The Internet Protocol (IP) which is pivotal in computer network protocols is responsible for the transmission of data packages from or to devices that are connected to the Internet or any other network. Moreover, it provides the addressing and routing mechanisms that the devices require for their communications. IP addresses represent the unique identifiers given to each device on a network to be able to route data packets to their receivers. IP operates at the network layer of the OSI model. Consequently, IP operates together with other protocols, including CP (Connection Protocol) and UDP (User Datagram Protocol), to provide reliable and efficient communication for different devices.
History of Internet Protocol
In 1974 the starting of the protocol development kicks in. Vint Cerf and Bob Kahn are the architects. It is coupled with TCP so together then they are called the TCP/IP protocols (the transmission control protocol and internet protocol). Each major version of the internet protocol took its own letter of the alphabet and assigned an address to the protocol version number, for instance, IPv4 was Version 4 of the internet protocol. Finally, in RFC 791, IETF made an official declaration of such protocol in September per year, 1981. After the IPv4 (version 4), according to the internet protocol protocol and IPv6, which was IPv6 (version 6). It was introduced to the community by the IETF in 1998 but in a trial form. The main objective of the design of IPv6 was an extension to replace IPv4. The most notable distinction between IPv4 and IPv6 is that the former resources 32 bits to an address, while the latter uses 128 bits for an address.
Primary Terminologies
- IP Address: IP address is referred as a number sticker given to each device that belongs to the network which utilizes Internet Protocol to communicate. It serves two main purposes: host or network interface recognition, identifier or location addressing.
- Packet: A packet is a parcel of data that is switched between an origin and a destination via the Internet or some other network that is based on the packet switching mechanism. This component mainly has a header and a payload.
- Router: A router is a network device that (serves as) a forwarding point for data packets between computer networks. Routers carry out the traffic routing functions through the Internet.
- IPv4: Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) is a protocol that tends to provide connectivity between the desktop computers online and that application layer is the wider application one that covers most of the Internet communications nowadays
- IPv6: Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6), the final iteration in the series of the upgrades to the Internet Protocol, is used for the purpose of identifying, locating and routing of various computers so that traffic through Internet can be transferred properly.
What is an IP Packet?
A packet in IP is a meaning of both data bits and meta information for each network step. As part of it, there is a header and a payload too. The header transport on the other hand contains control information like source and destination IP addresses, what kind of IP is being used (V4 and V6 respectively), and others. The transmitted data is, in fact, carried in the payload of the data stream. IP header helps in locating destination by such routers. Routers look up into the header and check the target IP address with their routing tables and decide the most optimal route for the packet through the entire network. Then at the moment when the packet is to reach the destination, the header of the IP is peeled off and the payload in which the data is encapsulated is presented to the appropriate application or protocol running on the destination device. IP packets are the unit packets which serves as the building blocks of message exchange on the IPR network and allows the devices to communicate with each other irrespective of the network they use to convey data.
IP Packet
How Does the IP Routing Perform?
IP routing is a procedure of routing the information from the source to the recipient to enable its direction to the final destination. As we also know that the data is broken into several pieces, and then each piece will almost definitely go through several routers until these data ends up in the final destination. The path that the set of data package follows is determined by the routing algorithm. Besides the size of packet and the header length, the design of the routing algorithm takes into account other factors related to determining the most suitable route for the data from the sender to the destination. At the arrival of the datagram at some router, then source address and destination address fields are employed with a routing table to decide the subsequent hop’s address. Considering that, it runs until it ultimately arrives at its desired point. The data which is getting distributed into multiple packages will be reached destination by travelling through different independent packets.
Example:
The TCP layer in an email server carries out this service by means of dividing the data into packets, providing numbers to each of the packets as well as to send these packets to the IP layer. This IP layer later resends the packet to the email server becoming the destination. On the recipient server, other way around, the TCP layer separates the data packets from the IP layer and remains its original text. This command goes to the mail application.
What is an IP Addressing?
IP Address is a number assigned to a particular computer and is usually assigned to those that have access to the internet. IP address consists of a block of characters like 192.168.1.2. The process in which human-readable domain names are converted into a series of characters is performed by DNS resolvers and as a result the users cannot access for each website the domain name with the help of these characters. This packet includes two addresses: the IP address of the device that is transferring the packet and that of the device where the packet is being received.
Types of IP Addresses
1. Public Address
2. Private Address
Public Address
The public media, sometimes called the external media outside the local area network, is also known as the public address. The word ‘public address’ can also define a defile of talk outside the network. This IP address is for the purpose of connecting to the internet. Through our computer public address remote access to our computer can be obtained. Along with using a public address, we can put up the home server for accessing the internet. This IP usually is a part of the ISP’s (Internet Service Provider) IP range.
Key Points
- Scope of public address is worldwide, so we can transcend generally among the network.
- This IPv4 is identified by the ISP (Internet Service Provider).
- Unfortunately, it is not free of cost access.
- We can get the Public IP by typing on google search engine “What is my IP”.
Private Address
Address to the private is also referred to as a DAN (LAN), as LAN numbers are inserted within the addresses. It is used for communication between the network. Listen to the given audio and then select the most appropriate option. They are not public IP addresses that have IP protocols for internet routing. The private address space is then use InterNIC utility to ensure that the create network does not have address conflict. The private addresses are for those computers that are used within organizations and their networks act as the homes of these private IPs. For instance, as our family member comes into our home, we will give him or her an in-house address number that is assigned to the printer to pick up the printed document. The true local network only continues to launch the device’s private address, whereas other devices within the local network can view the computer using its private IP address. Nevertheless, outside the connected network, external devices will not be able to reach the computer with the use of the private IP but by now the computer is available through the public address of the router. NAT (Network Address Translator) is the necessary entity for the computer direct access.
Key points
- It has just reach out locally as the networked communication that is possible is on it.
- It is normally used to interconnect close-by nodes.
- It is there for anyone who wants to take it for free.
- We can find the private IP by simply launching cmd console, which we are able to see after typing the `ipconfig` command there.
Conclusion
The Internet Protocol (IP) is the basic protocol being used in any computer network that allows devices around the Internet and any other network to communicate on their own. It plays the role of a foundation for packet processing and routing, therefore, facilitating data traffic achieving the intended recipients on time. IP knowledge is inevitable if one is working with computer networks, and it lies at the very foundation of everything that is being communicated on the network. Given that technology continues to further develop, IP becomes more and more important, being able to welcome the new challenges and demands that extremely increase the number of devices and applications over the networks worldwide.
Frequently Asked Questions on Internet Protocol – FAQs
Could you tell me about what is a difference between IPv4 and IPv6?
IPv4 uses 32-bit addresses and is currently the most prevalent one of the Internet Protocol’s observed versions. IPv6 which has 128-bit addresses was in turn developed in order to allow the incorporation of the increasing numbers of devices which are connected to the internet.
How will IPs address assigned?
IP addresses are assigned from IANA to RIRs, which in return give them to ISPs and use them by end users.
What is the rationale behind IP header?
The information contained in the IP header includes ending and originating IP addresses, versions of the IP protocol being used and additional details used by routers to route the packet.
Define IP routing in other words?
Routing with routers takes the routing table into consideration and uses the best route to send the data packet base on the IP address target. They ‘send’ packets along the pathway until they get to the other end.
How does IPsec fit in with IP communications and traffic?
IPsec is the bundling of the protocols for authenticating the data, preserving data integrity, and protecting the confidentiality of data being carried over the IP network. It gives way to security mechanisms which are located at the IP level thus protecting against many online security risks.