Private IP Addresses in Networking

Private IP addresses play a vital role in computer networking, permitting organizations to build internal networks that communicate securely without conflicting with public addresses. In this article we are going to discuss each and every point about private IP addresses in Networking.

What is Private IP Addressing?

Private IP Addresses are those addresses that work within the local network. These addresses are non-routable on the Internet. The address is basically assigned by the network router to your particular device. The unique private IP address is provided to every device which is on the same network. In this way, devices communicate with one another on the same network without connecting to the entire Internet. In this way, Private IP addresses are able to provide more security within a particular network. The private IP address cannot be seen on the Internet, unlike the public IP address. Only devices within the local network are able to see the address of one another.

Private IP address exists within the specific ranges as reserved by the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA). Following are the address ranges of private IP addresses: 

• In Class A, the address range assigned to Private IP Address: 10.0.0.0 to 10.255.255.255
• In Class B, the address range assigned to Private IP Address: 172.16.0.0 to 172.31.255.255
• In Class C, the address range assigned to Private IP Address: 192.168.0.0 to 192.168.255.255

The range except assigned to Private IP Address is used to assign Public IP Address on a network as public IP addresses are unique for each device on the Internet. Therefore, private networks can use these address ranges for allocating private IP addresses in a specific network.  Private IP addresses can be reused on another network which is not possible with Public IP addresses.

 Uses of Private IP Addresses

1. Home Networks: Many domestic routers use personal IP addresses to assign unique addresses to devices in the home network. This allows more than one devices along with computers, smartphones, TVs, and IoT devices to communicate with every device securely.
2. Business Networks: In large organizations, private IP addresses are used to create inner networks that join computers, servers, printers, and other devices. This permits employees to share assets and collaborate while maintaining protection and privacy.
3. Virtual Private Networks (VPNs): VPNs create encrypted connections over public networks, allowing customers to get access to private networks remotely.
4. Cloud Computing: Many cloud provider offer virtual personal clouds (VPCs) where clients can deploy resources which includes virtual machines, databases, and containers. Private IP addresses are used within VPCs to facilitate communication between these resources at the same time as separating them from different clients’ environments.

How do you find your private IP address?

Although most people don’t need to know their IP address, there are several situations where it can be useful, including when connecting a computer to another networked device.
Platforms differ when it comes to to find the IP address of a device.

• Windows: To access the private IP address, run ipconfig in the command line prompt after searching for cmd in the Windows search bar.
• Mac: Click on Network after selecting System Preferences to see the private IP address.
• iPhone: Choose your settings. To see the IP address displayed under the DHCP tab, navigate to Wi-Fi and tap the i that appears next to the network it is connected to.
• Android: After choosing Settings, selecting About, and tapping on Status, the IP address ought to appear.

Benefits of Private IP Addresses

• Security: Private IP addresses are not directly accessible from the internet, due to which they reducing the risk of unauthorized access and cyber attacks and hence more secure.
• Scalability: Private IP address ranges provide ample addressing space for small to large networks, accommodating the growth of devices and services within an organization.
• Flexibility: Network administrators have full control over the management of private IP addresses, allowing for efficient allocation of resources and customization of network configurations.
• Cost-Effectiveness: By using private IP addresses internally, organizations can avoid the need to obtain and manage large blocks of public IP addresses, reducing costs associated with internet connectivity

Limitations of Private IP Addresses

• Limited Accessibility: Private IP addresses are not available immediately from the general public internet. While this affords safety advantages by means of hiding internal community sources.
• Network Address Translation (NAT) Overhead: To permit information exchange among non-public IP addresses and public internet addresses, Network Address Translation (NAT) is often employed. NAT introduces overhead in terms of processing energy, latency, and complexity, in particular in big-scale deployments.
• Management Complexity: Managing private IP deal with allocations, subnetting, and routing configurations can grow to be complex, specially in large and allotted networks.
• Interoperability Issues: Private IP addresses may come across interoperability issues whilst integrating with external services that rely upon public IP addresses.

Functions of Private IP Address 

Parameter	Private IP Address
Scope	It is assigned locally within a specific network.
Communication	It is used by devices to communicate with one another on the same network.
Assigned By	It is assigned by the  LAN administrator or network operator.
Cost	Private IP Address is free of cost.
Reused	Private IP addresses can be reused by the devices on another network.
How to find it?	The ifconfig command is used to search your Private IP address.
Range	The reserved address range for different classes is as follows: Class A- 10.0.0.0 to 10.255.255.255  Class B- 172.16.0.0 to 172.31.255.255  Class C- 192.168.0.0 to 192.168.255.255
Example	Example of Private IP Address -192.168.12.40.

Difference between Public IP and Private IP

Public IP	Private IP
A special number given to a device with a direct internet connection	Special number given to a device on a local network
Available online and accessible from anywhere	Restricted to the local network
Internet service providers (ISPs) is the assigning authority	Assigned by network address translators (NATs) or routers
They are distinct throughout the whole web	Reusable across several local networks
Recognising devices connected to the internet and facilitating communication between them	Recognising devices on a local network and enabling device-to-device communication internally

Conclusion

Private IP addresses are vital components of modern networking, permitting agencies to build stable, scalable, and effective internal networks. By leveraging, the reserved address tiers laid out in RFC 1918, groups and individuals can create network infrastructures that facilitate communication, collaboration, and innovation. Understanding the role and benefits of personal IP addresses is fundamental for community administrators, engineers, and every body involved in designing and managing community environments.

Frequently Asked Question on Private IP Addresses – FAQs

What are the ranges of private IP addresses?

• 10.0.0.0 to 10.255.255.255 (10.0.0.0/8)
• 172.16.0.0 to 172.31.255.255 (172.16.0.0/12)
• 192.168.0.0 to 192.168.255.255 (192.168.0.0/16)

Why are private IP addresses used?

Private IP addresses are used in corporate networks for security purposes since they make it more difficult for an outside host to access to a system. In order to further improve security, businesses also utilise private IP addresses to limit internal users’ access to the internet.

How are private IP addresses assigned?

After manually setting or allocating private addresses via the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol, the addresses can then communicate with each other via the router.

Are there any limitations to using private IP addresses?

Because private IP addresses are reused on several private networks, their ranges are restricted.