and
adds a layer of security by hiding internal IP addresses from the external network.

Conclusion
IP addresses are fundamental to internet communication, enabling devices to identify and connect. With the
depletion of IPv4 addresses, IPv6 is gradually becoming the standard, offering more efficient and secure
networking solutions. Understanding IP address types and versions is essential for networking professionals,
businesses, and general users to ensure smooth connectivity and robust cybersecurity practices. As the
internet continues to evolve, IPv6 adoption will play a key role in shaping the future of digital
communication.

References
1. Class notes and lectures
2. GeeksForGeeks
3. Avast Antivirus
4. Network Interview

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