What is an IP?
🌍 What is an IP?
A MAC address is like a digital name tag for your device on a network. It looks like this:
Every device on the internet (phone, computer, server) needs a unique address to be identified.
That’s the IP Address.
→ Just like your house needs a home address so the postman can find it, your device needs an IP so the internet can find it.
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◼️ IPv4 (Old Version)
Length: 32-bit → 2³² = about 4.29 billion addresses.
Format: Written in numbers (four blocks, each 0–255).
> Example: 192. 168. 1. 1
Subnet (Prefix): Written as /24 or 255. 255. 255. 0 to group addresses.
Problem: At first, 4 billion seemed enough. But now with phones, laptops, IoT devices (smartwatch, TV, fridge), we have more devices than IPv4 addresses.
> That’s why IPv4 addresses are running out (shortage).
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◼️ IPv6 (New Version)
Length: 128-bit → 2¹²⁸ = 340 undecillion addresses (an unimaginably huge number).
> Big enough to give an IP address to every grain of sand on Earth 😅.
Format: Written in hexadecimal (mix of letters + numbers).
> Example: fe80::94db:946e:8d4e:129e
Subnet (Prefix): Usually /64.
◼️ Benefits:
•Practically infinite, will never run out.
•More secure (IPSec is built-in).
•Auto-configuration (plug and play).
•Faster and modern networking.
Finally↓
✓IPv4 = village address system → only a few houses, but now space is finished.
✓IPv6 = universe address system → endless houses, will never finish.
This image shows IPv4 Address Classes & Subnet Masks 🖥️
➡️ Subnet Mask decides which part of the IP is the Network ID and which part is the Host ID.
Black part = Network portion
Yellow part = Host portion
◼️Breakdown:
Class A
Subnet Mask: 255. 0. 0. 0
Network = 8 bits
Host = 24 bits
Used for very large networks (millions of hosts)
Class B
Subnet Mask: 255. 255. 0. 0
Network = 16 bits
Host = 16 bits
Used for medium-sized networks
Class C
Subnet Mask: 255. 255. 255. 0
Network = 24 bits
Host = 8 bits
Used for small networks (up to 254 hosts)
Loopback (127. 0. 0. 1)
Subnet Mask: 255. 255. 255. 255
Used to test your own computer
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📌 So:
- Class A → Big networks
- Class B → Medium networks
- Class C → Small networks
- Loopback → Self test
#Networking #IPv4 #SubnetMask #ClassA #ClassB #ClassC #Loopback
01:32:54:76:85:AB
Here’s what it means:
1. First part (01:32:54) → Who made the device (the manufacturer).
2. Second part (76:85:AB) → Which device it is (unique for each device).
Think of it like this:
OUI (first 3 pairs) = Manufacturer badge.
NIC (last 3 pairs) = Device’s own serial number.
So every MAC address is manufacturer + unique device ID.
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