In computer networking, the Internet Protocol () plays a vital role in facilitating communication between devices within a network or over the internet. There are two main versions of IP that are widely used: and .
IPv4, or , is the fourth iteration of the IP protocol. It is the most commonly used version and is based on a 32-bit addressing system. Each device on a network is assigned an IPv4 address, which consists of four sets of numbers separated by periods. IPv4 addresses are essential for devices to communicate with each other and access resources online.
On the other hand, IPv6, or , is the latest version of the IP protocol. It was developed to address the limitations of IPv4 and to provide a larger address space. IPv6 uses a 128-bit addressing system and allows for a significantly higher number of unique addresses. This is crucial as the number of devices connected to the internet continues to grow rapidly.
Every device on a network requires a unique identifier to facilitate communication. This identifier is known as the (). are assigned to the of a device at the of the . Unlike IP addresses, MAC addresses are specific to the hardware of a device and remain unchanged even if the device is connected to different networks.
In networking, it is important to differentiate between addresses and addresses. Public IP addresses are assigned by an Internet Service Provider and are visible on the internet. They allow devices to communicate with other devices over the internet. Private IP addresses, on the other hand, are used within local networks to identify devices. These addresses are not visible on the internet and are used for internal communication.
Network Address Translation () is a technique used to enable multiple devices on a private network to share a single public IP address when accessing the internet. NAT allows private IP addresses to be translated into a public IP address and vice versa. This helps conserve the limited supply of public IP addresses and provides an extra layer of security.
is a technique that involves impersonating another device by modifying or replacing the MAC address. This can be used for malicious purposes, such as bypassing network security measures or hiding one's true identity on a network. It is important for network administrators to implement security measures to detect and prevent MAC address spoofing to maintain the integrity of their networks.
Keywords
private ip | mac addresses | ipv6 | internet protocol version 4 | nat | media access control address | public ip | mac address spoofing | ip | internet protocol version 6 | network interface | mac address | ipv4 | osi model | data link layer |
